Car insurance

There's no set price for car insurance. This is because insurers calculate premiums based on a range of factors unique to you. These include:

• Your age
• Years of driving experience
• Driving history (claims and points, etc.)
• Postcode
• Occupation
• Annual mileage

The car you drive also plays a big part in the price of cover, with insurers taking into account:

• Value
• Modifications
• Performance
• Safety features
• Where the car’s kept during the day and night

Insuring a car's a pretty straightforward process: simply enter your details, select the type of policy you'd like to purchase and you'll get a quote. With Hastings Direct, all you need is a registration number to get started.

There are three main types of cover: third party, third party fire and theft, and comprehensive car insurance. Here's a quick rundown of what each level includes:

Third party

This is the minimum level of insurance required by law. If you're involved in an accident, it covers damage to the other person's property, but costs to repair or replace your car will come from your pocket. You won't be covered if your car is stolen or damaged by fire, either.

Third party fire and theft

Third party fire and theft offers the same over as a third party policy, but you're also covered if your car's stolen or damaged/destroyed by fire.

Comprehensive

This provides you with the highest level of cover when you're on the road. If you're involved in an accident, the policy will pay out for costs associated with you and the third party. It also offers protection against fire and theft.

People assume third party policies are the cheapest. But because more people claim on this type of insurance, they can cost just as much – sometimes more – than comprehensive policies. Even if comprehensive cover is a little more expensive, you benefit from a far greater level of protection on the road.

There are also specialist insurance policies, like multi car cover, telematics insurance like Hastings Direct SmartMiles and business car policies.

The easiest way to check your car's insured is in the Motor Insurer's Database. The website contains information on all insured vehicles in the UK – all you need is your car’s registration number to use it.

When taking out car insurance, you'll need to enter details about you and your car. Here are some details you'll be asked to give:

• Car registration number
• Driving licence number
• Address and work address if you'll use the car for work
• Years of no-claims discount
• Estimated value of your car
• Details of claims and convictions/motoring offences (if applicable)
• Estimated annual mileage
• Bank details (for payment)

As getting car insurance quotes require specific information about the car, it's not possible to get a quote without a car. Unless you know the car you're buying and its registration number.

If you're on the hunt for budget car insurance and haven't yet bought your car, we recommend spending some time looking around for cheap cars to insure. All cars are grouped into one of 50 different insurance classes, with group one cars being the cheapest. So if you want to save on cover, you're best bet is to choose a car in a lower group.

Some comprehensive policies allow the main drivers to drive someone else's car on a third party basis. But this varies between providers and may be subject to certain conditions – i.e. you may need to be over a certain age. In any case, it's always important to check with your insurer.

Also, what's worth bearing in mind is you'll only have third party cover on the car, even though you have a comprehensive policy on your own car. This means if you were involved in a crash in the other car, you'd have to pay out for repairs.

If you change your car mid-policy, you need to inform your insurer before you start driving it. They'll need to adjust your details and may charge an admin fee. It's likely it will alter the price you pay for cover – you could end up paying more or less.

You legally have to insure and tax the car if you want to drive it away. The easiest way to do this is to get a quote before you pick it up, then all you need to do is call the insurer or visit their website to activate the policy.

There are many things you can do to make sure you pay the lowest possible price for car insurance – you can find some handy tips on our budget car insurance page.

Get quality cover for an affordable price with Hastings Direct. Get a quick quote for car insurance today.