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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)

Scam

Lured me in with a good price. Had to make a small change, non risk affecting, and the price doubled. Either pay a huge admin fee or an even bigger fee to cancel. Apparently they’re “payable” and there’s nothing that can be done even when the price should never have changed. Takes ages to get through by phone. Their call centre is in South Africa and the latency is horrible so it takes 10 seconds for people on the phone to hear what you’re saying which causes painful conversations. Went back to my old insurer esure who never failed me. Reviewed on: 29th June 2022

Ridiculous

Attractive price but didn't expect to be left with such a sour taste. My own error, I set up a policy to start 2 days after necessary. I called within an hour to change it, only to be told that it would cost me. I asked to cancel the policy instead and have since received an email telling me that I need to pay a cancellation fee AND an arrangement fee, this is despite the '14 day cooling off period'. I've raised a complaint but don't hold much of hope in having this resolved by them. Will mostly likely be raising with the FOS Reviewed on: 28th June 2022

Scammers - keep well away

Would give zero. After my Son took out insurance three months in they cancelled the policy when funds were available. My son was not informed of the cancellation was stopped by Police for no insurance. The first my Son was aware. Now facing 6 points a £300 charge and loss of licence. Can't get hold of these cowboys. Will be contesting in Court and taking action against 1stCentral. They have caused massive stress on my Son and family.. please keep well away from taking out a policy with them. Solicitor has been instructed Reviewed on: 28th June 2022

Scammers

They tried to charge me ridiculous fees for no reason and charged me loads more when I cancelled. It ended up costing me £250 to be insured for the 2 months I had the policy. Never had any problems with any other Insurers. I will definitely not ever Insure with them again. Reviewed on: 27th June 2022

Avoid! They will charge fees at any opportunity.

Avoid at all costs

It appears cheap, and you know the saying "cheap is cheap". Then they call you - right after the cool down period- and request more info. Any tiny detail requests them to do a change to your form. I m not talking years of no claim insurance, type of car, where you park it etc, I m talking like getting the month right on your licence but not the day. And they charge a ton of extra money. Adding everything up, they end up being more expensive than top insurers. So yes, cheap is cheap! Reviewed on: 27th June 2022

£50 admin fee, for typing on a computer

My NCB was in its 11th year, but they said I only have 10. They only give a discount upto 9th year. Details needed updated, so they took it as a change of circumstances and applied a admin fee of £50 and £16 for a change of details! Will not use them again!! Reviewed on: 25th June 2022

thieves

they emailed me 3 months after I took out the policy and requested non claims proof and vehicle registration papers and asked me to call them. provided all, while I phoned they asked me for partner's profession. As I said a slightly different title they took it as a change of circumstances and applied a admin fee of £50 and £16 for a change of details!!!!! if i was to cancel the policy, i would have to pay £50 admin fee so will stay with them. however, i will never ever use them again. Reviewed on: 22nd June 2022

Auto renewed my policy at 200%!

Auto renewed my policy at 200%! Because they had sent an email ( that I hadn’t received ) they considered the new policy legally binding. They charged me £70 to cancel it. I told the rep if they waved the £70, I’d happily deal with them again, I’d get a quote from the right there and then! But the taking the £70 from me meant more to them than my business. Unscrupulous, avoid Reviewed on: 22nd June 2022

RIP off company

I had been chang my address and told them I chang my address so their are say will change me 250£ for change the address!! What a joke !! So I been cancle the policy strate way then their are send me I own them money for 17£ But how come !! Their are chang me monthly 1 time 67£ because I haven’t cancle my direct debit so , after their are intimidating me by email will put me to the court if I not pay them !! Unprofessional & Rip off company!! Be careful Reviewed on: 22nd June 2022

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