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1st Central: Car insurance reviews

Name: Car insurance
Rating: 1.5 (957 reviews)

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1.51

Based on 957 reviews, last reviewed 17th Apr 2026

100% increase in 5 star reviews

in the past 90 days

56% decrease in 1 star reviews

in the past 90 days

11%

80%

Latest highest rating:

5

Just started my third year of car insurance cover wi... Just started my third year of car insurance cover with 1st Central. Good value for money, helpful customer service, clearly laid out website and easy ... Read more Reviewed on: 17th April 2026

Latest lowest rating:

1

Do not use this provider for your car insurance I’ve had a very poor experience with this insurer. They failed to respond to three or four of my emails, and despite requesting a call from management... Read more Reviewed on: 10th April 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 (957)

Not even good enough for 1 star

This has to be my worst experience with an insurance company. 2019, my CAT was stolen. I called my insurer to inform them as the terms and conditions stipulated. I never claimed it was just a notification. I paid for the replacement of my CAT and moved on. 2022, I took on a policy with 1st Central and paid for the entire year. As usual, they requested my NCD; I sent it. There was no acknowledgement and no further request until June 2023, just over one month before my policy was due to end. I was told there is an outstanding document. This time, they explained that they require evidence of claims history, not NCD. Apparently, there was a claim registered in my name in 2019. I am unsure how this adds up because I sent an NCD from my previous insurer, which confirms there was no claim. I had to get a letter from the insurer from 2019 substantiating no claim was made and that it was a notification only. Despite this, 1st Central wanted more money for a policy due to elapse in just over 1 month. I was told to pay over £200 more or stand the chance of having my policy cancelled. In the end, it was financially more sensible to terminate my policy a few weeks before it was due to end. I requested a refund, and according to their calculation, I was due £8. This is for the same period they wanted over £200 for. They didn't stop there. They sent me an NCD but only gave me the same 5years NCD I had when I took on the policy with them. After waiting for another week, I called and spoke to a gentleman who explained that this was an error and that he would get the correct department to update and resend. I contacted 1st Central again and spoke with a lady who explained that 1st Central would not be issuing me with an NCD because I did not complete the year with them; again, another twist with no warning and no communication prior. Before 1st Central, I was insured. I was not punished for notifying my previous insurer that I was a victim of theft, and I was issued the correct NCD. Why is 1st Central different? I would walk everywhere if this insurance company were the only one in the country. I am now, for the first time in my life, going to be complaining to the Financial Ombudsman. This is not fair! Reviewed on: 3rd August 2023

Rip off merchants

As many state they'll call you and find a way to charge you more, apparently my job title being amended is cause for an extra £100 costs even though it's the same by the guys own admission on the phone. I foolishly used these guys before and left the 2nd year because they did this and now they have done it again, absolutely shocking that companies get away with this! Reviewed on: 3rd August 2023

Scammers. Avoid! Cheapest but will get more out of you

Scam, keep trying to charge me because they've had to change things that I haven't asked them for. Will cancel this policy and take the loss on them. Avoid these at all costs. They will cost you more In the long run. Reviewed on: 2nd August 2023

Goo value

Good price excellent service when I was wondering if I could changey car and how much it will cost extra Reviewed on: 31st July 2023

Worst service ever

After reading all the comments, I now regret that why I chose this insurance, had the worst experience so far ! Not helpful at all ! They are scammers . Very rude staff and no customer service at all. They don’t even know what they are doing, whenever I call they just pass my call everyone to atleast 10 of their dept and ask for the security check atleast 10x which irritates me, had an accident last month and still haven’t received any valuation for my car, which was a write off as per their So called TECHNICIAN says, on top they cancelled my insurance and didn’t even refund me any money, as per their saying’The car was imported’ and that’s the reason they cancelled my insurance. Be careful! Don’t get scammed by them. Reviewed on: 28th July 2023

DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY

DO NO USE THIS CON COMPANY This company will try every trick in the book to con money out of you. I paid in full for my car policy, I then got a call to ask me my exact mileage for the coming year, and then asked my exact mileage to my work, as this didn't exactly match my estimated mileage they said I had to pay a fee to change the policy, along with an admin fee! I was then asked my exact NCB years, I said your website only allows me to choose 9+, they said as I couldn't give them an exact number there will be another fee, this totalled £141 or my policy is cancelled. They have a scam going to call people after their policy is paid and demand the impossible so they can charge unreasonable fees. I have a claim with the financial Ombudsman now. DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY. FPM6017572054FC Reviewed on: 27th July 2023

Scammers!!! Do not use

My insurance was due for renewal, the new quote that was sent through was over £400 more. Rang this company to question why it had increased so much and 4 claims had been lmade on my policy (apparently by me) that were false. One member of staff had a different story of the incident to the next. One member of staff stated I reversed into a busy road, causing a car to swerve into a ditch. Another claimed I reversed and hit into a fence, causing damage to the paint of my wing mirror. When I queried where these claims were made from, they stated they came from my phone number, and using all my details. These ‘accidents’ never happened and this then affecting my no claims discount. The staff were incredibly unhelpful and the mismatch of stories seemed very suspicious. One member of staff escalated this further and stated she was going to get ‘fraud’ investigators involved, although I am yet to hear anything back days later. Another rang me following this and stated there was a ‘system error’ and all claims were wiped from my account. I cancelled immediately!! Please do not use this company, or check regularly that no claims are being made on your account without you knowing!! Reviewed on: 26th July 2023

CRAP CLAIMS DEPARTMENT

WHEN YOU NEED THEM MOST, ie A CLAIM, THEY ARE HOPELESS. YOU ASK THEM FOR INFORMATION, WHICH YOU NEVER GET. THEY JUST SEND OUT THE SAME EMAIL ABOUT EVERY THREE WEEKS AND CAN BE THREATENING...... STAY CLEAR Reviewed on: 24th July 2023

Dont go anywhere near this company

They give you a nice low quote to start with, then after about a month they email you to ask you to Contact them regarding a query with your insurance. For instance my wife put marketing Assistant instead of marketing co-ordinator on her insurance. When we rang, they informed us there would be no difference in overall annual price but to amend the insurance would be £120. Asking them to explain the difference in job roles they said a co-ordinator is in charge of people, my wife is in charge of nobody, but they would have none of as she had already confirmed her job role was actually marketing co-ordinator not assistant over the phone and reminded over and over that it was recorded. Then was told the job role effects the outcome of a quote and was told that we deliberately put in assistant as THEY told us we had searched other websites with co-ordinator and seen they where more expensive and deliberately changed it to Assistsnt to get it cheaper with them, (even though they have already mentioned that the annual price wouldnt change) They are just extorting money out of people over and over if you look at reviews (which aren't trustpilot) Reviewed on: 24th July 2023

Scammers

If you don't what problems just choose another company. I am shocked by what a tribute I got into working with them... They are blaming me for false claim that I didn't make, demand paying them a lot of money , threatening me with debt collection agencies and on top of this my 5 years no claim bonus is wasted... Reviewed on: 23rd July 2023

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