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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)

Rip off for a company

Absolutely disgusting the way I have been treated by this company avoid at all costs !!! Rip you off!! Do not get your car insurance with them they will rob your money! Reviewed on: 6th July 2023

Absolute shocker of a company

So my partner had an accident which totalled his car, it's now a month and a half gone, I really don't know where to start with explaining the incompetence observed. Firstly my partner nas courtesy car cover, this took far to long to initiate with the rental company (Enterprise, who have also been completely incompetent during this) and the insurance company just not speaking to each other, both of them harassing my partner and asking him to send messages to the other company. This has been an on going issue the entirety of this claim, initially they said my partner was not at fault, then he had a letter saying it was partial fault, then he spoke to a chap who said he was fully at fault, followed by an email saying he wasn't at fault. 2 weeks into the claim, enterprise said they were taking the courtesy car off cover due to a dispute with who was at fault, my partner called his insurance who sent him an email saying they were arranging for the courtesy car to stay on cover.... Then 1st Central tried to offer 3.500k for my partner's 1 series BMW (valued at 7k) explaining thats the price any trader would pay for it, my partner explained he wasn't a trader and he'd be buying it at the prices a trader would sell it for, they came back with 4 k, this went on, and after another lengthy battle, he managed to get them to 5k which was still below the car value, but accepting it with fear of losing the will to live if this went on much more, we've found out this morning that neither party have spoken to each other and now we have a bill for the courtesy car as it wasn't put back on claim, even though they said it would be and the courtesy car should be covered until 5 days after the claim is settled and money has been received.,... Just avoid at all cost, I don't even know how they're still trading Reviewed on: 5th July 2023

Avoid like the plague!

Charged my £50 to cancel my policy one hour after setting this up online! Their Customer service was horrific. So unhelpful and indifferent. Never again! One valuable lesson learned today. I’m totally disgusted! Reviewed on: 3rd July 2023

Scam ?

Son took telematics policy out in Feb 23 - has had 2 letters warning letters for phone usage - has never used phone in car - Cannot cancel policy online - phoned today 3 "hang ups later" and numerous "holds" finally cancelled at a cost - nice work if you can get it - AVOID THESE CROOKS Reviewed on: 29th June 2023

Stay clear from this company

Stay clear from this company. I was contacted this month (June 2023) after taking an insurance policy out with them in April. They are stating that I had not put the right amount of time I have been driving for and they had to make this change on there end. I asked for proof of me putting the wrong dates in and the reply was it was done on Money Super Market website where the information was incorrect. I had directly brought the insurance through 1st central website not money super market I was just looking for comparison on there website I have then check money super market website and it stated the right amount time of year I have been driving. Because of this error which they cannot prove I am being charged £83.41 plus a £50 admin fee. They still cannot show me proof of these changes so I have know taken this to the Financial ombudsman. Reviewed on: 27th June 2023

If it was possible to give no stars I would

Absolutely shocking company,I was happy to cancel my policy at a cost of £80 after 3 weeks..Customer service is possibly the worst and rudest I have ever come across,and having ensured the cancellation payment had been taken from my bank account, the extremely rude lady processed to put the phone down.This company will more than likely come out the cheapest on various comparison sites, but for your own sanity and peace of mind DO NOT GO WITH THEM . Reviewed on: 27th June 2023

Not helpful in the event of an accident

this company is good only if there is nothing happens. I had an accident on 11th June and they took my car to investigate the damage on 13th June. It is 27st June, and they are saying it will take FEW MORE DAYS to make any progress. They have written off my car just because of a damaged bumper. No courtesy car, no help, no updates. very disappointed, will never go back to this useless company. they never call to update about the progress. I am tired of calling them to know what is happening with my claim. policy ref: FPM6016208734FC Reviewed on: 27th June 2023

Cheap for a reason

So like most people, I used a price comparison site and 1st central were the cheapest for the cover I wanted. No issues at all for years when your paying and make no claims then this year I had a bump, took around a month for them to book my car into a garage, then weeks for them to give the go ahead on repairs and no courtesy car provided even though I'm covered. No updates I've had to constantly chase things up and they keep palming me off saying someone is dealing with it and will call back and I've not had 1 person call me back. The garage blame the insurance company and vice versa. I honestly wouldn't recommend this company to anybody it almost been a month without a car Reviewed on: 22nd June 2023

Rip off insurer

If I could give zero stars I would. Be careful even the smallest incorrrect detail will have them asking for a considerable amount of money. Owned car since 2017, go to insure it in 2023 as moneysupermarket had the date of ownership as 2016 they wanted to increase policy by 25%. Feels like they are ripping off customers. Paid the cancellation fee which was not much less than they wanted rather than be insured by this cowboy outfit Reviewed on: 22nd June 2023

Car insurance repairs

Got hit by a client with 1st central had nothing but hassle with them never answer emails no contact when requested information told will send nothing happens took over 4 and a half months to get the repair done Reviewed on: 21st June 2023

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