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1st Central: Car insurance reviews

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1.51
Based on 947 reviews, last reviewed 23rd Jan 2026
100% decrease in 5 star reviews
in the past 90 days
31% increase in 1 star reviews
in the past 90 days
See only 5 star reviews
12%
See only 4 star reviews
5%
See only 3 star reviews
2%
See only 2 star reviews
2%
See only 1 star reviews
79%

Latest highest rating:

5

Good and not too expensive Was looking for good value car insurance and found this one. Not too expensive and so far can’t say anything bad. Very easy to sign up. Reviewed on: 5th September 2025
Matus's avatar
Matus

Latest lowest rating:

1

Bait-and-switch insurer Feels like a scam – stay away Quoted one price, then after the policy started 1st Central changed things retrospectively, increased the premium and a... Read more Reviewed on: 23rd January 2026
Leanne McIvor's avatar
Leanne McIvor
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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 (947)

Worst ever company

1
I would advise anyone thinking of using this company not too. Go on Facebook and read 1st central insurance reviews. It will fill you in as why not to use them . Stuff of nightmares . Still trying to get over how I've been treated by them. Just don't use them . Cheap quotes them they come after you for more. Even seen some people ended up with bad credit ratings and distressed . I urge anyone to read these first before even considering getting involved with these sharks. Reviewed on: 23rd September 2022
Mickey's avatar
Mickey

Scammers avoid at all costs

1
Wish I had seen these reviews. Policy was cheap. Then 3 months after they ask for reams more information, photos of driving licence, dvla online codes, no claims proof in pdf format. I provided it all which was stressful enough. Then today they call to say my premiums have doubled because of inaccuracies in my driving pass date and no claims dates (which as I went through a compare website I'm pretty sure was never provided anyway). The man on the phone said it was £97 to cancel. I can't afford £56 a month to insure a crappy old Ford Fusion so I'll have to cancel. Am terrified it will cost even more than £97 with hidden fees tho. I could (and have) cried with how awful and unfair this is. Please avoid at all costs. Reviewed on: 22nd September 2022
Claire's avatar
Claire

No option for zero stars

1
Absolute joke of an insurance company. Avoid like the plaugue Reviewed on: 22nd September 2022
GEOFF PRINGLE's avatar
GEOFF PRINGLE

Thieves , untrustworthy

1
I had taken a policy, made one yearly payment. Two months later I was asked to upload some documents. Then 2 weeks later I receive an email to say that I didn’t state correctly my date of passing my driving licence. “You passed your driving lic 11 Dec 1998 and you stated 23 jun 1998, as a result you’re charged £66.14” I was told on the phone that 1st central wanted to make sure that I made this mistake so asked for my driving lic to charge me. Why would you not just say “hello madam , could you please correct the date you passed your driving test “ Wish I never called them I just made myself so angry. This insurer ruins your days and may be a year the duration of the policy, knowing that it’s So unfair “Date Passed Test You must correctly disclose the date all drivers on the policy passed their driving test. As a result of our checks, we’ve amended the date passed test on your policy. As a result, your insurance premium has been recalculated and there’s now an additional amount of £66.14 due (including a £50.00 administration fee). As you paid in full, we’ll send you an email to confirm when we’ll collect payment”. Reviewed on: 16th September 2022
Nadia's avatar
Nadia

Money grabbers and useless

1
My policy was auto renewed without my consent, they said an email had been sent to tell me (which it hadn't) to inform me of this. I had sold the vehicle and sent them the proof via email, 1st central said they dont accept cancelations via email but they did when it come to renewing the policy, double standards. When I asked to cancel the policy I was told I could but to do so I would have to pay the remainder of the policy (11 monthly payments) upfront in order to do so. Avoid this company with every fibre you have. Reviewed on: 14th September 2022
Sloy316's avatar
Sloy316

Money grabbers and useless

1
I sold my car and sent them the documentation from the DVLA to prove this. Instead of cancelling the policy it was renewed for another year, when I questioned why I was told it was because I hadnt proved the documentation in PDF or Jpeg form, therefore the cancelation wasnt accepted. To cancel the policy I would be charged the balance (10 months worth of payments) to do so on a vehicle I no longer owed. Out dated in there service, polices and will try anything and everything to get money out of you. Do NOT use this company. Reviewed on: 14th September 2022
Sloy316's avatar
Sloy316

The Worst Insurers EVER

1
They locked me out of my online portal by cancelling the wrong policy on there but not their system. They were told about this numerous times, then charged me to change my name even though I couldn’t change my details online for free, then apologised as they shouldn’t have charged me. Still didn’t fix the issue with online portal. A year of complaints about not having access to my online portal. My policy changed one day to expired so I couldn’t update payment details - I called and queried it. They said I had nothing to pay as it expired. Then debt collectors call. I do have to pay. I try to pay, I can’t because my policy isn’t active on the online portal. It’s revolved by the complaints team. They compensate me. Still nothing arrived. Now they’re calling me for payment again which I can’t make because I can’t access my policy? They’re terrible! They don’t communicate, incorrectly charge you, mismanage their own systems and deny access. I’d rather take the bus than deal with them again. Reviewed on: 14th September 2022
Anonymous's avatar
Anonymous

Scammers!!!

1
Be careful with this insurer, they don't refund all money before 14 days. Scammers !!! Reviewed on: 13th September 2022
Ela's avatar
Ela

1stcentral

5
Good value for money easy to join, renewal was less than last year. Reviewed on: 13th September 2022
Steve's avatar
Steve

Worst car insurance ever beware

1
Theyre getting the money to charge cancellation even if the policy havent started yet. Very poor customer service and trying to dig you more information to add and then charge you more . Ridiculous amount of money has been charged to our policy that is not even started yet. Worst car insurance ever and worst customer service ever, they will get money out of ur pocket . Admin fee and expensive charges. Too bad . Wont recommend at all and pls beware Reviewed on: 11th September 2022
Applepie VV's avatar
Applepie VV

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