Hastings Car Insurance

Hastings is a major tourist destination in the world-famous British East Sussex area, which places it on the shores of southeast England. Bordered by Kent, Brighton and Hove as well as Surrey, it is a lovely seaside town on the English Channel that receives steady traffic from local holidaymakers, national and also international tourists. Yet before getting into a car in Hastings, car insurance rules and regulations must be observed.

This sometimes comes as a bit of a surprise to the international traveler who may have thought that he is covered by his policy at home. As it stands, the motor vehicle insurance rules are governed by the Road Traffic Act of 1988 (as amended in 1991). Fortunately for the casual traveler and local motorist, meeting the very basic requirement of ‘third party only insurance’ is very simple.

This third party coverage protects the driver’s vehicle against damage to his car that is caused by someone else. A lesser amount of Hastings car insurance coverage is available as part of a ‘road traffic act only insurance’ policy that seeks to protect a third party’s property in the case of an accident. Since it has the relatively low limit of £1,000,000, it potentially leaves the traveler open to personal liability suits if the damage to property and persons exceeds this amount. Tourists who are unfamiliar with British driving rules are prime examples of accident-causing drivers who may get burned with this low limit. Do not jeopardize the enjoyment of the holiday by skimping on the insurance coverage!

Savvy visitors to Hastings opt for comprehensive car insurance. Car rental companies frequently offer this coverage as an aside during vehicle rental discussions. This form of motor vehicle coverage provides protection in the case of an accident that is the fault of the insured driver. It protects the driver’s car, the vehicle of the accident victim, provides for medical expenses and also covers the loss of personal belongings.

For the driver willing to purchase the maximum coverage possible, it is wise to also consider ‘insurance excess’ coverage. British drivers understand the excess to be the amount that they will have to pay after an accident, even if the car crash was the fault of a third party. It is possible to buy Hastings car insurance a lot cheaper just by voluntarily bearing the insurance excess, but for the short-term traveler who wants to be fiscally protected in any event, it is wise to opt for the insurance coverage instead.

Tourists in particular should also remember to take advantage of ‘roadside only’ or ‘roadside and recovery’ policy add-ons. Such motor vehicle insurance addenda protect the driver against the costs of contracting for roadside assistance, vehicle recovery and alternative transportation arrangements. No matter which car insurance option the traveler chooses, when traversing the Hastings byways and highways, he must keep the certificate of motor vehicle insurance coverage handy and be ready to offer it to law enforcement for inspection at all times.