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1st Central: Car insurance reviews

1.71
Based on 965 reviews, last reviewed 7th Jun 2026
100% increase in 5 star reviews
in the past 90 days
8% 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

Please avoid this company, money grabbers! I purchased car insurance and then found a more comprehensive cover for the same price, so within 12 hours decided to cancel whilst policy was pending... Read more Reviewed on: 7th June 2026
Deena C's avatar
Deena C

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 (965)

Ms

5
Very good . Is the best for me. My opinion. Reviewed on: 24th February 2021

Straightforward with a good website

3
1st central were a straightforward company to work with, truly paper free and their website was easy to use. Reviewed on: 22nd February 2021

Avoid this company

1
I cancelled my pre-paid car insurance with 4 months remaining and was informed that I was not due any refund for the unused 4 months. Cancellation fees are way to high and customer service is poor. Emails are not responded too and telephone operators lack consistent information Reviewed on: 31st January 2021

Avoid if you don't want to be ruined....

1
Please avoid these bunch of fraudsters. They are happy to take your money for insurance, but when you do get into an accident and want to claim, they will definitely look for a way to make sure they don't pay you and will ensure your insurance gets voided and cancelled. I have put in a complaint against them and will be taking the complaint all the way to the financial ombudsman. I cannot believe that a car insurance taking out in good faith gets voided because the car had alloy wheels??? The end result is my car insurance costs has gone up from £650/year to over £3000/year due to my having to declare a policy voided by these fraudsters. Please avoid. If you choose to ignore this advice and you get into an accident or your car gets stolen and you want to claim, I can assure you you wouldn't get a penny because they will go through your policy and void it because you didn't declare you had a a sat nav!! I have to pay over £21,000 for my car repair from my own pocket and also have to deal with the high car insurance costs due to a voided policy. Avoid these scam artists like a plague! I'm taking them to the financial ombudsman and will be posting this negative reviews everywhere so people can be forewarned. Reviewed on: 24th January 2021

The definition of why I hate car insurance companies

1
Absolutely disgusting, money thriving company. If you want to pay £100 to cancel your car insurance then this is the company for you. Vile treatment received for a good customer that has paid their way. Will NEVER use this company again and certainly won’t be recommending to anyone. Avoid like the plague Reviewed on: 5th January 2021

Cheap and nasty for good reason

1
Cheap and nasty for good reason. Firstly expect to be hounded by 'Policy Validation' threatening to cancel your policy. God help you if you need to make a claim! After a year renewing I was mis sold the policy and extorted for more money. After cancelling they will rip you off further with ficticious charges. Avoid at all costs- will be taking them to the FCA. All emails will be ignored incidentally if you have a grievance. Customer service is simply shocking. Reviewed on: 11th December 2020

Dont use!!!!!!!!!!

1
Worst insurance company I have used in my life. They will try and RIP you off!!!! It's a con. Run while you can!!! Reviewed on: 25th November 2020

??????

1
Unable to offer renewal due to Underwriters can’t give any reason. A year older no driving convictions never speed. Don’t understand why poor customer service Reviewed on: 8th November 2020

Legal Thief

1
Changed car on my policy they took payment for this and my old car which I changed. Now they don't know what I was paying for. Iwas on the phone over 1 hour and they found payment now changed my policy car and say that I need to pay 50 monthly and in policy what I found and agree it was 29. Rubbish company. Now contact again as you suggested. Nobody able to help me. Now wanted to cancel my policy and they said to ring tomorrow because now they don't have anyone to do this.caustomer service is open till 8 but cancelation till 5 and is nowhere infirmation tion about this. You stole my money and done mess with my documents also it is no documents about policy what I done online only you took my money. I will say about your company everywhere wher I can what you are doing wirh caustomers and how you are treating them. I loss 3 hours for conversation with 1 central. And a lots of nerves at the end of my pregnancy. You are legal thief. Be careful people. Reviewed on: 2nd November 2020

High fees

1
Took out policy and weeks later was asked to call them. 30 mins in a queue and then had to confirm occupation details. Mine were correct but I hadn't changed my dads to retired and they gave me the option of changing his details and re-issuing the quote (£50 arrangement fee and £50 cancellation fee) or re-quoting without him included in the policy (would also be subject to the two fees above). I said I would cancel then and go with another provider so they deducted £50 arrangement fee and £50 cancellation fee plus days covered from my premium and left with me £128 refund from a £241 premium paid only 25 days previously! Absolutely scandalous and I suspect they call all policy holders just to see if they can trip them up about missed details that would end up being irrelevant to the cost of the original premium, just so they can enforce changing of document fees. Avoid at all costs! Reviewed on: 19th October 2020

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