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1st Central: Car insurance reviews

Name: Car insurance
Rating: 1.71 (965 reviews)

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1.71

Based on 965 reviews, last reviewed 7th Jun 2026

100% increase in 5 star reviews

in the past 90 days

8% 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

Please avoid this company, money grabbers! I purchased car insurance and then found a more comprehensive cover for the same price, so within 12 hours decided to cancel whilst policy was pending... Read more Reviewed on: 7th June 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 (965)

Awful

Absolute awful service. Like everyone else after paying in full for the year I was stung with additional charges or face paying cancellation fees. Was involved in an accident where there is CCTV which I myself had to chase up. Not the company. Communication is awful. They actually LOST my car and I had to threaten police involvement. Have been passed around numerous different garages for courtesy car - 6 days in and still no courtesy car. This company could offer me insurance for the next year for £1 and I still wouldn’t go with them ever again Reviewed on: 3rd March 2023

The worst of the worst

Dishonest and clueless. They had no idea where my car was. AVOID No wonder you can't leave a google review for all to easily see. Reviewed on: 3rd March 2023

Communication following claim

I have never had to claim on my jnsurance in all the 20 + years I have driven, so this was a completely new experience and a daunting one for me. As polite and friendly the staff always are I am frustrated and disappointed at this company's very poor communication to the customer. I was left without any follow up or explanation of how things would happen. I was left with no courtesy car for 6 days! And as a community Nurse this had impacts. No one from the insurance kept me updated, I had to chase every other day and the information was contradictory every time. One week - your car is a write off Second week - it's fixable Third week - ermmm well we think it's a write off Fourth week - we don't know yet as its still being assessed!!! By the fifth week with this insurance company and being past from pillow to post speaking to various nationalities and over coming language barriers I gave up. All I cared about from then was I kept the courtesy car and THEY paid for it. My advice? Don't! Just don't. Go with another insurance company not this one. 10 out 10 for their politeness but everything else is appalling. As soon as I have my car back ( if they ever tell me) I will be going elsewhere. Reviewed on: 17th February 2023

Written off car quote and uninsured driver promise

A stolen car crashed into my car while parked and writ it off. Not hapoy with the amount paid to replace my car. Very low amount. Still disputing this. I have lost my no claims from 12 years to 4 years. As explained the driver is uninsured as stole car but not that simple and therefore the uninsured guaranteed promise is not worth the paper it's written on Reviewed on: 17th February 2023

Unrespect customer service

I have had a serious complaint about the company, who can't proof my claims, and cut my no claims bonus, and the customer service was really unrespect. I'll carry on my way, and I'll push up this case. Reviewed on: 17th February 2023

Avoid!

After taking out a policy and paying in full they want more money! Or a policy refund minus £120! AVOID! Reviewed on: 14th February 2023

Telematics policy is terrible

Telematics policy linked via mobile phone app DOES NOT WORK properly. All named drivers need the app and it drains your battery by running in background which is crazy when Grandad as a named driver driver drives it once a year, is typically 300 miles away and might not even take his phone with him and that's if he remembers to charge it up. Treats of cancellation if you "use" your phone whilst driving. Does not consider the possibilities of your passenger using your phone. Cannot email the Telematics team, cannot write to them, cannot contact them on chat. You can ONLY call them on the phone lines. Reviewed on: 14th February 2023

Complete Con Artists

I took out Car insurance with these on 10 January 2023. Everything seemed fine at first, then they ask for confirmation of my NCD and also Claims History for my named driver. I provided both and uploaded them via the website. Then they kept emailing and texting me telling me to contact Policy Analyst. I called and after being put on hold twice for over fifteen minutes both times, I was told my policy would be increasing by £93. After questioning “Kurt” over this he said I had failed to disclose the accident at the time of taking the policy out. I know I disclosed this information, as why would they ask me for details regarding the accident if I hadn’t disclosed it. Anyhow I gave “Kurt” a god talking to and hung up. I then received the email stating the increase and noticed that the increase included £50 admin fee. Then the penny dropped and I thought you’re just after the £50. I then went to their website and everything to do with my original policy and also quote has been removed. I’m yet to start fighting this, but I will make sure every TV programme, social media site the financial services ombudsman heard about them. Reviewed on: 11th February 2023

hidden charges

I was asked to provide my v5c and it turns out I’d accidentally given them the wrong date of purchase. This resulted in a £21.50 charge which I don’t dispute (as it was human error on my part) but they also tacked on a £50 admin fee. They were most unhelpful on the phone and wouldn’t entertain the removal of this admin fee. They seem to do this to their customers routinely from flicking through their negative reviews. I wouldn’t recommend any company that uses such backhand tactics to increase their revenue. Reviewed on: 8th February 2023

Avoid at all costs

I chose this company for my insurance as they were on the mse website. After having been driven into yesterday in a no fault crash I was given the incorrect information on an excruciating phone call that took over an hour. Not only was I given incorrect information and put on hold several times without explanation, I was then charged £12.67 to change my address. I will be changing providers as soon as a decision is made on my car. Reviewed on: 7th February 2023

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