Who is Hastings Direct?
Hastings Direct is based in Bexhill-on-Sea in East Sussex. This is the location where the broker first started out in 1997. It also has offices in Leicester, South Africa, Gibraltar and London.
There are 3,300 members of staff working for Hastings Direct and it has around 3.1 million customers across its range of insurance products.
Hastings Direct is an intermediary and its policies are underwritten by a small group of insurers. These include: Advantage Insurance Company Limited, Lloyds, and Axa.
It is part of the Hastings Group which owns a number of different companies selling a range of insurance products.
Along with car insurance, you can also buy bike, van, and home insurance through the broker.
Hastings Direct is not short of awards, and in 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2018 it won the Car Insurance of the Year award from Moneyfacts, which also gave it five stars this year for car insurance.
Hastings Essential car insurance policy details
The following will be included in a comprehensive Hastings Essential policy:
- Damage or loss of your car, including if it’s damaged by fire or stolen
- Legal cover for damage to a third party’s property
- Personal accident cover
- Up to 90 days cover for driving in the European Union.
However, you won’t be covered for any of the following items:
- Damage to your car’s windscreen or glass windows
- Driving other vehicles
- Your personal belongings
- Medical expenses if you are injured
- Damage to or loss of any audio-visual equipment in your car
- Damage to or loss of any accessories if you have any fitted on your car.
There’s also no cover in this policy if you hit an uninsured driver. Some car insurance policies, including others offered by Hastings Direct, offer uninsured driver cover. This means if you have an accident involving someone who doesn’t have insurance, you won’t lose your no-claims bonus or have to pay an excess on the claim.
While Hastings Essential is the cheapest policy offered by Hastings Direct, the actual price you pay will depend on lots of different factors.
These include your age, occupation, and address along with the type of car you have and your driving experience. This is why it’s always important to compare car insurance policies to make sure you’re buying one that is right for you, at the right price.
Hastings Direct offers a selection of car insurance policies and types. Not all policies and types are available through our site, so the exact levels of cover and benefits may vary. Before buying car insurance, we recommend you check the cover and benefits included.
Buy car insurance and choose a freebie with Confused.com Rewards
Single annual policy. Lidl Plus app required, 18+, geographical exclusions apply. T&Cs applyCar insurance guides

What to do if you're hit by an uninsured driver
What happens if you're involved in an accident with an uninsured or untraceable driver.

Checklist for challenging a PCN
Does the Penalty Charge Notice process confuse you? We're here to help.

Ultra Low Emission Zone: What does ULEZ mean for motorists?
The Ultra Low Emissions zone or ULEZ aims to reduce pollution in London. But many drivers have been left confused by the extra charge.

Best car phone holders 2022
Getting a car phone cradle is a fairly basic purchase, but essential if you use a phone or sat nav for navigation.

Watching TV could be allowed in self-driving cars
A new change to the Highway Code could mean you can watch TV in your self-driving car. But is it safe?

Driving in Spain: speed limits, laws and requirements
All you need to hit the road in sunny Spain.