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1st Central: Car insurance reviews

Name: Car insurance
Rating: 1.67 (881 reviews)

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1.48

Based on 881 reviews, last reviewed 5th Apr 2025

No new 5 star reviews

in the past 90 days

41% increase in 1 star reviews

in the past 90 days

11%

80%

Latest highest rating:

5

Very good quote on car insurance, and recommended on... Very good quote on car insurance, and recommended on go compare site Reviewed on: 25th September 2024

Latest lowest rating:

1

Took £881 when by their own admission the insurance... Took £881 when by their own admission the insurance was cancelled. Then tell you it will take 10 days for the refund . Absolute disgrace . AVOID THIS ... Read more Reviewed on: 5th April 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.

1st Central Car insurance reviews (881)

Review of the 1st Central, Car insurance:

Wouldn’t even quote for a renewal.

I was with this company for a year. I paid my premiums on time and without fail, when it came to renewing, they initially tried to add £150 a year to my premiums, despite me not having any accidents, not claiming or even contacting them. When I spoke to them to discuss this, they then said they couldn’t even quote me. If I’m not the sort of customer that insurance companies want then I don’t know what is! AVOID! Reviewed on: 28th March 2025

Reply from 1st Central Hi Dan, We’re sorry to hear on this occasion your experience with us hasn’t been as positive as we’d hoped it would be. We can't offer insurance to every customer and we are governed by our underwriters. If underwriting criteria changes in the year, this means we sometimes can't offer a customer a new policy at renewal. Ashley Response date: 31st March 2025

Absolutely nasty and non-transparent company

Used them twice. The first time, 2022, a van drove into me and my car was written off. They handed my claim to a separate firm and 2.5 years on I am still waiting for settlement. This year, chose them as they appeared to be the cheapest. Don't be fooled. My car had to be scrapped after 6 weeks insured with 1st central and THEN all the hidden costs come out. Additionally, they required me to prove the vehicle had been transferred then forward dated the cancellation date to the issue date of the DVLA scrappage note. refuse to do anything about it. And admit I could not have been aware of the extra charges BEFORE I took out the policy, but refuse to do anything about it. Horrible horrible company. Stick with the transparent reputable companies. Reviewed on: 23rd September 2024

Reply from 1st Central Hi Judy, We’re sorry to hear on this occasion your experience with us hasn’t been as positive as we’d hoped it would be. For cancelling a policy, if this ever needs to be back dated a car insurance company would need this date to be confirmed in writing. We advise of our cancellation fees when a policy is being set up online or over the phone. These are agreed by the customer, so they are aware upfront. We have this FAQ also - https://help.1stcentralinsurance.com/motor/cancellations/if-my-car-insurance-is-cancelled-why-do-i-still-owe-money-to-1st-central. Ashley Response date: 24th September 2024

Easy to see what was included & it was great value.

Easy to see what cover was provided and it covered all my requirements, plus it was great value. Reviewed on: 18th September 2024

Reply from 1st Central Hi Robin, Thank you for your review and for choosing 1st Central this year for your car insurance. Ashley Response date: 20th September 2024

Do not use this firm

Hidden with charges. Impossible to cancel the contract even within the 14 days. Awful customer service, non uk based calls centres. Save you selfs a lot of agg and go elsewhere… they start cheap to reel you into a year of hell Reviewed on: 18th September 2024

Reply from 1st Central Hi Ashley, Thank you for your feedback. We’re sorry to hear about your experience with us. All details on the policy impact the price of the policy we offer, if details are found to be incorrect we need to update them and this can impact the price of the policy. We have call centres based in a few locations, including the UK and South Africa. Ashley Response date: 18th September 2024

Worst experience.

Worst experience. This company is a shambles, incompetent and rude staff also. We requested our policy to be one multicar policy rather than two separate policies, they told us they would complete this, but never did… so of course, charged us double the cancellation fee with added extras that were never outlined when we took out the policy. Clearly will try and claim all sorts for extra money. Reviewed on: 17th September 2024

Reply from 1st Central Hi Olivia, We’re sorry to hear on this occasion your experience with us hasn’t been as positive as we’d hoped it would be. We offer a multicar discount to a policy, this means you would get a £50 discount on your new policy. You'd then get a £50 discount on your policy when it renewed. If any changes needed to be made, or if the policies needed to be cancelled, they would be subject to their own premium charges and fees. This is advised on our website also - https://help.1stcentralinsurance.com/general/discounts/do-you-offer-a-multicar-discount. Ashley Response date: 17th September 2024

Disgusting company they couldn't even set up my dire...

Disgusting company they couldn't even set up my direct debit properly then because they hadn't done it tried to charge me late payment fees on top this happened for 3 months on the trot every time I phoned and told them to complete the direct debit every month they said they would every month they didn't even my bank said they hadn't done what they needed to do their side . In the end I canceled the policy as I was sick of late payment fees. They were very rude I paid a cancelation fee just to get away from these cowboys absolute con men . Really need investigating there's also a whole facebook page made about this awful company and it's dodgy dealing I'd check it out I wish I had seen it before I took out the policy . They also make up a date that you passed your driving test and when you say no I passed it on such a date they accuse you of false information even though nobody ever asked me the date of passing they then charge to amend something that wasn't your fault . They also try to say of the date of ownership doesn't match up with day of purchase of the vehicle on your log book they will charge you to amend that they make out you told them things you didn't and then charge you to amend each thing . Reviewed on: 16th September 2024

Reply from 1st Central Hi Mrs Buckley, We’re sorry to hear on this occasion your experience with us hasn’t been as positive as we’d hoped it would be. If there’s anything you’d like us to look into for you, please contact us by sending an email to [email protected]. Please include your policy number and details of what’s gone wrong, and we’ll see if we can put things right. Ashley Response date: 17th September 2024

Competitive market prices

Competitive market prices, I’ve not had to make a claim so can’t speak on that front Reviewed on: 15th September 2024

Reply from 1st Central Hi EC, Thank you for your review and for choosing 1st Central this year for your car insurance. Ashley Response date: 16th September 2024

Good experience 1st central

Easy to set up, covers what I need, do sort claims out quickly and professionally. They answer the phone and everything online is easy. Reviewed on: 14th September 2024

Reply from 1st Central Hi Rachel, Thank you for your review and for choosing 1st Central this year for your car insurance. Ashley Response date: 16th September 2024

They were a good provider.

They were a good provider. I had roadside assistance once and very helpful in sorting it Reviewed on: 10th September 2024

Reply from 1st Central Hi Vijay, Thank you for your review and for choosing 1st Central this year for your car insurance. Ashley Response date: 11th September 2024

The worst 'insurance' company I come across in more...

The worst 'insurance' company I come across in more than three decades of using car insurance. Incredibly dishonest, incompetent and arrogant -- prefer working against their own interests, too! Had to deal with them through an ombudsman who proved to be an utter moron, but I got at least some money and satisfaction back. Reviewed on: 6th September 2024

Reply from 1st Central Hi Wanderer, We’re sorry to hear on this occasion your experience with us hasn’t been as positive as we’d hoped it would be. We’ll use your comments to help improve our service. Ashley Response date: 6th September 2024

AVOID this deceitful lying company

The worst company I have ever had the misfortune of trusting. Lying, deceitful money grabbing， VULGAR。 PLEASE avoid avoid avoid at all costs!!! You will lose money and they will hound you constantly with threats!!!!!! AVOID Reviewed on: 5th September 2024

Reply from 1st Central Hi Ben, Thank you for your feedback. We’re very sorry to hear about your experience with us. If there’s anything you’d like us to look into for you, please contact us by sending an email to [email protected]. Please include your policy number and details of what’s gone wrong, and we’ll see if we can put things right. Ashley Response date: 6th September 2024

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