Admiral is one of the UK’s largest insurance groups, covering millions of car, home, and travel policies. If the person you’ve lost held an Admiral policy – or a policy with one of Admiral’s sub-brands, Bell, Diamond, or Elephant Auto – this guide explains what to do, what you’ll need, and what happens to each type of policy.
Because Admiral covers several different types of insurance, and also offers personal loans through Admiral Money, there may be more than one thread to deal with. The good news is that Admiral has a single bereavement contact route that can handle all their insurance products at once.
If you need to notify multiple organisations at once, our guide to notifying companies after a death covers banks, utilities, government departments, and other insurers.
Quick reference:
- Bereavement phone: 0333 220 2000, Monday–Friday 8am–6pm, Saturday 9am–4pm, Sunday 10am–4pm
- Online bereavement form: eforms.admiral.com/bereavement
- Bereavement support page: admiral.com/help-support-hub/life-events/bereavement
How to notify Admiral of a death
Call 0333 220 2000 to reach Admiral’s customer services team. Lines are open Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm, Saturday 9am to 4pm, and Sunday 10am to 4pm.
Alternatively, you can complete Admiral’s online bereavement form at eforms.admiral.com/bereavement. You can use this to notify Admiral of the death and begin the process of cancelling or transferring each policy. Live chat is also available through the Admiral website, Monday to Friday 7am to 8:30pm, Saturday and Sunday 9am to 5:30pm.
If you have hearing or speech difficulties, the national text relay service, Relay UK, can assist.
When you get in touch, Admiral will need the following information:
| Information | Notes |
|---|---|
| Full name, date of birth, and usual address of the deceased | For account identification |
| Date of death | Required for all policies |
| Policy number(s) | On any insurance documents, renewal notices, or bank statements |
| Death certificate or interim death certificate | A scan or photograph is accepted for the initial notification |
| Your name, relationship to the deceased, and contact details | Executor, next of kin, or other representative |
You don’t need to have everything to hand before you make contact – Admiral will guide you through what they need and confirm the next steps for each policy.
Source: Admiral – bereavement support, verified May 2026.
Admiral sub-brands: Bell, Diamond, and Elephant Auto
Admiral Group markets four motor insurance brands in the UK: Admiral, Bell, Diamond, and Elephant Auto. They are the same underlying company, with separate brand identities targeting different customer segments.
For bereavement purposes, the key difference is the contact number. Elephant Auto has its own line: 0333 220 2006. For Bell and Diamond policies, contact Admiral’s main bereavement line on 0333 220 2000 – Admiral will confirm the correct handling for each brand when you call.
If you’re not certain which brand the policy is under, check the renewal documents, any welcome letters, or bank statement entries for the direct debit. The brand name will be clear on those documents.
What documents you’ll need
The core document for all Admiral policies is a death certificate. This is issued by the register office once a death is formally registered. It’s worth ordering several certified copies at registration – most organisations need either an original or a certified copy, and having several on hand avoids delays.
| Document | When needed |
|---|---|
| Death certificate (original or certified copy) | Required for all policies |
| Policy number(s) | For each Admiral policy – helpful but not essential for the initial call |
| Vehicle registration number | Car insurance policies |
| Property address and details | Home insurance policies |
| Your proof of identity | If acting as executor or administrator |
| Grant of probate or letters of administration | Not required for cancellation – may be needed for settling outstanding claims of significant value |
If you cannot find the policy numbers, check bank statements for “Admiral”, “Bell Insurance”, “Diamond”, or “Elephant Auto” direct debits. Admiral can also search their records using the deceased’s name, date of birth, and address.
Car insurance
When a car insurance policyholder dies, the policy does not automatically continue. Once you notify Admiral, they will confirm the current status and begin the cancellation process.
Do not drive the car before confirming cover. Before anyone moves or drives the deceased’s vehicle, check with Admiral that some form of cover is still in place. Even if a family member was a named driver on the original policy, that cover was linked to the deceased policyholder – it may not extend automatically once the policyholder has died. Driving an uninsured vehicle is a criminal offence. If anyone needs to move the vehicle urgently, short-term cover from as little as one hour is available from specialist providers.
Refund of unused premium. Admiral will calculate a pro-rata refund for the unused portion of the annual premium from the date of death. Ask Admiral to confirm whether the standard cancellation fee is waived for bereavement – most insurers do waive it, and Admiral’s team should be able to confirm their position when you call.
Joint policies. If both the deceased and a surviving partner are named on the policy, the death of one policyholder does not automatically void cover for the surviving driver. Contact Admiral to update the policy into the surviving policyholder’s name. The premium may be recalculated based on the revised risk.
No-claims discount. The deceased’s no-claims history was personal to them and cannot formally be transferred to another person’s policy. However, if a surviving spouse is setting up a new policy, it is always worth asking – some insurers show flexibility in bereavement circumstances.
Bell, Diamond, Elephant Auto. The same general process applies. Contact the relevant brand’s line, or Admiral’s main bereavement number, and they will handle the correct brand’s policy.
For a full guide to car insurance, DVLA registration, vehicle tax, and what to do with the car itself, see what happens to car insurance when someone dies.
Home insurance
Home insurance – both buildings and contents – needs prompt attention after a death, particularly if the property is going to be empty for any period during estate administration.
Once you notify Admiral, they will confirm the current cover status and discuss what happens next. Ask directly: “Is the property currently insured, and until when?”
The unoccupied property problem. Admiral’s standard home insurance covers an unoccupied property for up to 60 consecutive days. After that limit, cover is significantly restricted – if anything happens to the property, most claims will not be paid. Probate in England and Wales typically takes several months (the average is around 16 weeks for straightforward estates, longer for complex ones – see gov.uk/applying-for-probate), which often runs well past the 60-day limit.
If you know the property will be empty beyond 60 days, contact Admiral to discuss options. They may be able to extend the limit. If they cannot, you will need to arrange specialist unoccupied property insurance or probate house insurance before the threshold passes. Specialist providers include Homeprotect, UKinsuranceNET, and Intelligent Insurance.
Source: Admiral – insuring an unoccupied house, verified May 2026.
Joint policies. If the home insurance was held jointly – the surviving partner’s name is also on the policy – and the surviving partner remains in the property, the policy can usually continue in the surviving partner’s name alone. Contact Admiral to update the details.
Refund of unused premium. If the policy is cancelled rather than transferred, Admiral will refund any unused premium on a pro-rata basis from the date of cancellation.
For the full picture on home insurance after a death – including executor responsibilities and how to arrange specialist cover during probate – see what happens to home insurance when someone dies.
Travel insurance
Admiral travel insurance policies end with the death of the policyholder. If the deceased had an annual multi-trip policy, contact Admiral to cancel it and request a pro-rata refund of any unused premium.
If you were named on the policy or were due to travel together on a shared policy, ask Admiral whether your own cover continues. Cover for named travellers may or may not remain in place after one policyholder’s death – Admiral will confirm your position.
If you need to claim for a trip that was booked and is now not going ahead because of the death, check the policy for a cancellation benefit. Many travel policies include cancellation cover for bereavement. Admiral’s team will walk you through this when you call.
If an overseas medical emergency or death occurred while the deceased was travelling, contact Admiral’s claims line directly – separate from the bereavement notification – as there may be repatriation costs or other travel-related claims to pursue.
Admiral Money (personal loans)
Admiral Financial Services Limited offers personal loans under the Admiral Money brand. If the deceased had an outstanding loan with Admiral Money, the debt forms part of their estate and is handled through the estate administration process.
The key points:
- Family members do not inherit the debt. Unless a family member was a joint borrower or guarantor on the loan, they are not personally liable for it. The debt is settled from the estate.
- The executor is responsible for notifying Admiral Money, freezing any further interest and charges where possible, and arranging repayment from the estate once probate is granted.
- If the estate cannot cover the full loan, Admiral Money takes what is available from the estate and writes off the remainder. A shortfall is not passed to family members.
To notify Admiral Money of a death, start with the main Admiral bereavement number (0333 220 2000) or visit money.admiral.com/help/customer-support. They will direct you to the correct team and explain what documentation they need.
Source: General UK estate law principle; for detailed guidance on debts and the estate, see our guide to applying for probate.
MultiCover policies
Admiral MultiCover bundles multiple policies – car, home, van, or landlord insurance – into a single account with one renewal date. If the deceased held a MultiCover account, each policy within it is a separate contract and needs to be dealt with individually.
In practice, this means:
- One call to Admiral can start the process for all policies. Notify Admiral of the death once, and they will identify all the policies held under that account.
- Each policy is cancelled or transferred separately. The car insurance, home insurance, and any other policies each follow their own process and timeline.
- No-claims bonuses remain separate. A claim on the home policy doesn’t affect the car policy’s no-claims history – and this doesn’t change in a bereavement context.
MultiCover also allows immediate family members at different addresses to be included on the account. If the deceased’s policy covered, say, a son or daughter living elsewhere, those family members’ policies may need to be separated into their own standalone accounts. Admiral will advise on the options when you call.
How long does it take?
| Task | Typical timeline |
|---|---|
| Policy cancellation confirmed | Promptly on notification |
| Pro-rata premium refund | 3–8 weeks after documentation received |
| Written confirmation of cancellation | Sent by post or email after notification |
| Car driven or sold | Only after cover is confirmed or new insurance arranged |
| Outstanding loan repayment | Once probate is granted and estate funds available |
The main causes of delay are incomplete documentation and difficulty locating policy numbers. If Admiral has everything they need at first contact, the process moves quickly.
Tips and things to watch out for
Don’t cancel the direct debit before cancelling with Admiral. If premiums are paid by direct debit, notify Admiral before cancelling the direct debit with the bank. Cancelling the direct debit first may trigger a lapse in cover before the cancellation is formally processed, complicating the refund and potentially affecting any active claims.
Check bank statements for all active policies. People don’t always keep track of every policy they hold. A search of the deceased’s bank statements for “Admiral”, “Bell”, “Diamond”, or “Elephant” direct debits will reveal all active policies. Under a MultiCover account, there may be several.
The 60-day unoccupied property window. This is the risk that most executors overlook. Standard home insurance – including Admiral’s – covers an empty property for 60 consecutive days. If probate takes longer (and it often does), coverage becomes void. Act before the deadline passes.
Sub-brand confusion. If you find policy documents for Bell, Diamond, or Elephant Auto, these are all Admiral Group products. Start with Admiral’s main bereavement line (0333 220 2000) and they will direct you correctly, or contact Elephant Auto directly on 0333 220 2006.
Auto-renewal. Most Admiral policies auto-renew annually. If the death occurs close to a renewal date, notify Admiral before the renewal is processed – otherwise a new annual premium may be charged for a policy that should have been cancelled.
Probate is not required to begin the process. You do not need a grant of probate to contact Admiral and start the cancellation process. Notifying an insurer of a death is an administrative step that does not require legal authority over the estate. Probate may become relevant later – for example, if there is an outstanding claim of significant value – but it is not a prerequisite for the initial call.
Summary
For all Admiral insurance policies – car, home, travel, and MultiCover – call 0333 220 2000 (Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm, Saturday 9am to 4pm, Sunday 10am to 4pm) or complete the online form at eforms.admiral.com/bereavement.
For Elephant Auto policies specifically, the number is 0333 220 2006. Bell and Diamond policies are handled through Admiral’s main bereavement line.
Have the death certificate, policy numbers if you have them, and the deceased’s date of birth and address ready. If you can’t find policy numbers, Admiral can search their records. Probate is not required to begin the process.
The most important thing to act on quickly is home insurance: Admiral’s standard policy covers an empty property for 60 consecutive days. If the property will be empty beyond that during estate administration, contact Admiral to discuss options or arrange specialist unoccupied property cover.
For Admiral Money loans, notify Admiral Money directly – the debt sits with the estate, not with family members, unless they were a joint borrower.
For a broader overview of all the financial and legal tasks after a death, see our complete guide to notifying companies and organisations. For other insurers in a similar position, see our guides to notifying Aviva, notifying Direct Line, notifying NFU Mutual, notifying Hastings Direct, notifying the AA, and notifying esure.
Sources: Admiral – bereavement support, verified May 2026; Admiral – insuring an unoccupied house, verified May 2026; Admiral – MultiCover insurance, verified May 2026.