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1st Central: Car insurance reviews

Name: Car insurance
Rating: 1.66 (915 reviews)

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1.49

Based on 915 reviews, last reviewed 23rd Aug 2025

33% decrease in 5 star reviews

in the past 90 days

46% 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

Terrible company The first issue was, they took money from my account, for the monthly payment, then bounced it back in and claimed I hadn't paid, (there was money in ... Read more Reviewed on: 23rd 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 (915)

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

Rubbish

DO NOT EVEN THINK TO HAVE AN INSURANCE WITH THESE GUYS! Literally trying to charge for everything! To change your address you gotta pay £170... what???? And they wouldn't add another driver onto the policy! I thought that my previous provider was shit! But bloody hell.. this is SHIT! Reviewed on: 18th October 2022

Avoid more than covid

Would rather catch covid again than renew with these, £500 a month insurance and I can’t even cancel it and go to the cheaper option as it cost me £500 to cancel, they told me after I make the next payment it will drop dramatically when I try to cancel. After paying the £500 payment I checked how much it would be to cancel it is is only £10 cheaper, as far as I’m concerned if I cancel I shouldn’t be charged for any remaining months as I will not be under their policy, if I could give zero stars I would, rude awful staff who don’t know what they are doing, had one staff member end the live chat on me repeatedly, I am now stuck paying extortionate amounts and can’t change my policy Reviewed on: 18th October 2022

Scammers

I got trapped by this scam and when i… I got trapped by this scam and when i tried to cancel my policy they have so many charges. Arrangement fee £50. Cancellation fee £50. Excess protect fee£30. Admin fee £50. These all fees you have to pay to these scammers Reviewed on: 18th October 2022

Con-artists

Literally lied to me, claimed I signed something the day before (when I hadn't even logged in or been on a computer, I don't carry out this stuff on phone). Then when I proved they were lying they tried to take my money anyway. Avoid at all costs. Reviewed on: 17th October 2022

100% Scam

They sent me the sensor and I can't login to the app. I phoned up twice and the man on the phone said just drive as normal and try to login later. They cancelled my policy and gave me back the refund. They charged me cancelation fee and the sensor. I phoned up again and they said get another insurer. Fuck Reviewed on: 14th October 2022

At least Dick Turpin wore a mask

They did it to me too say they need more information and charge you for it .. tie you up in knots give you a major headache never a uk person on the phone they keep your card details on file.. and they are the biggest load of crooks on earth don't touch them Reviewed on: 13th October 2022

Sly

Sly company, not nice to deal with, hard to get your money back if they take it by accident too! Reviewed on: 12th October 2022

DODGY BUSINESS PRACTICES

Once cover has been taken out they will pretend that they haven't received all of the information and will hit you with untold admin fees. Use Aviva or Churchill instead. Reviewed on: 11th October 2022

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