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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

52% 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)

Worst insurance company

I added an additional driver and then cancelled before the start date and it’s been over a month and I haven’t been refunded. I’ve contacted them several times and apparently the accounts team ‘haven’t quite got to it’. How much longer do they need!!!! They owe me £486!!!! Reviewed on: 17th August 2022

Poor process, poor communication, poor customer service

Original online quote didn't complete fully on the account setup, but they managed to process the deposit. When I called they said the money had gone somewhere but the online quote had disappeared and I would have to call Customer Services to get a requote (which just happened to be £300 more expensive????). I declined the offer of the insurance policy, naturally, and found one considerably cheaper elsewhere which I took out. Lo and behold! A day later they take the deposit for the "lost" online quote and activate that policy. The sauce of it... without any permission to do so after the conversations and records on their ChatBot as well. Very poor... I would suggest leaving well alone and looking elsewhere. Reviewed on: 17th August 2022

Intimidating and accusatory

Had an issue with the details provided, they had not updated the new details I gave and suggested they should take 50 pounds as an admin fee. I was told my premium was lower by £2.17 but they would charge £2.19 to change the details. Challenged my job title to see if it was accurate and at no point felt like my customer needs were met. AVOID AT ALL COSTS Reviewed on: 17th August 2022

AVOID!!!!! I can't stress this enough.

waited a month to request the following to be emailed and no way to supply via secure portal: all 4 pages of v5, proof of address, work contract, both sides of license, check code, passport, bank statement. Demanded all of this or insurance would be cancelled, never been asked for such sensitive data from a company to be sent unsecured via email. Refused to send these details due to gdpr concerns, was advised I had mandatory set up and cancellation charges. Had they requested this in the first instance within my cancellation window (14 days) I would have avoided charges. Went elsewhere after cancellation which worked out cheaper and they never requested any of this information, all went through and confirmed with no issues. This company is cowboy con artists. Considering going to insurance ombudsman, poor service, terrible contact and money demanding. Avoid at all costs! Reviewed on: 17th August 2022

Cancelled my policy out of the blue

Sent me an email on Friday stating my policy had been cancelled due to lack of proof of address, stating they had been emailing me for months although I have no record of any email. When called they put me on hold for 1.5 hours all for the manager to give me less than 25 seconds of his time to say he was unable to help me. Blunt, rude and almost seemed to enjoy my displeasure. Said that there was a 48 hour window in which after that there was nothing they could do. I am sure they cancelled this on a Friday on purpose as they knew their call centres were shut over the weekend! And the final cherry on the top was they have charged me a £80 cancellation fee, for a cancellation I didn't even want! Joke of a situation really not much you can do but laugh - and never insure your car here. Customer service has a lot to be desired for. Reviewed on: 15th August 2022

RIP OFF

Cancelled my insurance without contacting me even though all payments are up to date. Then expect a cancellation fee Absolute joke of a company. Reviewed on: 15th August 2022

Cowboy company lots of hidden charges

Really bad, used alot of insurance providers over the years but this has been the worst. Reviewed on: 15th August 2022

Brilliant customer service

I had a car accident whilst with them and they were very helpful and their customer service is brilliant. Whenever I had questions or had information to check or to change they were very quick and efficient. I’d recommend them to anyone. Reviewed on: 14th August 2022

Just awful

We are a garage so used to dealing with insurance companies. Never have I known anything like this! We are owed money and it seems like they just don't want to pay us! Chasing them up is a nightmare, time spent on hold when I could be working. Even the customer has had nothing but hassle with them. Avoid at all costs! Reviewed on: 12th August 2022

Terrible service and support with an accident

I have used 1st central for the past couple of years as they were cheap, but you do get what you pay for. Had an accident in June where a car crashed into the side of me. All damage to both my car and theirs clearly indicates the third party hit me, I took photos and shared with 1st central. First employee I spoke to said there was a very good chance the third party would be placed at fault (and rightly so) as images of damage clearly indicated this. They also said they would fight this case for me if needed as I had legal cover also. Weeks passed and received no update on my car getting fixed or progress with the claim. Had to chase them to find they’d assigned me to a repairs garage which didn’t serve my area and they were looking to correct this. Over a month passed before I was assigned to a repairs garage. I then received a call to say third party were now claiming injury (both people in the car at the time of the accident got out and clearly displayed that they had not been hurt at all. They also crashed into me so surely I’d be the one who was hurt if anybody). 1st central employee asked me to again recount the incident and proceeded to say that I would be placed at fault?! I challenged this and also stated I had provided a statement at the time, as well as sketches and third party had said sorry at the scene of the incident. The employee was rude and dismissive of what I was telling them, almost as if I wasn’t paying them for a service and to fight my case as promised previously by their colleague. Now over 2 months later I have been wrongly placed at fault and my car will not be repaired until October. Third party walks away with a pay out and no consequences for the fact they crashed into me. I’m also now with a new insurance provider and paying more to ensure I get a better service should I ever need it. Looking at other reviews here it’s clear that 1st central are happy to take money from their customers with false promises in return. Would NEVER use this company again and would definitely NEVER recommend them. Avoid at all costs. Reviewed on: 11th August 2022

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