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1st Central: Car insurance reviews

Name: Car insurance
Rating: 1.5 (951 reviews)

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1.50

Based on 951 reviews, last reviewed 13th Feb 2026

100% decrease in 5 star reviews

in the past 90 days

23% increase in 1 star reviews

in the past 90 days

11%

80%

Latest highest rating:

5

Good and not too expensive Was looking for good value car insurance and found this one. Not too expensive and so far can’t say anything bad. Very easy to sign up. Reviewed on: 5th September 2025

Latest lowest rating:

1

FRAUDSTERS!!!!!!! BUYER BEWARE!!!!!!!! DO NOT BUY!!!! In 35 years of using car insurance companies, I have NEVER been robbed/conned like this before! This company comes up as cheap but I can now see why, ... Read more Reviewed on: 13th February 2026

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About this product

With 1st Central, you can insure a single car or opt for a multicar policy. There’s also a telematics policy.

As standard, you get up to 90 days free cover when driving in Europe. There are five policies to choose from giving different levels of cover: ValueOnline, Online, LegalOnline, PlusOnline and PremierOnline.

1st Central car insurance reviews help you find out what it’s really like to be a customer. If you’ve used 1st Central before, you can also leave a review and share your experience.

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1st Central Car insurance reviews (951)

Nothing but trouble

For some reason this company could not take payment despite the banks insistence that 1St Central were able to access funds. After several months of assurances and repeat issues this was finally resolved. However, my car had to be scrapped as the head gasket had blown. Cancellation fee was £109. Total rip off and will not be renewing on my other vehicle when the time comes. AVOID AT ALL COSTS, Reviewed on: 4th December 2023

Avoid at all costs!

Had a non fault accident, other party's insurance claimed liability but 1st central have still been taking monthly payments for a car that is written off. Expected me to pay nearly 6 times the price of their cancellation fee, will be glad when I no longer have any ties to this dreadful "company" Be aware that even in a calm collected conversation you will have abuse thrown at the by most representatives at this company, even had money reimbursed due to the insults and way their staff spoke to me by their management. If you want to have an easy time when going through a stressful time such as an accident use any other company as 1st central will make your life and the process hell! Reviewed on: 2nd December 2023

Scam/hidden charges

Charged extra upon arbitrary request of further documents (V5C) even though I have been with 1st Central before. Avoid at all costs. Reviewed on: 1st December 2023

£50 non-refundable arrangement fee. what a scam

I have just canceled my policy after it was renewed yesterday. There is a non-refundable arrangement fee of £50 I had to pay. Arrangement fee. Hmm. Careful with 1st central. I will try not to get a new policy from them in the future Reviewed on: 30th November 2023

Legalised criminals

Filthy company that should be investigated and ceased from trading. A pure scam. Do not have any dealings with them. They appear cheap but immediately look for holes in your policy and charge you for any changes they want to make, then they’ll look again and do the same again. Shameless. I’d happily pay double to insure with just about anyone else. The whole setup is probably just a bunch of crooked lawyers that have outsourced a customer service department to Manila. What are they really going to do for you if you have an accident anyway Reviewed on: 28th November 2023

Couldn't be worse if there was a cash prize

100% the worst company I have ever dealt with in my life. Not only the worst insurance company but the worst company. Nothing but problems which they make themselves. Went through to them from compare the market and after paying for a full year upfront, the next month was nearly daily emails of new problems they've come up with. Each time I'd sort their problem they'd somehow find a new one. They needed my v5, they needed a bill of sale, they wanted proof of everything i'd written! They accused me of being in a at fault accident, they refused the first 2 emails from Admiral of non fault accident 2 years ago! The emails weren't in pdf and they need pdf. Then my name is wrong, I've put Mike instead of Michael and 6 weeks after, they've noticed and now I need to pay them. This company is vomit inducingly horrendous and I would strongly recommend people read the reviews thoroughly before considering putting such a huge amount of trust into this untrustworthy, money grabbing, nit picking, horrible customer service group of fools. Stay clear, wish we had Reviewed on: 28th November 2023

SHUT THEM DOWN

Sent numerous emails and asked for information but ignored. OK at taking your money but useless if you need support. They should be shut down by the regulator Reviewed on: 22nd November 2023

Rip of company

Do not use rip of ! They give you cheap qoute then month or so later email you with some excuse as to why they want more money of you, happend twice now !!!! Reviewed on: 22nd November 2023

Time & Money Waste

not writing anything out of anger but this organisation is BOGUS - their after sales service is pathetic - they don't know how to manage or maintain the positive impact on customer - I have bought their insurance 1st in sep (they have cancelled it without any reason and then they have forcefully deducted 78£ from my account as a cancellation charge). Then I have trusted them again in Oct and bought their insurance 2nd time and guess what their payment department was facing some issues and they failed to collect a payment from my account and cancelled my insurance without even calling me and the best part they were continuously sending me threatening txt to pay 120£ cancellation fees. I have called many times - emailed but no one responded - I have paid almost 200£ which was not even my fault. pathetic service - pathetic company - pathetic experience. Reviewed on: 20th November 2023

Awful company

Charlatans. Poor communication. Just shoddy service Reviewed on: 16th November 2023

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