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1st Central: Car insurance reviews

Name: Car insurance
Rating: 1.51 (957 reviews)

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1.51

Based on 957 reviews, last reviewed 17th Apr 2026

100% increase in 5 star reviews

in the past 90 days

59% 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

Do not use this provider for your car insurance I’ve had a very poor experience with this insurer. They failed to respond to three or four of my emails, and despite requesting a call from management... Read more Reviewed on: 10th April 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 (957)

Absolute joke of a company

After having to search for a new insurance company, first time ever seeing and coming across this company. There rates seemed cheap. I wished at the time I had done some research first. As I was to find out. They first request me to send them the No Claims Discount (NCD) proof. That should have been my first clue as to the stupidity and unprofessionalism of this company, I started thinking I wouldn't need to send them it, as having been driving for 6 years and each time the company I chose was able to get prove from the NCD database. Imagine my shock when I received a letter a month later, of their intention to cancel my claim on the grounds of me not providing my NCD. So that day I contacted them, after speaking and get a email with proof from my previous insurance company, I sent it over and then contacted them a day later, asking if they had received it, as even though their website claimed I could send it over through the website, it was never an accepted format, despite me following the recommendations. After speaking to 3 different representatives, all of which had manners that left alot to be desired, I was lied to by all them, claiming there was no national database for NCD's, refusing to accept the email from another company dispite me speaking to the previous company and being told that should be accepted, as that is all they ever send, and is accepted by 90% of other providers. After again trying to get through to them to, explaining that they are the ones who are not accepting any of my attempts to get this sorted, yet they claimed they would still want money off me. I went else where, THEY wanted this to be cancelled, THEY refused to accept a standard Nationally recognised email as proof of my NCD's, THEY would not access a national database for NCD's. This is the kind of rubbish I had to deal with yet I was told I was the one in the wrong. This will be send to the financal ombudsman and the Insurance watchdog as this company is still claiming I should pay for THERE mistakes. I am a carer, for a severely disabled partner who does not need this cowboy, joke of a company accusing me of this. I will fight this if I have to, even though I really don't want to. Though I will if I need to. Reviewed on: 4th August 2022

Waste time and money

NOT RECOMMENDED -2 weeks after accident they don't provide car repairer. Car is still on the driveway and customer service just say.... We send email about etc. I'm spoke six times with customer service about. This is a jock, don't buy policy with the company just lost time and money. Reviewed on: 3rd August 2022

Paid 3 times, got two refunds then claim I haven't paid!

AVOID THIS COMPANY LIKE THE PLAGUE. I ended up having 3 charges taken from my card because their website ffed up, managed to get one charge back, the second charge I had to get through my credit card because they refused to refund me, and now they are claiming I havent paid at all! Absolutely useless, I've wasted hours of my life on the phone. DISGUSTING COMPANY. Reviewed on: 3rd August 2022

WORST COMPANY IV EVER USED

I had another driver hit me while i was parked the spot that the accident was covered by cctv i told the insurance to get the cctv footage so they could use it against the other driver.. They didnt do anything i asked, they didnt offer to get my car picked up. They got another company involved with getting my car repaired, my car was collected many weeks later taken to a garage. Long story short my car was then taken from the garage an nobody knew where my car was for nearly 3 months, they had taken it to a scrap yard ready to sell without my permission as i asked for my car back to repair my self. They closed the case because there wasn't enough evidence even though the cameras would of shown everything they needed to know but they couldn't be asked to contact to cctv company.. Now they wont answer any calls. DO NOT EVER USE THIS COMPANY THEY ARE USELESS BUT HAPPY TO TAKE YOUR MONEY Reviewed on: 3rd August 2022

APPALLING SERVICE - STAY WELL CLEAR!!

APPALLING SERVICE - STAY WELL CLEAR!! My claim has been ongoing for nearly 4 months now & I’ve heard every excuse you could think of. “It’s been assigned to the wrong team”, “it’s with validations”, “it’s with a 3rd party company”, “it’s with the theft team”, “your claim handler isn’t available”, “we’re waiting for the manager to come back in”, “we need the keys to your vehicle” (the vehicle they collected with keys on the 26th April!) …The list goes on! I’m promised call backs that I never receive, I’ve already submitted a formal complaint which I was given some compensation for & told my case would be completed within 2 weeks & the service would improve. Yet 3 weeks later, I’m still waiting with no further updates despite me chasing!! Disgrace of a company, to leave a mother of 3 carless for 15 weeks with no help or support is simply disgusting! Reviewed on: 2nd August 2022

Be careful for renewal time

Bought insurance last year until july 5 and I sold my car so no renewed. They took money from my credit card without asking. Spoke to them After returned very less, they saying automatic renewed Reviewed on: 1st August 2022

Worse Company ever

I have been charged twice for the same policy and still waiting for refund after 1.5 months Reviewed on: 1st August 2022

Disgusting company

They will try anything not to pay out if you have an accident, do not touch this company with a barge pole. You have been warned . Reviewed on: 31st July 2022

Would give 0 if possible

A week ahead of my renewal, I attempted to cancel online multiple times prior to my renewal - according to their system, I don't exist. Couldn't change my password because my name or date of birth was incorrect (lol). Tried again to speak to someone on chat and I "failed the security check" which consisted of my name, DOB and email address - they wouldn't cancel it but told me to call. I called and waited for 20 minutes but no answer; who's got time? Came back from holiday and it had auto-renewed overnight - called to cancel, stop any payment from going out and they refused my DVLA proof of vehicle sale email (saying I could just edit it) and charged me £50 just to cancel it. Customer Service score: -5 Avoid like the clap Reviewed on: 31st July 2022

Avoid at all costs

Dreadful customer service Ridiculous costs when making changes to policy. I pray I don't have to claim with them. They don't deserve 1 star. Reviewed on: 31st July 2022

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