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1st Central: Car insurance reviews

Name: Car insurance
Rating: 1.67 (884 reviews)

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1.50

Based on 884 reviews, last reviewed 24th Apr 2025

200% increase in 5 star reviews

in the past 90 days

50% increase in 1 star reviews

in the past 90 days

12%

79%

Latest highest rating:

5

Happy Driver Great experience got my car insurance straight away and was able to drive it that night fantastic Reviewed on: 22nd April 2025

Latest lowest rating:

1

AVOID AT ALL COSTS!!! I really wish I’d read the small print. This company is a masterclass in hidden fees. £50 arrangement fee just to start the policy, £50 to cancel, and... Read more Reviewed on: 24th April 2025

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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 ...

1st Central Car insurance reviews (884)

Review of the 1st Central, Car insurance:

Disgusting customer service, would give 0 stars if I could.

1st central are trying to charge me for a non disclosure that I did in fact disclose. After getting no where on the phone and being called a liar by two members of staff, I decided to write on their Facebook wall. They have now deleted my comments on their wall. Absolutely disgusted, avoid, avoid, avoid! Reviewed on: 28th August 2015

So my son passed his test 27th Apr 2023,he was stopp...

So my son passed his test 27th Apr 2023,he was stopped by the police may 27th 2023,he went to court 5th Dec 2023,where he was convicted of a DG10 and recieved 12 month ban. 1st central were the cheapest insurance we could find since getting his licence back and still cost £3,881 for the year paid in full 8-12-24,1st central are now trying to say we put wrong date he passed his test (we didnt) and also saying we put wrong date he was convicted we put 5-12-23 the date he went to c... Reviewed on: 6th January 2025

Reply from 1st Central Hi Bridget, Thank you for your feedback. We’re sorry to hear about your experience with us. All details on the policy impact the price of the policy we offer, if details are found to be incorrect we need to update them and this can impact the price of the policy. If you’d like to speak to the team about this process, please give us a call on 0333 043 2095. We’re here to help from Mon-Fri: 9am to 5pm. If there’s anything you’d like us to look into for you, please contact us by se... Response date: 8th January 2025

Distrustful customer service

Spent two separate calls of 10-15min in the past week (Christmas time) trying to get two 1st Central advisors to accept my annual mileage estimation (average based on last 3yrs worth of MOT certificates) and 1st Central flat out didn't want to believe me! In over 20yrs of insuring cars I've never once been treated with such distrust over my submitted details. Awful company that I'll be going out of my way to avoid once my policy runs out. God help me if I need to process a claim... Reviewed on: 23rd December 2024

Reply from 1st Central Hi Albert, Thank you for your feedback. We’re sorry to hear about your experience with us. All details on the policy impact the price of the policy we offer, if details are found to be incorrect we need to update them and this can impact the price of the policy. If you’d like to speak to the team about this process, please give us a call on 0333 043 2095. We’re here to help from Mon-Fri: 9am to 5pm. Ashley Response date: 27th December 2024

I had a policy with 1st Central three years ago, an...

I had a policy with 1st Central three years ago, and my experience was terrible, as I outlined in a review back then. Unfortunately, I feel compelled to write another review because a month ago, they started harassing me for a payment that I had already paid in full three years ago. Initially, I thought the letters were a scam because the policy was settled, and I had no outstanding balance. However, I then received a court letter demanding payment. Since then, I have been desp... Reviewed on: 22nd December 2024

Reply from 1st Central Hi Suzi, Thank you for your feedback. We’re sorry to hear your experience with us hasn’t been as positive as we’d hoped it would be. We would like to look into this further for you to help resolve this, please send an email to customer.relations@1stcentral.co.uk with your policy number a summary of your experience similar to your review and we will look into it. Ashley Response date: 27th December 2024

STAY AWAY THEY CAN NOT BE TRUSTED!!!

I recently had an incredibly frustrating experience with 1st Central Car Insurance that I feel compelled to share. From start to finish, the service was appalling, with a series of lies, unprofessional behaviour, and unnecessary charges. First and foremost, I was left speechless when they ended the phone call on me not once, but twice. Despite being promised a call back, no one ever reached out to follow up. It’s clear they have no regard for their customers’ time or concerns. ... Reviewed on: 17th December 2024

Reply from 1st Central Hi Malik, Thank you for your feedback. We’re sorry to hear about your experience with us. All details on the policy impact the price of the policy we offer, if details are found to be incorrect we need to update them and this can impact the price of the policy. If you’d like to speak to the team about this process, please give us a call on 0333 043 2095. We’re here to help from Mon-Fri: 9am to 5pm. Ashley Response date: 27th December 2024

Took out policy.

Took out policy. An error was made on our behalf but customer services accused me of committing fraud. Then told me I would not owe them any money once policy was cancelled and then sent an invoice. Unable to speak to anyone on the phone and emails are bounced back. AVOID this company at all costs. Reviewed on: 3rd December 2024

Reply from 1st Central Hi Alison, We’re sorry to hear on this occasion your experience with us hasn’t been as positive as we’d hoped it would be. Let’s see if we can help put this right for you. Just give our team a call on 0333 043 2095. We’re here to help from Mon-Fri: 9am to 5pm. Ashley Response date: 4th December 2024

BEWARE!! Ludicrous charges! THEY DO NOT CARE!!

Took out insurance and over a week later they asked for proof of NCB and proof of claims. Asked my last insurance provider for this. When I didn’t get them in time they charged £175. I had told them I had contacted twice to get these documents. I decided to cancel after nearly 4 weeks and for this I was charged £156, minus my first payment, despite their website saying it’s a £10 cancellation fee after 14 days!! Very impersonal service and completely ridiculous charges!! Felt as... Reviewed on: 29th November 2024

Reply from 1st Central Hi Katharine, Thank you for your feedback. We’re sorry to hear about your experience with us. All details on the policy impact the price of the policy we offer, if details are found to be incorrect we need to update them and this can impact the price of the policy. If you’d like to speak to the team about this process, please give us a call on 0333 043 2095. We’re here to help from Mon-Fri: 9am to 5pm. Ashley Response date: 2nd December 2024

I have cancelled my policy, had them confirm it seve...

I have cancelled my policy, had them confirm it several times it's been cancelled, and I have now just been sent a default notice. The online chat has been no help and said they can't communicate with the accounts team about it, I am now being threatened and have no idea how to rectify this, they deny all knowledge of these email threats. Reviewed on: 28th November 2024

Reply from 1st Central Hi Ellen, We’re sorry to hear on this occasion your experience with us hasn’t been as positive as we’d hoped it would be. Please speak to our team on 0333 043 2088 or speak to us on web chat which can be found on our website. We’re here to help from Mon-Fri: 8am to 8pm, Sat: 9am to 5pm, Sun: 10am to 2pm. They can look in to this for you. We’ll use your comments to help improve our service. Ashley Response date: 29th November 2024

Ok where do I start !

Ok where do I start !!!!!! If you want to get car insurance then look else where !!!!!!!!! I have spent more time on the phone trying to get help with my policy than I ever have with all my other policy’s in the last 31 years !!!!!!!!!!!!! People say they will call you back and even email you……….they don’t !!!!!!!!!! Their call centre is in South Africa and I couldn’t really understand the call workers……and this just build up the blood pressure!!!!!!! I am sure they try and kee... Reviewed on: 15th November 2024

Reply from 1st Central Hi Kevin, Thank you for your feedback. We’re sorry to hear about your experience with us. All details on the policy impact the price of the policy we offer, if details are found to be incorrect we need to update them and this can impact the price of the policy. I can see this has been raised to our complaints team. I've passed your review on to them. Once they have investigated your complaint, they'll be in contact with you. We’ll use your comments to help improve our service and... Response date: 18th November 2024

Avoid 1st Central Car Insurance at all costs.

Avoid 1st Central Car Insurance. They come up as the cheapest on many insurance comparison websites but they make their money through high administration fees any time you or they make changes to your policy. They requested added information 30 days after I applied and with only 1 day to go in my 14 day period, so when I had a disagreement over the documents I couldn't get out within the 14 day grace period. When they find fault in your documents, they don't explain what the pro... Reviewed on: 12th November 2024

Reply from 1st Central Hi J A K, Thank you for your feedback. We’re sorry to hear about your experience with us. All details on the policy impact the price of the policy we offer, if details are found to be incorrect we need to update them and this can impact the price of the policy. If you’d like to speak to the team about this process, please give us a call on 0333 043 2095. We’re here to help from Mon-Fri: 9am to 5pm. We’ll use your comments to help improve our service. Ashley Response date: 13th November 2024

This has to be the worst company I have ever dealt w...

This has to be the worst company I have ever dealt with, they accepted my insurance then decided they wanted more information after insuring me, and when I said you should have asked before accepting they raised the price and charged admin on top, absolute charlatans. Reviewed on: 11th November 2024

Reply from 1st Central Hi Alan, Thank you for your feedback. We’re sorry to hear about your experience with us. All details on the policy impact the price of the policy we offer, if details are found to be incorrect we need to update them and this can impact the price of the policy. If you’d like to speak to the team about this process, please give us a call on 0333 043 2095. We’re here to help from Mon-Fri: 9am to 5pm. Ashley Response date: 12th November 2024

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