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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)

THIEVES!!!!

Took out the policy, then 8 hours later realised one date was wrong, phoned to change it, was told would cost me £47 to do so, so asked to cancel policy as in the 14 days period, told would be £50 to cancel. Read all the reviews and decided to cancel policy and pay the £50 as could see how they would constantly be taking money for the littliest detail. DO NOT TAKE OUT A POLICY. Reviewed on: 3rd February 2022

NEVER GO WITH THEM

I booked my policy and claimed 2 yrs of NCD with them a month ago. and by mistake, I put my wife's name as a policyholder instead of my name and kept myself as an additional driver. they did not send me a mail with the amount they will add to my account for any mismatch in the policy and asked for the NCD copies from the last 2 years, the same was sent to them immediately. Now what they are saying is that I have to pay £168 extra as the NCD was in my name, not my wife's name. when I asked that if you cancel and then i can have a new policy on my name then they asked for around £200 pounds for 1 month of policy to cancel. This is ridiculous to know that they hid the info as to how much I will be paying in case of a mismatch. They can't do anything, from the last 4 years I was with Admiral and moved to them seeing the low price. Now have paid the extra amount to them and they are no longer cheaper. NEVER GO WITH THEM Reviewed on: 2nd February 2022

NEVER AGAIN

Worst insurance company ever!! I'd rather pay twice as much than use the services of these thieves. Reviewed on: 1st February 2022

Insurance is secondary, locking you in and admin fees is the buisness

Avoid Avoid Avoid Insurance time and 1st central came out best on the quotes engine so went with them and at quote and sale everything was smooth sailing. After that started the requests for further information, I had four drivers on the policy so these requests added up photos of licences, share codes etc but it was when I'd done all this and uploaded to their site and gave the team a ring. First literally hours in queues to get through then more hour on hold as my proofs where checked at the end of all this they want to charge me a extra £50 admin fee for changes on the policy, this was due to insignificant details like the exact date a licence had achieved or the number of years held 26 rather than 20. These changes we all absolutely necessary and being done for my benefit apparently I ultimately got the "it company policy" you can pay or cancel response. So my advice would be not all insurance is the same 1st central will not tell you up front but expect them to need more of your time and if anything is not 100% correct expect an admin fee (have to wonder if that's there business model) alternatively save yourself the headache and the time/money and choose anyone else I know I will in future Reviewed on: 27th January 2022

SHIT

6 months has past and i'm still waiting for a simple wing mirror repair to be sorted. Ask for a manager multiple times and they're always conveniently in meetings, the company is shambles. They can't and wont give time frames to when things will be sorted. They say they'll request a call back from a manager which they can't guarantee will happen and it doesn't happen. Worst company EVER. STAY FAR AWAY!!!!!! Reviewed on: 24th January 2022

Awful company - will try and get extra money from you when they know you're locked in!

Avoid at all costs. Any small typo/mistake will be highlighted and your premium will go up. How can the insurance cost double by getting your NCD wrong by a year? £115 to cancel is the best money i'll ever spend - please avoid at all costs. Reviewed on: 18th January 2022

SCAMMERS

This company is scum and lie to the customer Reviewed on: 17th January 2022

Disgusting

Son cancelled policy agent very rude no compromise on anything. Can’t speak to a manager to complain. Even if you cancel when receiving renewal still get charged for cancelling. The staff do get flustered wen arguing with them and tell you different information. Disgusting company would not use or recommend to anyone. Reviewed on: 17th January 2022

Cowboys

You can easily summaries their service to one word, "COWBOYS" Stay far away from this company as you will be regretted big time. Reviewed on: 17th January 2022

Avoid if you were not born in UK

I lived here since 2003. They have just raised my premium by almost £150 because I can't prove it because I can find an 18 year old bill or bank statement. I've been British citizen for over 11 years! They will not listen to any reason and are threatening to cancel my insurance. Disgusting Reviewed on: 13th January 2022

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