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1st Central: Car insurance 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
53% decrease in 1 star reviews
in the past 90 days
See only 5 star reviews
11%
See only 4 star reviews
5%
See only 3 star reviews
2%
See only 2 star reviews
2%
See only 1 star reviews
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
Jade's avatar
Jade

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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Sherene
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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)

Rip off admin fees

1
AVOID this company! My license pass date was 2 months wrong and they have charged me £59.56 as an Admin Fee. This is cynical for a simple click of a button. Will not be renewing! Reviewed on: 21st July 2022
tatsiana's avatar
tatsiana

Rip off

1
I still can't come to terms what exactly happened as nothing like this ever happened to me before. I took insurance with them Went over the phone with representative paid first instalment and set up direct debit so normally that's end of story... not in that case... Within a month and before actual direct debit due I received txt msg that I'm due cancellation fee !!!! Imagine my shock... Apparently I canceled ! Direct debit!!!! AVOID AVOID AVOID SCUM Reviewed on: 21st July 2022
MZ's avatar
MZ

Hidden costs

1
Very unhappy with this company, lots of hidden fees, there is no room for mistakes, you will be charged for the smallest change. Reviewed on: 20th July 2022
Iza Zuberek's avatar
Iza Zuberek

Shit company AVOID

1
Would give them no stars at all This company is a joke only been insuranced for 2months then they cancelled my policy and changed me £380 to cancel it robbing cunts Reviewed on: 19th July 2022
x just me keiley x's avatar
x just me keiley x

Do not take out policy with these

1
I just got my policy frozen because I refused to answer the 7th security question. Everyone knows you only have to pass 3 security questions but I'd already given enough details for them to open a bank account or credit card in my name. They then froze my account when I asked to speak to a supervisor and hung up the call on me. Do not trust these people the call centre wasn't even in the UK. I only wanted to change the car on my policy because I bought a new one but now I have to catch the bus because of this information gathering advisor who's now potentially taking out credit in my name. Reviewed on: 18th July 2022
A Edwards's avatar
A Edwards

Rip off admin fees

1
I was charged £167 to change my address online using my account what a rip off I didn’t have any choice but to pay as I. Red the insurance and I don’t want the policy canvefded Reviewed on: 16th July 2022
Fiona pretty's avatar
Fiona pretty

Very lazy insurance company never help when false claims are made against customer, very happy to double premium instead. Disgraceful service.

1
A false claim was made against me. 1st central did noting to help resulting in financial loss with increase premium. Reviewed on: 14th July 2022
carol okoli's avatar
carol okoli

A completely dehumanising and demoralising affair

1
Myself and my partner have been put in a horrific position by our car insurer and their repairs company. She was in an accident over 5 months ago and out vehicle has not been fixed to a safe or roadworthy standard and was handed to a collection company without our consent and forced back upon is, the companies are refusing to take ownership of the issues and the related stress has caused is serious mental and physical health issues as well as loss of income and financial hardship. This has been ongoing for so long and we’re at the point where we haven’t been able to live like human beings anymore, as we can no longer afford food as well as fuel in the courtesy car they put us in and my partner requires a car for work as a healthcare assistant for the NHS. The repair company and the repair garage have completely cut off contact with us and are refusing to acknowledge the issues put forward. There are multiple other disgruntled and upset customers in similar situations who have been considering large scale action against the company, but the effect on us has been so profound and due to our existing mental health problems regarding depression and anxiety we have both become suicidal due to the ongoing difficulties we have had to face with this, and in my partner’s case the trauma she suffered as a result of the accident. We really need somewhere we can turn to now as we’re starting to lose any hope and if my partner does not have a safe, roadworthy car for her work she faces losing her job and career she has been building for 6 years and we face potential destitution and the loss of our home. Reviewed on: 12th July 2022
Morgan Mckimmings's avatar
Morgan Mckimmings

A complete lack of care and ownership

1
Be very aware when taking out a policy with 1st central as all positive reviews are related to setting up the policy, which of course is easy and the reviews don’t reflect what actually happens when you are in an accident and the repair process. 1st central do not actually deal with any repairs after you have been in an accident, they outsource all of this to a company called WNS therefore you cannot speak to 1st central about your accident troubles as they just tell you to ring the repairs team. WNS are mainly the reason for all of our delays but unfortunately that is still 1st centrals responsibility as our policy is with them and 1st central have not been helpful at all during the process. The date of my accident was the 15th February 2022 and it is now 12th July and my car still is not properly repaired. Firstly my courtesy car was booked as a manual car despite me informing them I only have an automatic license (and this is of course stated on my policy). It was then booked into the wrong garage 3 times causing months of delays, to which they said it was because of covid, but really they had my car on record as a mobile vehicle despite the doors being smashed in and it being off road and a claim form stating it was in drivable. This was admitted on a recorded phone line and seems to have been put down to poor communication between WMS and 1st central despite me ringing at least 10 times regarding this specific issue. Eventually when it was booked in to the correct garage who could deal with big crashes (Alton cars Keighley- would also avoid if your insurance selects this garage) it was returned with more damage, paint marks on the door, unfinished paintwork, overspray on the inside of the car, the airbag warning light on, the computer has gone funny due to the crash and this hasn’t been looked at meaning my MPG calculator changes randomly when driving at the same speed and gets stuck at 99.9MPG and if I can get 99.9MPG in a Kia picanto then I need to be on the news with my super car! My car then went back into Alton cars for a 2nd time and we were promised inspections before and after the vehicle went in, however this didn’t happen as the inspector was not advised properly therefore the report was based on incorrect information, which has also been admitted on a recorded phone line. The car was then transferred back to me without any notice or my consent for it to be given to another company (just a text from John MacAdam and Son to say the car was on its way) despite me wanting to collect the car myself so I could discuss any issues. Upon return the only things that have been sorted are the paintwork on the door and the sill, the computer still has not been looked at and the MPG calculator is totally random and now there are new dents on the car. Essentially at the end of all of this I have been left with a car which will not pass it’s MOT as the computer is not working properly and the steering is off. It is incredibly difficult to speak to any one at either 1st central or WNS as they say that someone will call you back and they never do meaning you have to chase every day like we have for 5 months. We have 1 complaint with the financial ombudsman and are about to give another to them as my 2nd complaint was closed without my consent and was offered £250 which is not enough to cover my repair costs which should have been sorted in the first place! My partner has spent essentially 2 whole days of annual leave chasing this up and we are no further with the case and have now had to seek legal advice from a solicitor, advice from the motor ombudsman, multiple financial ombudsman complaints and an email to BBC Watchdog which I can see that other policy holders have done as we are all in the same position! Reviewed on: 12th July 2022
Dawn Stewart's avatar
Dawn Stewart

Terrible Company

1
Awful company - run as fast as you can. They took my annual renewal of £490 then when I bought a new car a month later were asking for an additional £690 just to switch the car. I looked online and I can get insurance for the new car for over £300 cheaper. Their customer service is terrible and can't do anything to help at all. Scam of a company please never use even if introductory offer seems tempting. Reviewed on: 12th July 2022
Andehws's avatar
Andehws

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