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Hastings Direct: Car insurance reviews

Name: Car insurance
Rating: 2.99 (678 reviews)

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2.99

Based on 678 reviews, last reviewed 4th Apr 2026

100% increase in 5 star reviews

in the past 90 days

No new 1 star reviews

in the past 90 days

36%

19%

35%

Latest highest rating:

5

I've been with Hastings Direct for a good few years... I've been with Hastings Direct for a good few years now - they've helped me with carious claims and at a difficult time when I had a car accident they... Read more Reviewed on: 23rd January 2026

Latest lowest rating:

1

Poor service even poorer company Ive given 1 star because its the lowest… Ive given 1 star because its the lowest i can give had a major motorbike accident may last year was in a coma... Read more Reviewed on: 4th April 2026

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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.

Hastings Direct Car insurance reviews (678)

Review of the Hastings Direct, Car insurance:

Affordable for young drivers

I’m 18 and just got my first year of insurance with black box which helps save lots of money. It was quick delivery and the app is excellent - I recommended to all my friends starting to pass their driving tests! Reviewed on: 16th September 2024

Worst company I have had the misfortune of dealing with!

I had problems for the entire year of my policy and would not recommend this company to anyone. I ended up paying £100 more than I was quoted by simply informing them of the number of years my additional driver had held a license. On their website the option was "over 20 years" when they called and asked for a definitive number (25 years) this suddenly increased by £100. No matter how much I argued that 25 years is the same as "over 20 years" they were adamant the quote was no longer valid. Once the box was installed I had multiple issues as the box wasn't registering the correct time of day the car was in use and wasn't picking up the "breaking" data correctly. It took multiple calls and over two weeks for me to be put through to the maintenance team who informed me this was due to the box being a new installation and to give it 6 weeks to settle. During these 6 weeks I received numerous threats from the company regarding policy cancellation. I both emailed and called the Customer Service Team, they confirmed what the maintenance team said regarding the 6 week "settling in" period but still carried on with the cancellation threats. The telephone manner was absolutely disgusting and even after speaking to the manager I ended up placing a formal complaint with the head office. I only had a suitable response when I threatened to report the company to the Ombudsman. During the first two weeks of my policy I decided I would like to cancel my policy and move to a better company. Policy cancellation is supposed to be free in the first two weeks, they imposed £450 worth of charges which they refused to confirm; 1) what they were all for and 2) why this was not free as stated both online and in all the documents I received. I have had further issues since my policy has ended with the company refusing to remove the black box unless I pay £150, I was told upon setting up the policy that this was free after the first year. They have also still not sent out a copy of my No Claims Bonus, it has been almost two weeks since my policy has ended. I have emailed and called and still no certificate. I'm concerned this is going to affect my new policy as I need to provide proof within 28 days and Hastings are no help at all. UPDATE: I have since emailed the email address below along with sending further emails to the team that have been dealing with my NCB certificate issues. Twice I have been sent the certificate, both times with substantial errors. The first document stated the same number of years as when my policy started and also stated I was at fault in an accident a number of years ago. They resent the certificate, this time with the correct number of years but still stating I was at fault. I would like to say it's an error I made but seen as the policy was setup over the phone this is the result of (another) incompetent member of staff incapable of inputting correct data. Multiple emails have been sent and not one person has bothered responding. I have tried calling after work for the last 3 nights between 5pm and 8pm, each time I have spent in excess of 30 minutes on hold (which I'm being charged for!) and then the line seems to give up or my call is being knocked off because someone obviously wants to go home at 8pm on the dot. I will be contacting the FCA again as my new insurer cannot cover me much longer without valid NCB proof. I have never dealt with such an incompetent company. Customer service is non-existent and it's safe to say they would have better service if they employed wild animals. Reviewed on: 23rd September 2016

Don't bother

They maybe cheap but it has definitely been a case of what you pay is what you get for me. After being in a no fault accident this insurance company and claims management company have outdone themselves to accommodate the third party insurers instead of me the policy holder and the NOT AT FAULT driver. I've been lied to, claim handlers consistently contradict each other with each call. It's extremely difficult to get through to claims each time I've called (8 times now) I've been on hold more than 35 minutes. I've been put into a no win situation and am now out of pocket to the tune of £4,000. Oh and to add to the injustice they have taken the outstanding monthly payments from my insurance settlement even though I wanted to insure any new car under the remainder of the policy. I can keep the hire car for an additional 7 days but It may take them 5 days to pay my settlement. Leaving me 2 days to sort out a car if I'm lucky!! Certainly will not be using this company again and would advise people to seriously consider before taking out their own insurance with Hastings. Reviewed on: 22nd September 2016

Good customer service

Always helpful when I call up for renewal Reviewed on: 20th September 2016

Never had any issues...

Myself, my brother and my father have all used Hastings in different variants/ levels of cover and have never had any issues. When my brother had an accident they were quick to communicate with other insurers and swiftly got his car fixed with a car to drive whilst it was in repair! Good prices and helpful customer services, especially when we had a problem buying a car that we had insured that morning! I would recommend , I won't put 10/10 because there are things they could improve. e.g. waiting times and their website! Reviewed on: 19th September 2016

Easy

Great when you have to phone them, deal with everything quickly without any trouble. Reviewed on: 17th September 2016

Competively priced car insurance

Great car insurance and unusual for car insurance if you stay with them they will beat best quote. Reviewed on: 12th September 2016

More focussed on new customers than rewarding existing ones

We were insured with Hastings for a couple of years and had never had any problems with them they were efficient, helpful on the phone and dealt with all queries and changes promptly. However this year when our renewal was due the price had jumped up several hundred pounds despite the fact we had a new car that is cheaper to insure and an extra years no claims discount. I called up to speak to someone about the renewal and see what could be done but they weren't interested and basically told me it was tough luck and that we would have to take our custom elsewhere which wasn't a response I was expecting. Reviewed on: 11th September 2016

Hastings Direct - Competitive Car Insurance

When it comes to Car Insurance - its all about the cheapest like for like cover. This year (for the 1st time in quite a few years), Hastings came up with by far the cheapest quote. No brainer on who I chose. Reviewed on: 10th September 2016

ALL GOOD

Cheap quote so purchased, not had to make a claim so can't comment on how well they deal with them Reviewed on: 31st August 2016

looking after my daughter

as a newly qualified driver, who has had a bump on the motorway, the company is taking good care in this difficult time Reviewed on: 29th August 2016

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