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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

53% 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)

Additional charge

After being insured for a month or two I was asked to send pics of licence, which I did. I've now been emailed to say that I owe an extra £60 (£50 of which is an admin fee) due to the date I passed my test not matching what is actually on my licence. I do not even recall having to enter a date, just how many years that I'd held my licence! Either way, the forced change actually means I've held my licence for longer than the random date they had down on the system. Wish I had seen these reviews before! Reviewed on: 8th July 2022

AVOID and RUN

I would like to give ZERO. I was looking for a cur insurance and came across with this scammers. Got insurance in May 2022, uploaded requested documents, the documentation list was ridiculously long, never had anything like that with other insurance companies. Despite the fact that i had 14 days to cancel, they didn't review documentation till July, after review they increased my insurance price up to £300 with explanation that was discrepancy between the dates. In order to cancel the policy they listed all applicable fees: £50 - arrangement fee £50 - admin fee £50 - cancellation fee £30 interest payment £90 cost of 46 days insured Ended up to pay £180 to cancel the policy (some payments were made so was deducted from total cancelation cost) I was thinking what could go wrong with this company, but i was very wrong. Read reviews and choose right company, otherwise you will loose monies. Will report to Ombudsman. Reviewed on: 6th July 2022

Rip off

This appeared to be the cheapest car insurance I could find, as I’d been looking for a while but the prices seemed to be going up daily so I panicked knowing I had to sort out my insurance but didn’t want to pay an extortionate price. When I first saw the price I thought it was just about manageable but then literally saw nothing about a £50 broker fee! So I tried to cancel and they were adamant that I would not be able to get the £50 back, but guess I have no choice but to stick with them but hope I have no issues if I have to make any claims Reviewed on: 6th July 2022

Worst company I have ever dealt with

The initial claim call was good but things quickly deteriorated. A courtesy car was not requested and due to the delays it could take 3 weeks to get one at least. I have no update on my vehicle repair and they seem to be saying it was going to take a week before someone in the allocations team even started looking for a garage to repair the car. Nobody has provided me with an update but I do weirdly keep receiving emails about my child's booster seat! If only I had a car to pick him up in. I don't live with my son and haven't been able to see him so what good is a booster seat. The complaints team issued a holding letter stating they would take 14 days and when I've tried to speak to them they've been too busy...I bet they are very busy! It's a mess and this company should be shut down if they can't provide a reasonable level of service. I don't know how I can resolve it as literally nobody wants to or can help me. I'm gutted. Reviewed on: 6th July 2022

Feels like I have been scammed...

I purchased a policy via a comparison website. Inputed the details (not asked by the insurance conpany for anything more before proceeding) - a couple of weeks later I was requested to send a copy of my licence front and back along with the named driver and a copy of the no claims letter. Didn't thing much of it - I then have an email saying becuase the details of when I passed was out by less than a year (becuase they ask how long you have held you licence not when you passed) I was charged a premium and an administration fee... which means unless you are renewing bang on the date you passed... they are Likely to charge you for the privilege. I will be avoiding them like the plague going forward Reviewed on: 5th July 2022

Nothing but a Scam. Avoid like COVID

nothing but a cowboy operation. refused to accept an email of proof of No Claims Bonus. even though ive never had this issue with any other insurance company. an absolute joke of a company. Avoid like Covid Reviewed on: 5th July 2022

AVOID AVOID AVOID

my car was involved in an accident at not my fault. Since the 30th of May 2022( today is the 4th of July) and my car is still not taken to the Body shop. When I organized a Body shop myself insurance claimed that I have to pay a fee of £250 because it's not their chosen Bodyshop. The 1st central has been feeding me with the promises that they are working hard to allocate a garage for me, which is not true. It took me 10 minutes to find and agree with the garage for a repair. But insurance still is acting like they can not fix the problem, blaming the garrage that they are not responding. 1st central also stopped paying for my courtesy car and told me that I have to return to the Enterprise. They constantly continue lying. Their staff is very unprofessional and lacks knowledge. They either hang the phone when you are calling for an update or say: We are very sorry, unfortunately, we are doing our best to sort this issue out. But in reality, they don't do anything. I am wondering who employs people who don't k know what they are doing. I strongly advise you not to go with this company as your insurance. AVOID AVOID AVOID. Reviewed on: 4th July 2022

Worst insurance company I've ever dealt with!

Had a vandalism claim made in February this year, although it had been repaired and all documentation send as per earlier agreed estimate, garage that finalised repairs has no received due money yet?! Been calling them at least once every week but only thing im getting is "we will escalate with our finance department" that has no direct contact number that can be called. No managers or anyone with decision making power ever available to speak to you, and obviously good luck waiting for arranged call back being made... Absolutely ridiculous customer service, ombudsman and fca informed! Reviewed on: 4th July 2022

very poor ther website is a joke it doesnt keep your records upto date.

every time i use there website it refuses my debit card when there is ample funds in it,i have tried my partners card which has more than ample funds in it and it refuses that also,i tried phoning and the same thing happens and because they have the first five cheapest quotes you have to go elsewhere and you finnish paying alot more. Reviewed on: 3rd July 2022

AVOID THEM!

SCAM!! AVOID THEM! I have signed agreement with them and after free withdraw period they decided to ask me for dvla codes, licence pictures and proof of no claim bonus. I don't see any problem to give them proof of no claim bonus, but I definitely won't give third part company so sensitive information like dvla access. Moreover, I have noticed that they do not cover me on other cars, which was one of my main criteria. If 1st central would ask me about it in the first 14 days of my cover, I would simply withdraw it with no costs. Moreover, I am wondering why company like this do not ask for so important information before sign the agreement. That would be 'red flag' for me on the very beginning. Now they have asked me to pay for policy cancellation plus extra fees. Total costs for 26 days of cover is 128 pounds!!!! That is ridiculous. This is quarter of full price!!!!!! They force you to pay them, no matter what! AVOID EVERY COST!!!!!!! Reviewed on: 29th June 2022

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