Hastings Essential Car Insurance Review
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This is the ultimate review to guide you through Hastings Essential car insurance.
You might already know that Hastings Essential offers several car insurance policy options.
Some are great, others not so much.
So if you want to get:
- Better value for money for your car insurance
- Indicative quotes
- Tips to lower your insurance premium, then you might love the following article.
Let’s dive right in.
Is Hastings Essential the best car insurance provider?
Getting the best car insurance deal is not all about the price. Indeed, focusing on just getting the cheapest deal might be a bad calculation when it comes to getting a good payout if you ever have an accident.
We’ve studied in detail Hastings Essential car policy terms and conditions and given our own ratings based on different criteria.
4 Safe overall rating for Hastings Essential
| Our rating | Our opinion | |
|---|---|---|
| Customer service & satisfaction |
Registration done online or via phone | |
| Cover provided |
Wide range of optional extra covers available | |
| Value for money |
Hastings proposes different level of coverage: Essential, Direct and Premier. | |
| Financial strength for pay out | Hastings Essential is an insurance broker that is underwritten by some of the leading insurance providers in the country. This gives it a high ability to pay out claims. | |
| Technology |
Availability of tracking device option |
Expert and customer reviews on Hastings Essential
We compiled expert and customer reviews from independent institutions, to give you an overall idea of Hastings Essential's reputation.
| Review organisation | Consumer satisfaction rates for Hastings Essential |
|---|---|
| Defaqto expert rating for Hastings Essential |  |
| TrustPilot | 4,5/5 based on more than 46,000 opinions |
To check if Hastings Essential is the right car insurance for you, you can use our free comparison tool and finally compare coverage features, optional extras, excess, admin fees and customer rating without having to give any personal information.
Our review on Hastings Essential car insurance policy
Hastings Essential Insurance is a brand name of Hastings Direct and acts as an intermediary and offers covers from several insurers in the market.
Apart from Hastings Essential, there are other level of coverage. If you want to have a more comphrensive coverage, you can also choose:
Hastings Direct: offering courtesy car, windscreen cover, personal accident cover, uninsured driver and vandalism promises as standard. https://hellosafe.co.uk/car-insurance/companies/hastings-direct-premier
Hastings Premier: offering additional features as standard. Examples are, roadside assistance, legal protection and breakdown recovery.
Here are features that you can choose to add:
Multi Car: covers 2 or more cars that are in the same address. Some of the benefits are, windscreen and windows cover, EU cover for up to 90 days per trip and £5,000 personal accident cover.
Smart Miles: it’s a telematics policy that rewards safe drivers with discounted premiums. Mostly suitable for young or new drivers who are likely to be charged higher premiums due to their high risk.
One of the best things about it is that you get to select the best cover that meets your needs from a wide range of covers. It is important that you research and go through the policy documents to ensure what your cover entails.
Another advantage that comes with Hastings Essential is the potential to lower your premium by installing an anti-theft tracking device or a Thatcham security device.
This insurance company is suitable for people who do not want to be restricted by having all of their covers from one specific insurer.
What does Hastings Essential car insurance policy cover?
Are TPO, TPFT and Comprehensive covers available at Hastings Essential?
| Car insurance policy | Available at Hastings Essential | Coverage in a nutshell |
|---|---|---|
| Third-Party Only |
| |
| Third-Party Fire and Theft |
| |
| Comprehensive |
|
Keep in mind that you can always add optional extras to your policy.
Main guarantees at Hastings Essential explained in details
Let's find out what does Hastings Essential covers in its car insurance policy.
Breakdown cover at Hastings Essential
Hastings Essential Insurance offers 4 levels of Breakdown Cover:
- Roadside Cover:this level covers roadside assistance 1/4 mile from your home address or assistance in the case of a misfuel. If roadside assistance is not feasible, it will cover the transport of the driver and upto 6 passengers to a destination that is within 15 miles from the breakdown site.
- Roadside and Recovery Cover:In addition to the benefits that come with the Roadside Cover, your vehicle can and upto 6 passengers can be taken to a destination of your choice in case the breakdown service could not fix your vehicle on the same day. You are also entitled to a 24 hour car hire that is worth upto £100 or you can opt for an overnight accommodation at a Bed&Breakfast that will cover up to £40 per person or a total of £280 per event.
- Roadside, Recovery and Home Service: In addition to the benefits that come with the Roadside and Recovery Cover, you can get breakdown assistance at your home address or anywhere within 1/4 mile from your home.
- Roadside, Recovery, Home Service and European Cover: In addition to all of the benefits that come with the Roadside, Recovery and Home Service Cover, you get access to towing services of upto 15 miles from Breakdown site, emergency driver in case you can’t drive for health reasons and also vehicle recovery to the UK.
Keycare cover at Hastings Essential
£1,500 for replacements of keys and locks in the event of loss or theft.
Motor legal protection at Hastings Essential
Up to £100,000 of legal costs in case you are involved in an accident that is not your fault.
Personal policy injury available at Hastings Essential
Up to £20,000 per person depending on the level of injury
Coverage abroad at Hastings Essential
Hastings Essential provides cover of upto 90 days for travel to EU countries or any non EU countries that agrees to follow the EU directives on motor insurance.
To travel to non EU countries, you’re going to need to extend your policy at an additional charge.
You’re required to inform your insurer about your travel plans in advance before you travel and let them know of every country you’re intending to visit.
No-Claim Bonus (NCB) at Hastings Essential
Your NCB will keep increasing every year provided you don’t get yourself involved in any incident that may require you to file for a claim or have a claim filed against you.
If your NCB builds up for 5 years, you’re likely to pay 60% less than the original amount of your premium. The insurers may take 2 of your no claims discount years during renewal if you make a claim.
You can also opt for an NCB protection cover at an additional charge.
Your NCB will be affected if you’re involved in an accident that was your fault,. If the accident wasn’t your fault, your NCB will not be affected provided that Hastings Essential is able to recover all costs from the responsible party.
Claims on emergency treatment fees on road side in case of injury during an accident will not affect your NCB.
At Hastings Essential, you can apply for the NCB protection. The NCB protection allows you to make a certain number of claims within a period without losing your No-Claim bonus.
NCB protection claims (number per year) : 2 claims in 3 years
Good to know
A No-Claim bonus is a reward that you get from driving during a long time (at least one year) without making any claim. The more years you drive without claims, the higher your NCB rate gets hence the higher the discount on your insurance premium.
Hastings Essential car insurance terms and conditions
How much does Hastings Essential car insurance cost?
You'll find below indicative car insurance quotes at Hastings Essential:
| Drivers'age | Monthly premium |
|---|---|
| 18 years old | £112,73 |
| 40 years old | £46,49 |
| 60 years old | £34,28 |
Costs of Hastings Essential insurance car policies vary widely based on different factors such as:
- The driver’s age
- The date on which they received their driving licence
- The type of car
- Expected repair costs if the car is damaged
- The performance, safety and security of the car
- The driver’s address and how busy the streets in the neighbourhood are
- Who drives the car (any additional driver on the policy)
- The driver's record of accidents and claims (number of injuries, No Claim Bonus etc.)
- Insurance taxes.
Good to know
The higher risk you represent, the more expensive your policy will be.
Is there any promo codes or discounts available at Hastings Essential?
Apart from NCD, you can also get a chance for more discounts on your premiums if you agree to have an anti-theft tracking device in your car.
Installing a Thatcham Security Device in your car would also increase your chances of getting a discount. The security devices evaluates the effectiveness of the car security products in accordance to the British security industry.
If you want to get a cheaper car insurance policy, another good way to do so is to never auto renew and always compare car insurance quotes.
Save more on your car insurance checking out our 13 tops tips to cut your insurance premiums!
Hastings Essential car insurance policy summarized
Guarantees
| At Hastings Essential | |
|---|---|
| NCB benefit | Yes |
| Uninsured driver NCB benefit | no |
| Loss or theft of keys | £300 as a standard |
| Personal belongings | £0 |
| Audio equipment | Not included as standard |
| Medical expenses | Not included as standard |
| Liability limit for property damage | £20,000,000 - £25,000,000 |
| Legal expense | £100,000 |
| Courtesy car benefit | As standard |
| Courtesy car cover | Duration of repair of your car |
| Coverage abroad | 90 days |
Excess
| At Hastings Essential | |
|---|---|
| Fire excess | Not included as standard |
| Theft excess | Not included as standard |
| Accidental damage excess | Not stated |
| Windscreen replacement excess | no |
| Young driver excess | The first £300 of every claim |
Admin fees
| At Hastings Essential | |
|---|---|
| Interest charged by payment installments | Not Stated |
| Renewal fees | £20 |
| Cancellation fees | Cancellation fee within 14 days after purchase of policy (Cooling off Period): £25 |
| Modification fees | Modification fee on policy: £30 |
Other car insurance policies available at Hastings Essential
Hastings Essential multi-car insurance
Hastings Essential offers a multicover where one policy covers upto 5 cars with the primary policyholder taking up full responsibility of the contract. If a claim is settled on a total loss of one car in the multi car insurance cover and you don’t replace the car within 30 days after settlement, Hastings Essential will cancel the cover of the car in question.
It is the responsibility of the primary policy holder to ensure that the premiums are paid on time. Defaulting in payment of premiums will results to a cancellation of cover on all of the vehicles included in the multi car insurance cover after a 7 day notice has been issued.
Each car in the Multi Car Policy has its NCB calculated separately.
Hastings Essential business car insurance
Cover for business car may be available provided you inform them. In case of any change such as using your once personal car for business, you’re supposed to let them know as soon as possible.
Provided that your Certificate of Motor Insurance shows that you have the appropriate business use cover, Hastings Essential will cover any cost or expenses your employer or business partner is legally liable for.
Hastings Essential van insurance
You can get van insurance at Hastings Essential. Details about the van insurance cover will be available to you once you contact them. Your van insurance will likely be offered by Hastings Direct which is Hastings Essential’s parent company. You can easily call them here 0333 321 9759
How to contact Hastings Essential auto insurance?
Hastings Essential phone numbers
You will find all important phone numbers to contact Hastings Essential car insurance:
| Contact number | Opening hours | |
|---|---|---|
Customer service | 0333 321 9801 | Monday to Friday: 8am-9pm |
Claims | 0333 321 9800 (UK) | Available 24/7 |
Breakdown Assistance | 0333 321 9644 (UK) | Available 24/7 |
Personal Accident | 01608 641 351 | Not Stated |
New Car Insurance Quote | 0333 321 9636 | Monday to Friday: 8am-9pm |
Complaints | 0333 321 9677 | Monday to Friday: 8am-9pm |
Hastings Essential other contact details
You'll find below Hastings Essential main contact details:
| Contact details of Hastings Essential | |
|---|---|
| Email address | |
| Customer account with Hastings Essential login | |
| Social media | Only Twitter and Facebook available is under the parent company name, Hastings Direct. |
| Chatbot | No |
You can also contact them by mail by writing to Hastings Essential car insurance:
Hastings Insurance Services Limited,
Conquest House,
Collington Avenue,
Bexhill-on-Sea,
East Sussex,
TN39 3LW
How to cancel your car insurance at Hastings Essential?
You can always cancel your car insurance policy at any time. However, some fees may apply especially if you cancel it after the 14 cooling-off period after your contract's anniversary date.
Since car insurance is a legal requirement, Hastings Essential as well as other insurers will renew your policy automatically at the end of the policy period without any notification from your side. However, Hastings Essential has the obligation to send you a renewal notice within 7 to 21 days before your contract comes to an end. You will therefore have 14 days - the cooling off period - to cancel your policy at reduced cancellation fees.
For the same reason, if you cancel your car insurance policy, you must sign up to a new one immediately. Find out more on car insurance legal requirement.
You would need to have various documents ready such as:
- your policy number (right hand corner of your documents);
- your bank details; and
- your payment method in case there are cancellation fees.
Watch out!
Hastings Essential could also refuse to cover your car any longer if you don't pay for your premiums within the time allocated, or if they find out that you omitted important information that was required by the company such as your driving experience or you if have committed a fraud of any kind. This act is known as ‘fronting’.
