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Hughes Insurance car insurance review
Hughes Insurance is an insurance broker from Northern Ireland with a long history of providing solid cover. Find out how Hughes Insurance might be able to protect you and your car.
With nearly 40 years of experience in insurance, this broker prides itself on its lack of jargon and gimmicks, offering solid cover with some impressive benefits, such as breakdown cover. Although it might not always be the cheapest option, it’s worth considering because of the benefits.
Your car must be insured at least against third party damage, and Hughes Insurance offers cover ranging from third party through to comprehensive.
Who is Hughes Insurance?
Hughes Insurance has been around since 1977 and is one of the major insurance brokers in Northern Ireland. With call centres and a number of high street branches, Hughes Insurance is known for its personal touch.
What are Hughes Insurance’s levels of cover?
Hughes Insurance offers three cover levels:
Third party, which is the most basic level of cover, and is the minimum required by law in the UK. It only covers damage done to other people’s cars if an accident is your fault.
Third party, fire and theft (TPFT) which is still quite basic, but also covers any costs that arise from fire and theft. Hughes Insurance’s TPFT insurance also includes quite a few added bonuses though (see below), so this could be plenty if you’re not interested in the most extensive cover. It’s worth noting, though, that comprehensive isn’t always the most expensive option so it’s worth getting a quote for both.
Comprehensive. This has lots to offer, especially if your car is new or has expensive parts, as it covers accidental damage and lock replacement.
Optional extras
Hughes also offers GAP (guaranteed auto protection) cover, which is an add-on that covers the difference between the price you paid for your car (or the outstanding balance on a finance agreement), and the amount you receive from the insurer if the car is written off or stolen. With Hughes, the GAP optional add-on is only available if you have comprehensive cover. GAP includes:
- Overseas cover
- Cover for your policy excess (up to £250)
- Cover for young vehicles with mileages below 80,00 worth with a value of 2,500-£75,000.
What other types of car insurance does Hughes provide?
Hughes Insurance also has a tailored service for safe young drivers, HughesDrive. This includes a telematics (“black box”) app that you download; it works with a Bluetooth monitor you stick on the windscreen (or you can use your car’s own Bluetooth, if you have it). It monitors your driving and allows Hughes Insurance to see whether you’re safe – if so, you should get a lower renewal premium. But if the monitoring shows you’re a higher risk driver, that will also be reflected in the premium.
What’s covered under my policy?
| Cover | Third party, fire and theft | Comprehensive |
|---|---|---|
| UK and Ireland breakdown assistance | ✓ | ✓ |
| Puncture assistance | ✓ | ✓ |
| Lost keys assistance | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cover for use abroad | ✓ | ✓ |
| Audio equipment | ✓ | ✓ |
| New car replacement | Depending on insurer | ✓ |
| Windscreen cover | – | ✓ |
| Courtesy car | – | ✓ |
| Uninsured driver promise | – | ✓ |
| Child seat cover | – | ✓ |
| Replacement locks cover | – | ✓ |
| Medical expenses | – | ✓ |
| Personal belongings cover | Depending on insurer | ✓ |
What is my excess?
Your excess is the amount you will be expected to pay towards any claim you make. The amount will depend on your policy, but you can pay extra to reduce it. Or you can accept a higher excess which should reduce your premium.
What is the claims process for Hughes Insurance?
Hughes Insurance car insurance claims are handled by Motorists Insurance Services; to make a claim you should call the team on 028 90 410220 at any time.
Frequently asked questions
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*51% of consumers could save £271.88 on their car insurance. The saving was calculated by comparing the cheapest price found with the average of the next 4 cheapest prices quoted by insurance providers on Seopa Ltd’s insurance comparison website. This is based on representative cost savings from March 2020 data. The savings you could achieve are dependent on your individual circumstances and how you selected your current insurance supplier.
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