Churchill is one of the most widely held insurance brands in the UK, selling car, home, travel, pet, and life insurance to millions of policyholders. If the person you’ve lost had a Churchill policy, there are straightforward steps to take – a dedicated bereavement team handles these calls every day and will guide you through the process.
Because Churchill is part of Direct Line Group, the brand sits alongside Direct Line, Privilege, and Green Flag. This matters in practice: if the deceased held policies across more than one of these brands, each needs to be contacted separately – they operate as distinct brands even though the same parent company owns them. Churchill’s bereavement team handles Churchill policies only.
This guide covers how to notify Churchill, what documents you’ll need, and what happens to each type of policy – including the life insurance that Churchill still sells, unlike Direct Line which stopped in 2025.
If you are dealing with several organisations at once, our guide to notifying companies after a death covers banks, utilities, government departments, and other insurers.
Quick reference
| Policy type | Contact | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| All Churchill policies (bereavement) | 0345 605 9150 | Mon–Fri, 9am–7pm |
| Life insurance (July 2019–May 2025 policies) | 0330 303 9985 (Aviva) | Mon–Thu 8:30am–6pm; Fri 8:30am–5:30pm |
| Life insurance (Jan 2013–July 2019 policies) | 0800 137 101 (Legal & General) | Mon–Fri 9am–6pm |
| Churchill bereavement page | churchill.com/help/dealing-with-difficult-times | – |
How to notify Churchill of a death
Call 0345 605 9150 to reach Churchill’s specialist bereavement team. Lines are open Monday to Friday, 9am to 7pm.
This is the right number for all Churchill insurance policies – car, home, travel, and pet. The bereavement team is separate from Churchill’s general customer service line and is staffed by people specifically trained to handle these calls.
Churchill’s bereavement support page is at churchill.com/help/dealing-with-difficult-times. From there, you can also access the “Extra support” section through the Churchill online account – useful if the deceased managed their policies online and you have their login details available, though there is no standalone online bereavement form as there is with some other insurers.
When you call, you’ll be asked for:
| 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 all of this ready before you call. Churchill’s bereavement team will guide you through what’s needed for each policy and confirm the next steps.
One call covers all Churchill policies. If the deceased held car and home insurance with Churchill, notifying the bereavement line once covers both. You don’t need to call the general car or home lines separately.
Source: Churchill – dealing with difficult times, verified May 2026.
What documents you’ll need
The core document for all Churchill policies is a death certificate. This is issued by the register office in England and Wales (or the registrar’s office in Scotland and Northern Ireland) once a death is formally registered. It’s worth ordering several certified copies at the point of 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 |
| Interim death certificate | Acceptable if inquest is pending – most insurers accept this for the initial notification |
| Policy number(s) | For each Churchill policy – helpful but not essential for the initial call |
| Your proof of identity | If acting as executor or administrator |
| Grant of probate or letters of administration | Not required for routine cancellation – may be needed if there are outstanding claims of significant value |
If you can’t find the policy numbers: Check the deceased’s bank statements for Churchill direct debits – these usually show a policy or reference number. You can also search their emails for renewal notices. If you have nothing, Churchill can search their records using the deceased’s name, date of birth, and address – call and ask.
What happens to each type of policy
Car insurance
A Churchill car insurance policy does not automatically continue after the policyholder dies. Once you notify Churchill, the policy will be cancelled from the date of death.
Do not drive the car before confirming cover. Before anyone moves or drives the deceased’s vehicle, check with Churchill that 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 they have died. Driving an uninsured vehicle is a criminal offence. If anyone needs to move the car urgently, short-term cover from as little as one hour is available from specialist providers.
Refund of unused premium. Churchill will calculate a pro-rata refund for the unused portion of the annual premium from the date of death. Ask Churchill to confirm whether the standard cancellation fee is waived for bereavement – most insurers do waive it, and Churchill’s team should confirm their position when you call. Refunds are typically processed within 30 days of documentation being received.
Refund payment. Refunds are generally returned via the original payment method – usually to the bank account the direct debit was paid from. If that account has been closed by the time the refund is processed, ask Churchill to issue a cheque payable to the executor. This is standard practice and Churchill will accommodate it.
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 Churchill 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 their own policy, it is always worth asking – some insurers show flexibility in bereavement circumstances.
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 careful attention after a death, particularly if the property is going to be empty during the estate administration period.
Once you notify Churchill, they will confirm the current status of the policy and discuss what happens next. Ask directly: “Is the property currently insured, and until when?”
The unoccupied property problem. Churchill’s standard home insurance restricts cover once a property has been left empty for more than 60 consecutive days. Once that threshold passes, most claims – including for water damage, theft, and vandalism – will not be covered. Probate in England and Wales typically takes several months: the average for a straightforward estate is around 16 weeks, and complex estates take longer. This means many properties will breach Churchill’s 60-day limit before the estate is resolved.
If you know the property will be empty beyond 60 days, contact Churchill as soon as possible to discuss options. If they cannot extend cover, you will need to arrange specialist unoccupied property insurance or probate house insurance before the threshold is reached. Specialist providers include Homeprotect, UKinsuranceNET, and Intelligent Insurance. Don’t let the deadline pass quietly – a gap in cover during probate can leave the estate exposed.
Source: Churchill – home insurance eligibility, verified May 2026.
Joint policies. If the home insurance was held jointly and the surviving partner remains in the property, the policy can usually continue in the surviving partner’s name alone. Contact Churchill to update the details.
Refund of unused premium. If the policy is cancelled rather than transferred, Churchill 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
Travel insurance policies end with the death of the policyholder. If the deceased had an annual multi-trip policy, contact Churchill 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 Churchill whether your own cover continues. Cover for named travellers on a shared policy may or may not remain in place after one policyholder’s death – Churchill will confirm your position when you call.
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. Churchill’s team will walk you through this when you call on 0345 605 9150.
Pet insurance
If the deceased held a Churchill pet insurance policy, contact the bereavement team on 0345 605 9150 to cancel it and arrange any pro-rata refund of unused premium.
If the pet is being rehomed with a family member, they will need to arrange their own pet insurance in their own name – existing policies cannot simply be transferred to another person.
If there is an outstanding vet claim on the policy at the time of death, notify Churchill and ask whether that claim can still be pursued as part of the estate. Churchill will advise on the specific position for any active claims.
Life insurance
Churchill still sells life insurance – unlike Direct Line, which stopped selling new life policies in 2025. If the deceased held a Churchill life insurance policy, who you contact for the death claim depends on when the policy was taken out.
Churchill’s life insurance policies are underwritten by external providers, not by Churchill itself. The underwriter handles the death claim directly.
| Policy period | Underwriter | Phone | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22 July 2019 – 5 May 2025 | Aviva | 0330 303 9985 | Mon–Thu 8:30am–6pm; Fri 8:30am–5:30pm |
| 1 January 2013 – 20 July 2019 | Legal & General | 0800 137 101 | Mon–Fri 9am–6pm |
For policies taken out before January 2013 or between dates not covered above, check the policy documents for the underwriter’s name and contact details, or call Churchill on 0345 605 9150 and they will direct you to the correct provider.
What you’ll need for a life insurance claim:
The underwriter will typically require:
- The original death certificate (not a certified copy – the original)
- The original policy documents, if you have them
- Completed claim form (supplied by the underwriter)
- Depending on the sum assured and policy structure, possibly a grant of probate
Trust vs. non-trust policies. How quickly a life insurance payout is made, and whether probate is needed, depends on whether the policy was written in trust. Policies written in trust pay directly to the named beneficiaries and bypass probate – this can mean a payout within five working days of the claim being approved. Policies not written in trust form part of the estate and are subject to probate, which can take several months.
Check the original policy documents to see whether a trust was established and who the named beneficiaries are. If you can’t find the documents, the underwriter can check their records.
For a full explanation of how life insurance works at death – including trust status, probate, and inheritance tax – see our guide to what happens to life insurance when someone dies.
Source: Churchill – life insurance help and support, verified May 2026.
Churchill, Privilege, and the Direct Line Group
Churchill is part of Direct Line Group – the same company that owns Direct Line, Privilege, and Green Flag. All four brands are underwritten by UK Insurance Limited, the group’s insurance subsidiary.
Despite this shared ownership, the brands operate separately for customer service purposes. Notifying Churchill’s bereavement team does not automatically notify Direct Line or Privilege. If the deceased held policies with more than one of these brands, each requires its own contact:
- Churchill: 0345 605 9150 (Mon–Fri, 9am–7pm)
- Direct Line: 0345 605 9163 (Mon–Fri, 9am–7pm) – see our guide to notifying Direct Line
- Privilege: Contact Privilege directly via their website at privilege.com – Privilege does not publish a separate bereavement number, so begin with their main customer service line
- Green Flag: Green Flag provides roadside breakdown cover, not general insurance – contact them separately at greenflag.com if the deceased held a Green Flag membership
Check for policies across all four brands. A search of the deceased’s bank statements for direct debits to “Churchill”, “Direct Line”, “Privilege”, or “Green Flag” will confirm which brands they held policies with. It is not uncommon for a person to hold a car policy with Churchill and a home policy with Direct Line, or vice versa – the group’s price comparison positioning means customers are sometimes routed to different brands at renewal.
How long does it take?
| Task | Typical timeline |
|---|---|
| Policy cancellation confirmed | Promptly on notification |
| Pro-rata premium refund | Within 30 days of 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 |
| Life insurance claim (policy in trust) | As fast as 5 working days once claim approved (via Aviva or L&G) |
| Life insurance claim (not in trust) | Depends on probate – can be several months |
The main causes of delay are incomplete documentation and difficulty locating policy numbers. If Churchill has what they need at the first call, the process moves quickly.
Tips and things to watch out for
Don’t cancel the direct debit before notifying Churchill. If premiums are paid by direct debit, notify Churchill 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.
Act on home insurance before day 60. The single most time-sensitive issue for executors is Churchill’s 60-day unoccupied property limit. If the property is going to be empty while probate is resolved, that window closes faster than people expect. Arrange specialist cover or confirm with Churchill that they can extend before the deadline passes.
Check bank statements for every policy. People don’t always track every policy they hold. A search of the deceased’s bank statements for “Churchill” direct debits may reveal several policies – car, home, and travel are sometimes held simultaneously. There may be more than you expect.
Auto-renewal. Most Churchill policies auto-renew annually. If the death occurs close to a renewal date, notify Churchill before the renewal processes – 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 notify Churchill of a death or to begin the cancellation process. 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.
Privilege and Direct Line are separate brands. If the deceased held a Privilege or Direct Line policy, contact those brands separately. Churchill’s bereavement team handles Churchill policies only.
Life insurance documents. If the deceased held a Churchill life insurance policy, the policy documents will confirm the underwriter and whether the policy was written in trust. Try to locate these before contacting the underwriter – they make the claim process considerably smoother.
Summary
For all Churchill insurance policies – car, home, travel, and pet – call the bereavement team on 0345 605 9150 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 7pm). You can also visit churchill.com/help/dealing-with-difficult-times for support information.
Have the death certificate, policy numbers if you have them, and the deceased’s name, date of birth, and address ready. You don’t need everything before you call – Churchill’s team will guide you through what they need.
For life insurance claims, contact the underwriter directly: Aviva on 0330 303 9985 for policies from July 2019 onwards, or Legal & General on 0800 137 101 for policies from 2013 to 2019.
The most time-sensitive issue is home insurance: Churchill’s standard policy covers an empty property for 60 consecutive days only. If the estate is complex and probate may take longer, arrange specialist unoccupied property cover before that window closes.
If the deceased also held policies with Direct Line or Privilege, those brands need to be contacted separately. See our guide to notifying Direct Line for the Direct Line process.
For a broader overview of all the notifications after a death, see our complete guide to notifying companies and organisations. For other major insurers, see our guides to notifying Admiral, notifying Aviva, and notifying the AA.
Sources: Churchill – dealing with difficult times, verified May 2026; Churchill – life insurance help and support, verified May 2026; Churchill – home insurance eligibility, verified May 2026; Life Ledger – Churchill car insurance bereavement, verified May 2026; Life Ledger – Churchill home insurance bereavement, verified May 2026.