Smart Money People Logo
Share this page
Link copied

Hastings Direct: Car insurance reviews

View other Hastings Direct products
3.07
Based on 669 reviews, last reviewed 7th Sep 2025
1400% increase in 5 star reviews
in the past 90 days
400% increase in 1 star reviews
in the past 90 days
See only 5 star reviews
35%
See only 4 star reviews
20%
See only 3 star reviews
7%
See only 2 star reviews
4%
See only 1 star reviews
34%

Latest highest rating:

5

Really good, helpful customer service, sorted issues... Really good, helpful customer service, sorted issues out straight away Reviewed on: 7th September 2025
sweetice53's avatar
sweetice53

Latest lowest rating:

2

Renewal process was insane. Renewal process was insane. Offered something double from previous year with zero claims made. Then called and was offered something less what I was p... Read more Reviewed on: 5th September 2025
Ellen's avatar
Ellen
Read all reviews Write a review

About this product

Hastings Direct provide award-winning car insurance.

You can get a Hastings Direct car insurance quote online and manage your policy via the mobile app. There are three levels of cover, Essentials, Direct and Premier. They're available as an online product which is a lower cost, self-service policy that you manage yourself.

Hastings Direct car insurance reviews help you find out what it’s really like to be a customer. If you’ve used Hastings Direct before, you can also leave a review and share your experience.

Review Hastings Direct: Car insurance now

Help others make smarter decisions by sharing your own experience.
Give a 1 star rating Give a 2 star rating Give a 3 star rating Give a 4 star rating Give a 5 star rating
Write a review

Hastings Direct Car insurance reviews (669)

So frustrating

1
Someone ran into me on the 8th April. I reported it immediately and it is now 27th April. I keep getting switched from Hastings. to Enterprise car rentals, to IMS(whoever they are), to Cannon motor repairers. I keep getting told by Enterprise car rentals(apparently they arrange the garage to fix the car), that Cannon, the local garage have been informed about my case several times. I ring Cannon up and they've never heard of me. Lies lies and yet more lies. Reading the reviews below I think I'm in for a long problem. Reviewed on: 27th April 2022
John Smith's avatar
John Smith

Exhausting and disappointing

2
Unfortunately, I didn't have a great experience with Hastings due to the only two times I had to contact them. I had to make a claim due to an accident caused by a stray deer. It took 4 months from initial communication to finally repair the vehicle. The third party allocated to my repair was actually beyond useless and failed to even respond to the body shop for over 8 weeks. I had to raise an "official complaint" to get the ball rolling on the above and I used my time to arrange repairs, courtesy cars and communication...I specifically opted for above essentials so I could relax from doing this, in the end it was moot. I needed to update my insurance due to moving over to an EV...Hastings decided that £1700 a year for a driver with 10 years experience and 6 years no claims. To paint perspective, the average quote I was receiving on animal based comparison sites came to £600. If the price was only 10% higher, with Hastings, I would have continued to use them without any qualms. I contacted support to understand why the price increase was unfathomable and if it could be reduced, I was unsuccessful with this request and ultimately had to cancel. Finally, upon cancellation I am then charged a £45 cancellation fee...it's not crippling but is completely immoral and borderline extortion. Since Hastings can "technically" provide me insurance, at a staggering price, I am the one that has decided to cancel and therefor I have to pay the penalty. Yes, I should "aLwAyS ReAD tHe CoNtRaCt", but why do we have to go to such efforts as a customer just to receive adequate and morally correct service from these monopolistic multi million pound conglomerates? It's insanity. Reviewed on: 26th April 2022
Luke's avatar
Luke

Scammers

1
Waiting for claims for the past I think 11 months to be paid, we did already 5 complaints and nothing , we put this case to court and we are waiting for a reply, they don't contact us regarding the situation and my mental health and anxiety keeps raising. We contact the ombudsman and he's fallowing the situation. This insurer is a scammer they're running from their obligations. Reviewed on: 25th April 2022
walter carvalho's avatar
walter carvalho

Money making charges

1
Good initial quote and cover. However when you change a reg number and or car thats when the fun starts with the money making scams to charge you money when other companys dont. I had 2 cars insured with hastings. Took a reg plate off one car and was charged. Understand that as they blamed the underwriters. Then get new car quote and was charged over a thousand pounds more for the one car than for the cost of the policy for the two cars. £1900 for one car. Went o compare site and got a quote for £400 and went with them. Canceled with Hastings and got charged 75 pounds for all the years of loyalty with no convictions or accidents ect. Also changed reg with new company totally free of charge HASTINGS ARE A RIP OFF. Reviewed on: 20th April 2022
Steven Pooley's avatar
Steven Pooley

WORST COMPANY I HAVE EVER DEALT WITH

1
WORST COMPANY I HAVE EVER DEALT WITH. HAVE WASTED DAYS OF MY LIFE TRYING TO GET THEM TO CANCEL MY POLICY AND THEY KEEP TELLING ME THEY HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE EVIDENCE THEY REQUIRE. IT IS A WAR OF ATTRITION2 HOURS ON THE PHONE THIS MORNING ALONE. DO NOT DEAL WITH THEM. Reviewed on: 9th April 2022
Lisa FF's avatar
Lisa FF

ABSOLUTELY USELESS A WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY

1
My accident happened 22/3 2022 and still waiting for 2 so called mangers to ring back regarding this and still no courtesy/ hire vehicle Fully comprehensive treated like sh#t Reviewed on: 4th April 2022
Belinda Mills's avatar
Belinda Mills

ABSOLUTELY USELESS A WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY

1
Please read and listen "DONT" do it go else where you will thank me in the future Today 4 April 2022 ........ accident happened on the 22 /3/2022 still no courtesy car or hire car Still waiting for call backs from 2 so called managers.... no good ! No help !waste off money Hastings direct are crap Reviewed on: 4th April 2022
Belinda Mills's avatar
Belinda Mills

Great app

5
Great cheap car insurance 51 years old with a driving app/box Reviewed on: 28th March 2022
Chris's avatar
Chris

Great telematics insurance, not so great prices.

2
A review on YouDrive policy with telematics. In terms of black box insurance, it’s probably the best. The tab they give you is self-application, so you can stick it where you like e.g. corner of your windscreen. Your driving will be monitored, but from my experience it was quite lenient on speeds, cornering and acceleration. Had a bit of a problem with braking, even if sudden braking is unavoidable in busy cities and rush hour traffic. Braking smoothly also didn’t really work in keeping the score 5/5, so I thought that was a bit strange. Another thing to keep in mind if you're thinking of going with Hastings' YouDrive policy, is that their tabs are Bluetooth connected, so it tends to drain your phone battery. Prices are not very competitive. Price went down by half once I moved to a different post code, but when I tried to add on additional mileage later on due to longer commutes to work, they wanted to increase my premium by nearly 30%, from around £65 a month to £87, when other insurance providers offered cheaper premiums than what I was paying on the old annual mileage. No additional cover such as breakdown or courtesy car was offered either, when again, other providers offered most types of extra cover for a cheaper price than what I was paying, all included in the price, with no telematics. Ended up cancelling my policy with Hastings and switching to a different provider due to price. Customer service has room for improvement. Staff didn't provide much substance to my complaint, and didn't seem willing to even attempt to price-match what other insurance brokers offered me. I cannot imagine how helpful they would be in case of an accident claim. Despite this, my policy was cancelled without much issue, and the cancellation fee was surprisingly low. Let's hope it stays that way. Overall, I would hesitate to recommend Hastings to anyone else, but their telematics scheme is possibly one of the best if you absolutely must go with a black box. There are cheaper insurance providers out there, however, so keep searching around. Reviewed on: 8th March 2022
Sabine's avatar
Sabine

Smart scam

1
This insurance is an absolute nightmare. They intelligently give you a low quote and plant that device to control you.They except you to be driving only straight on a motorway no roundabouts no bend nothing because the device keep making a stupid map on every move you make. They use that as an excuse to cancel your insurance after collecting much money from you. They are pure scam because they don't even make an alternative offer. Just smooth operators but I hope their game will be over soon because I'll take it up and expose them. They are smartly milking people and placing them in a difficult situation, running to get cover somewhere else. Reviewed on: 1st March 2022
Babygirl Don's avatar
Babygirl Don

Do you have a different Hastings Direct product?

Share your experiences with products to help others make smarter financial decisions and learn more about different products available. Write a review
Are you a business? Get insights, reply to reviews, invite customers and understand their needs

Want to see more from Hastings Direct?

    View all products

    Join Smart Money People

    Keep up to date on ratings of your favourite businesses. Find out about our awards and write new reviews with ease

    Create an account
    Man on beach

    News, guides and insight from our team

    View resource hub
    UK money news stories - 24 July 2024
    UK money news stories - 24 July 2024
    24th July 2024
    Posted in Money Talks by Errolyn Smith
    Your Money, Your Voice: Have your say
    Your Money, Your Voice: Have your say
    24th July 2024
    Posted in Our insights by Errolyn Smith
    Our latest research - customers see little impact of FCA's Consumer Duty one year on
    Our latest research - customers see little impact of FCA's Consumer Duty one year on
    24th July 2024
    Posted in Our insights by Darryl Barkwill
    Consumer credit awards winners 2024
    Consumer credit awards winners 2024
    11th July 2024
    Posted in Awards by Darryl Barkwill