Hastings insurance group are set to offer a budget car insurance policy in a bid to win custom from drivers who are struggling to keep up with the cost of motoring. With rising fuel and insurance prices, the cost of driving in the UK has never been a bigger issue. Now Hastings is planning to offer motorists an alternative to forking out on high insurance rates with their brand new no frills car cover policy. The new bargain policy has been welcomed by some, with the news that insurance rates for cars are set to rise by 20%, however some argue taking out cheaper policy could be a false economy if you are forced to make a claim. For example, if your car is damaged and you have the repair worked carried out by a professional appointed by you, rather than Hastings, your excess will double. Another area where drivers could run into difficulty is with windscreen damage as this will affect the policyholder’s no claims bonus. This could prove costly with one expert estimating that windscreen damage affects 6% of drivers a year, and losing a no claims bonus could boost insurance premiums by as much as 30% The basic policy offers essentials such as courtesy car services, and EU driving, and other cover can be purchased as an optional extra such as no claims bonus cover, and legal cover. Hastings saves money by not covering for third party cover, meaning the policyholder is not insured to driver other vehicles, and nether does it offer cover for personal belongings.