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1st Central: Car insurance reviews

Name: Car insurance
Rating: 1.66 (913 reviews)

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1.50

Based on 913 reviews, last reviewed 16th Aug 2025

33% decrease in 5 star reviews

in the past 90 days

42% decrease in 1 star reviews

in the past 90 days

12%

79%

Latest highest rating:

5

Easy to apply, easily understandable Easy to apply, easily understandable Reviewed on: 11th August 2025

Verified source

Latest lowest rating:

1

Absolutely terrible experience. Absolutely terrible experience. I had an accident that was never properly investigated. Despite me reporting it to the police and even providing CCTV ... Read more Reviewed on: 16th August 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 leave a review and share your experience.

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1st Central Car insurance reviews (913)

extra charge

got an email at 20.10 saying it was their second attempt trying to take payment and failed. This was the only email I received and the worst thing was I couldn't even call them up to rectify this as they closed at 20.00. called in the next day and was charged extra for late payment Reviewed on: 1st November 2022

Paperwork Scam

Myself and my husband took out car insurance for both our vehicles. Received the standard emails to say we were insured but then a few weeks later we were sent emails , that unfortunately went into our junk mail , stating that we needed to provide evidence of NCD , proof that we lived in the country since birth, DVLA code, the list goes on. Unfortunately because my husband didn't send his NCD evidence we have just received a £113.00 additional fee!! We have both used insurance companies for over 30 years and gave never been in this position before. I fortunately have 6 days left before I get my insurance cancelled by them for not providing evidence of living in the country since birth!! Avoid avoid avoid Reviewed on: 1st November 2022

AVOID AVOID AT ALL COSTS !! SCAM ARTISTS !!!!

Where do I start? On 29th September 2019 someone crashed into me when I was parked...long story short, it was dragged out, went to court, and non fault claim, in the mean time my car got wrote off and my premiums got raised.... flash forward to now, case has gone in my favour and all the time my premiums were raised, case has been closed, but guess what, after 5 hour calls, and one off them me being on hold for 2 hours to get disconnected over and over again...nothing, when I did get through to someone I was then passed to different departments, customer services, recoveries etc etc and having to pass security several times....my point is, I spoke with someone today 31.10.2022 and I get told because my car got changed, there now refusing to pay me back the premiums they owed me, after being told several times over the last 3 years I would get a repayment....I feel scammed, there is nothing but poor customer service, they are money hoarders and misleading and liars and I am going to make it my personal mission till I get my money back to make sure that all news outlets are aware, all review places are wrote on. Also to top it off, complained to customer services via email and phone and no outcome or reply, when it is my time for renewal, I will definitely NOT be staying with this company and I advise anyone to stay well clear of this company. Reviewed on: 31st October 2022

No refund

It’s been beyond the 10 day period and I have yet to see money returned post auto renewal that I cancelled. Reviewed on: 29th October 2022

AVOID

Thai company should be closed down! My son pays £231 a month for car insurance, never missed a payment and has an active policy, got stopped by police for having no insurance??? Absolute nightmare trying to sort it all out and 1st central couldn’t give 2 hoots and no answer as to why? AVOID Reviewed on: 25th October 2022

Ridiculous prices quoted for small policy changes

I took out car insurance with this company last week, and on second thoughts decided that i should amend average miles travelled annually from 10,000miles to 15,000. The quote increased by £127.00!!. I decided to cancel this policy as i was still within 14 days grace period. Was charged £50.00 to cancel the policy. Reviewed on: 23rd October 2022

Awful. Do not be enticed by this company.

This company are awful. I insured my car with this company after a compare site flagged them as being the cheapest. After I had paid in full, my premium went up by double based on the fact I had lived overseas for a short period. After 51 days I cancelled my policy as the premium was unbelievably high. I was charged £50 cancellation fee plus a £50 admin fee. Outrageous. Zero ethics or customer service. Reviewed on: 23rd October 2022

Absolute rip off merchants !

They are charging me £111 to change my address 6 houses down the road Please do not take insurance out with this company Reviewed on: 21st October 2022

Avoid - Awful if you actually have an accident

AVOID I assume all these positive reviews haven’t progressed through a claim. The issues began as soon as i had a non-fault accident. The whole reason you pay for a policy is to ensure an accident is dealt with in a proficient manner. I have experienced the total opposite. Initially they were looking into getting one of their own approved repairers to fix the damage caused. After almost 2 weeks of trying to get one of their repairers they advised they couldn’t get one, and that I could find one. I was able to find one within 2 days. Since then they have taken over 2 weeks to get the quote approved by one of their engineers, and I’m still waiting! The car has got water ingress due to the accident and the longer it continues the worse the damage could be. I have logged an official complaint, emailed their head of claims and operations and still have got no-where. It seems like I have done all the work and they have just hindered the claim at every stage. Having spent over 3 hours 20 minutes on the phone to them in total, and an excessive amount of emails, this is still ongoing. I’d happily give an updated review should this be resolved swiftly, but I don’t hold much hope. Reviewed on: 21st October 2022

Thieves

They have cancelled my policy without letting me know and ask to pay horrendous amounts of money after all for cancellation. Thieves and swindlers! Reviewed on: 18th October 2022

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