Admiral with a black box or Hastings Essential no black box?

chrish2

I am a new driver, 24 years old, and these are the two cheapest quotes by a distance.

I don't fancy a black box, I know some people have had good experiences with them, but I've also read a lot of bad stuff about them, like false data being recorded (stationary vehicle shown as moving), people being warned despite taking care with braking and accelerating, people having their entire policy cancelled after a single bad drive (a person who was late for an exam), I just don't want to be monitored every single second I'm in my car.

There is only around £20 difference across the year but I have read more bad reviews about Hastings (Direct, not Essential - is there much difference?) than Admiral, but is there much difference between them overall? Not expecting a great service either way if I have any issues given they're the cheapest.

wongataa

If you never have an incident then you won't need to contact the insurance company and their customer service is irrelevant.


My other half has been with Hastings for a few years now and hasn't had any issues with them. The Direct and Essential naming is just different levels of cover. Direct has more than Essential. It is all Hastings.


If you don't want the box and the prices are similar I would just go with the no box option and hope that if anything does happen the customer service will be OK. You can find people complaining about the customer service of every insurance company.

UncleZen

I suppose, if you get a dashcam as well it'll go someway to disproving any black box irregularities

John_G_Jones

I’d go with the one without the black box. £20 is too little to factor into your decision, but with the best will in the world a new driver will like,y be a touch more erratic than they will be in a few years and a black. Ox could treat this very harshly.

Ectophile

My main whinge about Hastings Direct is that the quote they post me every year is never the best they can do. So every year, I have to shop around. then when I phone up Hastings Direct, suddenly they come up with something better.

wongataa

Ectophile wrote: »

My main whinge about Hastings Direct is that the quote they post me every year is never the best they can do. So every year, I have to shop around. then when I phone up Hastings Direct, suddenly they come up with something better.

To be honest this happens with pretty much every insurance company. I'm not with Hastings but I got my renewal reduced by £200 this year by getting some quotes and phoning my insurance company.

jk0

I would go without the black box IIWY.


It's very frustrating to have one.