Hastings Direct car insurance review

Hastings Direct, launched in 1997, is part of Hastings Group, which also includes the brands Insure Pink and People's Choice. 

It offers car, motorbike and home insurance. Policies are underwritten by Advantage Insurance Company Limited. You can buy a policy directly or through comparison websites.

We've reviewed four of Hastings Direct's policies: its standard car insurance, referred to simply as Hastings Direct, as well as its Essential, Premier and YouDrive cover. We've also surveyed 97 customers who've claimed on its policies.

All four policies cover drivers aged between 17 and 82. 

Please note that the information in this article is for information purposes only and does not constitute advice. Please refer to the particular terms and conditions of an insurer before committing to any financial products.

Does Hastings Direct offer the best car insurance?

See how this compares with the best car insurance, or read more about how we rate car insurance.

What does Hastings Direct car insurance offer?

We reviewed four Hastings Direct policies. Select a policy from our table to see what it offers and what we scored it.

'Hastings' policies didn't do much better than average'

Dean Sobers, Which? car insurance expert, says:

Hastings Direct's Premier policy ranked in the middle of our policy tables.

It achieved 63% in our analysis, nosing just above the 62% average score.

It includes a comparatively generous £500 medical expenses cover limit. This contributes towards such expenses as prescription costs, physiotherapy treatment, dental treatment and optician costs. You can also add hire car cover, which supplies a temporary replacement car for up to 28 days in the event your car is stolen or written off.

On the downside, its personal possessions cover (£300) doesn't cover gadgets like phones or tablets, and its glass damage cover doesn't extend to covering the vehicle's sunroof.

Low excess for fire, theft and accidental damage

A plus point is a very reasonable £45 compulsory excess payable in fire, theft and accidental damage claims. Across the policies we looked at, the average excess was £160.

Hastings Direct, Essentials and YouDrive

We rated three other policies from Hastings. Its standard policy earned 62% in our analysis. It was similar to Premier in most ways but lacked breakdown and misfuelling cover (these are available as an optional extra). Premier bundles these in as standard.

Meanwhile, YouDrive is a telematics (black box) policy that uses a wireless tab and your smartphone to track your driving. It comes with many of the same features as the standard policy and earned the same 62% score.

Hastings Direct's Essentials policy pares back various features, including cover for your windscreens and windows. It was one of the lowest-rated policies in our analysis, with 47%. 

How did customers rate Hastings Direct's car insurance?

We asked Hastings Direct customers who have recently made a claim how they felt about their car insurance.

Hastings Direct earned a customer score of 73%, which put it 10th in our customer satisfaction table (out of 12). It scored 71% when assessed specifically for its claims service (joint 12th out of 14). The average customer and claims scores were 76% and 75%.

One policyholder said that while the customer service is pretty good, 'the claims process was convoluted'. Another thought 'communication was ridiculously poor', yet others told us they believed Hastings Direct were 'fair and transparent'.

Here's how customers rated Hastings Direct in various areas of service:

How can you save money on Hastings Direct car insurance?

You can buy Hastings Direct policies directly from its website, or from the following comparison websites:

• Compare the Market
• Confused.com
• Go.Compare
• MoneySuperMarket
• QuoteZone

On all of its policies except YouDrive, Hastings Direct offers discounts for covering multiple cars.

Hastings Direct may also be willing to offer additional discounts if you contact it at renewal to discuss its renewal offer.

Want to pay monthly?

You can choose to pay your premium in one go or in monthly instalments. Paying monthly usually costs more overall. This is because paying by instalments is usually provided as a form of credit, with interest or other charges applied.

When we reviewed the policies from Hastings Direct, its rate for paying in monthly instalments was 22.8% APR. This was a little more than the average rate (20.49% APR) charged among providers that told us their rates.

It may be worth thinking about paying annually and spreading the cost with an interest-free purchase credit card.

The above information is correct as of December 2025.

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How does Hastings Direct compare with other providers?

With a customer score of 73%, Hastings Direct was 10th out of 12 brands we assessed - just between Direct Line (scoring 74%) and Churchill (72%). 

Hastings Direct's Premier Policy scored 63%. This placed it slightly behind AXA's Plus policy, Admiral's Gold and Platinum policies, and Swiftcover's Plus policy. These each earned 64%. 

Hastings' Essential cover received a policy score of 47% - which placed it at the bottom of our table alongside Swiftcover's standard car insurance policy.

Hastings Direct: how can I claim?

If you need to make a claim with Hastings Direct car insurance, you can make a claim online or call 0333 321 9800.

• Find out more: is it worth claiming on your car insurance?

Should you buy Hastings Direct car insurance?

Maybe. Hastings' policies could fit your needs and budget - but generally underwhelmed in our analysis.

How we rate car insurance

 Find out how Hastings Direct rates for other products

• Hastings Direct home insurance review