Hastings Direct is a well-known UK insurer, with a strong 4.4 Trustpilot rating and a 5-star Defaqto rating for its car insurance policies.
Hastings Direct offers a range of cover options, including online-managed policies that can help keep costs down, alongside support when you need it.
The insurer reports that it accepted 99% of motor insurance claims in 2024, highlighting a high level of reliability when it comes to payouts.
Independent research by Which? gave Hastings Direct a claims score of 71%
Defaqto is a leading independent reviewer of financial products. Hastings Direct's higher-tier policies (Direct and Premier) as well as its telematics policy YouDrive, receive the maximum five-star Defaqto rating for features and benefits, while its essential policy is rated two stars.
If you choose a fully comprehensive Hastings Direct car insurance policy (essential, direct, or premier) the following is included:
These are the average prices of Hastings Direct car insurance policies across a wide range of drivers.
How much you personally pay will be influenced by your age, location, driving history and other factors, so could differ significantly
Fully comprehensive
Fully comprehensive
Fully comprehensive
Fully comprehensive
Hastings Direct Car Insurance Direct and Premier policies give you extra cover and benefits compared to the basic Essential policy. Both include:
Cover for driving other cars
Windscreen and personal belongings cover
Vandalism and uninsured driver promise
Hastings Direct Premier also includes built-in breakdown cover through the RAC and motor legal protection as standard.
Choosing Hastings Direct or Premier may be worth it if you want extra protection for your personal belonings, are concerned about uninsured drivers or vandalism, regularly drive long distances and would benefit from built-in breakdown cover, or would struggle with unexpected costs after an accident.
Upgrading may not be necessary if you already have breakdown cover elsewhere, don't have many years of no-claims to lose, would be comfortable paying some expenses like windscreen repair yourself, or mainly use your car for short, low-risk journeys.
Which provider is best for you will depend on your own needs and circumstances. Here are some advantages and disadvantages of Hastings Direct car insurance to help you make your decision:
High claim payout rate of 99%
Solid customer reputation with 4.4 score on Trustpilot
Flexible policy options for different budgets and needs
24-7 claims helpline
Established car insurance brand with over 25 years of experience
Low Which? claims rating
Basic Essential plan is light on features compared to other providers
Breakdown cover and motor legal expenses only included on highest tie
These are all standard fully comprehensive car insurance policies. All providers also offer higher-tier options, which will include more features for an extra cost.
Hastings Direct | Admiral Essential | Aviva Signature | Direct Line Essentials | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Price | £449 | £648 | £385 | £461 |
Defaqto rating | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Which? claims rating | 71% | 74% | 80% | 74% |
Claims payout rate | 99% | 98.9% | N/A | N/A |
Uninsured driver promise | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Courtesy car included? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Administration fees | £20, free for certain changes like name or contact details | £15 | Free online, £18 if calling in | Free |
Further information |
Price data from MoneySuperMarket. Other data from provider website and correct as of March 2026
Hastings Direct is a well-established UK insurer, with a 99% motor claims acceptance rate and a solid customer reputation. This can offer reassurance to younger drivers, who are statistically more likely to be involved in an accident, as well as to parents adding a young driver to their policy.
However, it is not typically the cheapest option for new drivers. Our research shows that on average, the lowest-cost policies for drivers who have held their licence for less than a year were from Marmalade Essentials
Hastings Direct offers several car insurance policy types that may suit young drivers:
(Average price across all black box customers.)
💡 Top tip: If you bought your Hastings Direct car insurance through MoneySuperMarket, you can see your policy information on our website. Just sign in and click on your dashboard.
For customer service, you can call Hastings Direct on 0333 321 9801. Opening times are Mon - Fri: 8am-7pm, Sat: 9am-5pm, and Sun: 9am-1pm.
If you have a Hastings Direct online insurance policy, you'll be able to manage most of your policy online or through the app.
You can also contact the customer service team at Hastings Direct at any time by opening the app and clicking 'Message Us'.
If you need to make a claim on your Hastings Direct car insurance policy, contact Hastings Direct as soon as possible after an incident.
You’ll usually need your policy number, details of what happened (date, time, location), information about any other drivers or vehicles involved and photos or evidence.
Claims lines are open 24/7, and are available even if you have an Online Car Insurance policy.
🚩 You will not get any money refunded if you have already made a claim on your car insurance
You will need to cancel your car insurance with Hastings Direct directly. You cannot cancel via MoneySuperMarket.
You can cancel your Hastings Direct car insurance online via their website or app.
Yes, you can cancel your Hastings Direct car insurance at any time, but your refund will be reduced by fees and the time you’ve been covered if your policy has already started.
Yes, Hastings Direct charges cancellation fees. The amount varies depending on when you cancel:
Prior to the policy auto-renewing: No charge
Within the first 14 days of the policy starting: No charge
More than 14 days after the policy starts: £45 admin fee
You will also need to pay for all the days you were covered for.
No, any payments for add-ons such as breakdown cover are non-refundable.
With MoneySuperMarket, you can quickly and easily compare Hastings Direct car insurance against policies from up to 193
Price comparison websites like MoneySuperMarket can help you find cheaper car insurance from providers such as Hastings Direct compared with going direct. There are several ways we can help you save money:
our Price Promise1 means if you find the same policy cheaper elsewhere (including on a provider’s website), we’ll refund the difference and give you a £15 gift card
our Price Optimiser gives you tailored tips on how to adjust your policy to reduce the price – 83%
our SuperSaveClub2 rewards programme gives you added perks, including £15 when you buy a car insurance policy and benefits like a Free Days Out annual pass
We also make it quick and easy to compare Hastings Direct policies alongside other insurers, so you can check you’re getting the best deal and see if the same level of cover is available for less elsewhere.
If you bought your Hastings Direct car insurance through MoneySuperMarket, you can find your policy information by logging into our website or app. Your active policies will be shown on your dashboard.
Alternatively, you can find your Hastings Direct car insurance policy on the Hastings Direct MyAccount customer portal by logging into your account.
Yes, Hastings Direct charges a £20 administration fee for certain changes to your policy. While it's free to change your name, marital status, mileage, phone number and email address, you'll need to pay to change your home address, or vehicle, or any other changes to your policy.
Your premium may also go up or down depending on the change.
Yes, you can add named drivers to your Hastings Direct car insurance. To add a driver to your Hastings Direct car insurance policy, log into your Hastings Direct MyAccont online or on the app and go to the policy overview page.
Adding extra drivers to your Hastings Direct car insurance may increase or decrease your car insurance premium, depending on their risk profile. MoneySuperMarket data found that adding a young driver (under 25) to any car insurance policy increased premiums by £768.94
Most Hastings Direct car insurance policies do not include breakdown cover as standard, but it can be purchased as an optional add-on for an extra fee - it's provided by the RAC. The exception is Hastings Direct Car Insurance Premier, which includes breakdown cover as standard.
You do not need to have a car insurance policy with Hastings Direct to buy RAC breakdown cover. You can also buy breakdown cover from a different provider if you have Hastings Direct car insurance.
Most Hastings Direct car insurance policies will be set up for auto-renewal. This means that after your existing contract ends Hastings Direct will start a new one for you using the payment details they have on file. No action is required from you and there will be no break in your car insurance cover.
Auto-renewal does not mean you will get the same cover at the same price as you had before. Hastings Direct must contact you in advance of your policy renewing to inform you of any price or policy changes. If you don't want your Hastings Direct cover to auto-renew, you need to inform Hastings Direct before your policy end date. You can do this through your Hastings Direct account.
Before letting your Hastings Direct policy auto-renew, it's worth comparing car insurance quotes to see if you could get a better deal elsewhere. Shopping around can help ensure you’re not paying more than necessary, as renewal prices aren’t always the most competitive.
Hastings Direct Online car insurance policies are a cheaper version of Hastings Direct car insurance policies because they are managed entirely online via the Hastings Direct website or app and do not offer call centre support. Otherwise, the policy features are the same.
If you opt for an online version of a Hastings Direct policy you will still be able to call a phone line for car insurance claims. But if you need any help with any other issue you will need to speak to Hastings Direct's online agents instead of calling in. These agents are available through the Hastings Direct app.
Yes, you can pay for your Hastings Direct car insurance policy via monthly Direct Debits. This is usually more expensive than paying one annual lump sum, because car insurers add interest onto monthly payments.
Hastings Direct is a UK-based insurance provider, founded in 1997. It offers a range of general insurance products, including car, van, home and bike insurance.
The brand is best known for its car insurance, with different levels of cover available - Essential, Direct and Premier - as well as optional extras like breakdown cover and motor legal protection.
Hastings Direct focuses on offering flexible policies at competitive prices, often with online account management to help keep costs down. It also sells cover for vans and motorbikes as well as home insurance.
Around 90% of Hastings Direct car insurance policies are directly underwritten by the Group’s Gibraltar based insurer, Advantage Insurance Company Limited.
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Yes, you can earn SuperSaveClub rewards when you buy car insurance through MoneySuperMarket.
This includes:
Up to £15, which you can withdraw as a pre-paid Mastercard or a gift card for brands like Sainsbury's and Amazon.co.uk
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Reviewed on 18 Jun 2026
Defaqto is a leading independent reviewer of financial products. Five stars is for 'An excellent product with a comprehensive range of features and benefits'.
Individual insurance products from Hastings may have different ratings. Data from the Defaqto website. Data from April 2026.
Based on the median annual price of comprehensive car insurance policies sold through MoneySuperMarket in April 2026.
Based on the median annual price of comprehensive car insurance policies sold through MoneySuperMarket in April 2026.
Defaqto is a leading independent reviewer of financial products. Two stars is for 'A product offering fewer than average features and benefits'.
Individual insurance products from Hastings may have different ratings. Data from the Defaqto website. Data from April 2026.
Based on the median annual price of comprehensive car insurance policies sold through MoneySuperMarket in April 2026.
Based on the median annual price of comprehensive car insurance policies sold through MoneySuperMarket in April 2026.
