Direct Line still good for insurance?

[Condi]

I always thought they were pretty good, but a few review sites dont seem to hold them in much regard at the moment. Hastings Direct are also quite competitive, someone who I have never dealt with before, but get good reviews.

Some people will prefer one, or neither, but are any better than the other?

[ch108]

My dad was with direct line for years. Had a couple of bumps over a few years, the car was always collected, repaired and returned within a reasonable time. His premiums eventually went up and he moved elsewhere. But he never had a problem with their service.

I was with them for a few years, never claimed but my premium doubled one year for no reason. Have never been able to get a competitive quote from them since.

[lbc]

I have always found their quotes to be very expensive.

For this reason I have never used them in over 30 years of driving.

[B.J.W]

I've been a long standing customer with direct line, but their motor insurance premiums have become increasingly uncompetitive. They wanted £700 for me to insure my Audi Allroad (38 years old, 10 years plus NCB, no accidents or points), which was ludicrous given I was only paying £580 on my Vantage. I found a quote through another provider for under £400 fully comp. I gave DL an opportunity to match, which they couldn't do. So, they lost a customer who had been with them approx 10 years. They didn't seem to mind....

[mattshiz]

I built a named drivers no claims with them, when I came to use this they refused to quote me on a mx-5 .

Thats was a few years ago, now they do quote me they are always ridiculously expensive. They seem to have dealt with my parents cars well when they've had prangs. Even gave us a £240 Halfords voucher for when our £70 aftermarket radio got stolen :s

[joema]

B.J.W said:

I've been a long standing customer with direct line, but their motor insurance premiums have become increasingly uncompetitive. They wanted £700 for me to insure my Audi Allroad (38 years old, 10 years plus NCB, no accidents or points), which was ludicrous given I was only paying £580 on my Vantage. I found a quote through another provider for under £400 fully comp. I gave DL an opportunity to match, which they couldn't do. So, they lost a customer who had been with them approx 10 years. They didn't seem to mind....

Same.

9 years of premiums and the computer says no. Their loss.

They wanted a tracker and no one else did so I went elsewhere

[ARobinson]

I was with them at 22 on a clio trophy as the were competitive. They have been absolutely miles off since then and I've not had any accidents or anything. Price is over double what the competition want.

[GoneAnon]

My own car and those of the kids have been with them off and on over the years. Never accept the renewal premium without checking their website - they have usually been competitive against other insurers or matched their own new business quote.

Never had to claim on car insurance, though so I have no idea how good they are when it really matters, but claims on home contents and travel insurance were both dealt with quickly and efficiently.

[T1547]

As per others I have always found their quotes to be far from competitive. I see them as the John Lewis of the insurance world and imagine that's how they are trying to position themselves to their target audience.

[wolfie1978]

I used to be with direct line for about 5 years but after one 50:50 and one non fault bump found them very below par. Didn't respond to court summons to decide liability until after a judgement was made, didn't collect cctv evidence that was available or ask me to collect it until it was too late, don't respond to complaints, took them 3 days to get me a courtesy car after mine was smashed even though i paid extra on my policy to guarantee i have one because i work anti social hours. Very lazy at chasing the other party for liability and settlement. Their prices were always good but the service was that bad i'd rather pay extra and go elsewhere

[tim0409]

I am with Direct Line and have been for a few years and that's despite shopping around at renewal - there have been companies a little bit cheaper but not enough to make me want to move because I have always found DL to be pretty good whenever I have to call them up. My last car (a 2008 118d) was £370 pa which was a competitive quote at the time - I recently bought a 2010 118d and this year I am paying £160 for the same cover.

[jmclusky]

I've literally just gone through a claim with Direct Line. Fantastic service, the car was collected and returned to me within a week in top condition. I couldn't recommend them highly enough as long as you fit their profile and you get a good quote.

[HTP99]

I've been with Direct Line now for around three years, come renewal I've always shopped about but Direct Line have always been competitive.

Last June the wife reversed onto a colleagues car, one call and it was all sorted, no paperwork or anything, car was collected, we had a hire car and a week later the car was dropped back all repaired.

Come renewal in December the premium went down, this is after our fault claim as mentioned above.

We have no complaints.

[Whiskeydog]

Depends on the car whether they are competitive or down right over the top with their quotes. I've been with them for years. Recently changed my car for something with a bit more go than my Golf GT, needless to say I'll be leaving them come renewal time in June.