Who is Hastings Direct?
Hasting Direct is the largest best-known brand name of Hastings Insurance Group and has been offering car, van, bike and home insurance since 1997.
Hastings Direct car insurance policies
Hastings Direct car insurance offers four types of policy with third party fire and theft, and comprehensive cover available within each policy type
Hastings Essential
Hastings Essential car insurance offers a basic, affordable, no-frills policy to customers wanting to keep down the cost of their motor insurance.
Hastings Direct
Hastings Direct car insurance offers a policy with some additional benefits such as a courtesy car if required as well as personal accident cover and uninsured driver cover.
Hastings Direct You Drive
Hastings Direct You Drive car insurance policy allows your driving performance to be monitored using telematics with safe driving helping to keep your premium low on renewal.
Hastings Premier
Hastings Premier car insurance policy offers the most comprehensive range of additional features such as RAC breakdown recovery and Motor legal expenses as standard.
Hastings Direct car insurance policy benefits
Courtesy car
If your car is being repaired after an accident you will be provided with a courtesy car as a temporary replacement. If your car cannot be repaired you will be provided with a like-for-like replacement vehicle for up to 21 days.
Personal belongings
Cover provided for up to £300 worth of personal belongings damaged, lost or stolen (conditions apply).
RAC breakdown cover
Four levels of cover are available with RAC so you can choose the level of cover to suit your needs.
Motor legal protection
Cover for up to £100,000 for legal expenses incurred in securing compensation for an accident that was not your fault.
Windscreen cover
If your windscreen, or other windows, are damaged they will be repaired or replaced without affecting your no claims discount (NCD)
Uninsured driver promise
If you are involved in an accident that is not your fault and the other driver involved is uninsured then you will not lose your NCD or pay any policy excess.
Vandalism promise
If you have to make a claim as the result of vandalism to your car you will not lose your NCD providing you report the incident to the police and obtain a crime reference number.
EU cover
Cover is provided for up to 90 consecutive days if travelling in EU countries.
Hastings Direct car insurance policy benefits by policy type
The table below shows the policy benefits available with each of the four Hastings Direct policy types.
| Hastings Essential | Hastings Direct | Hastings Direct You Drive | Hastings Premier | |
| Courtesy Car |  |
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| Personal belongings |  |
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| RAC breakdown | from £34.99 | from £34.99 | from £34.99 | |
| Motor legal expenses | from £29.99 | from £29.99 | from £29.99 | |
| Windscreen cover | |
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| Uninsured driver promise | |
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| Vandalism promise | |
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| EU cover | |
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How do Hastings Direct car insurance benefits compare with other insurers?
In this comparison, we have used the features of the Hastings Direct policy
| Hastings Direct | Direct Line | LV= | Aviva | |
| Guaranteed Car Hire | |
|
£19.90 for a small hatchback, £29.90 for a similar car to own | |
| Transport after accident | |
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| No Claims Discount protection | |
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| Breakdown cover | From £34.99 | From £25 p.a. | From £30 p.a. | Individual cost calculation |
| Motor legal protection (£100,000) | £29.99 p.a. | £28 p.a. | £25.99 p.a. | £29 p.a. |
| Multi-car discount | |
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| Black box available | Available with You Drive policy | |
|
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| Admin fee for policy amendments | £20 | No fee | £15 | No fee |
| Available on comparison sites | |
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How to make a claim with Hastings Direct car insurance
You can make a claim online by logging in to your MyAccount section on the Hastings Direct website and providing the details required. Alternatively call 0333 3219800.
When making a claim the following information is important to ensure a quick response:
- policy details
- contact details
- vehicle registration
- details of any other vehicles or individuals involved
- details of any available witnesses
Hastings Direct customer reviews
Hastings Direct is rated 4.4 out of 5.0 on independent review site Trustpilot with their admin fees being a negative point with customers. The consumer website Which? gives Hastings Direct an overall score of 66% on the 'Best and worst car insurance companies' league placing it in 12th place out of 16 car insurance providers.
Summary
Hastings Direct car insurance is unusual among car insurance providers by having the choice of three different policy types with varying levels of cover as well as a telematics policy for young or inexperienced drivers. The Hastings Direct Premier policy also includes a number of features as standard that are an additional charge with many other providers.
