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1st Central: Car insurance reviews

Name: Car insurance
Rating: 1.67 (880 reviews)

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1.47

Based on 880 reviews, last reviewed 3rd Apr 2025

No new 5 star reviews

in the past 90 days

47% increase in 1 star reviews

in the past 90 days

11%

80%

Latest highest rating:

5

Very good quote on car insurance, and recommended on... Very good quote on car insurance, and recommended on go compare site Reviewed on: 25th September 2024

Latest lowest rating:

1

I wish I had read previous reviews before taking out... I wish I had read previous reviews before taking out a policy with these scam artists. Their common tactic is to lure you in with a low quote, only to... Read more Reviewed on: 3rd April 2025

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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 (880)

Feeling conned by this company.

I took out insurance with 1st Central as they had a decent price and seemed to have decent ratings online. The first red flag should have been when I had to re-enter my details to get a new quote as my original quote had locked me out from purchase and they couldn't tell me why. It turns out the quote you get with them lasts only a day and therefore it had become invalid, so I had to do an entire new quote. I then received an email for someone else, with their personal information, telling me that my policy wasn't valid, except it wasn't my policy number so I had to contact them to correct this mistake and all seemed fine. I then had to contact them as an accident had occurred that wasn't my fault. Two cars had collided on my street and my parked car was hit. I contacted them to inform them the 3rd party was taking responsibility and that was fine. While I was on the phone I had to advise them that as well as being a full-time student I had obtained a part-time job. There seemed to be a problem with this as I was put on hold for 20 minutes. The person who i spoke to informed me that because I was now working part-time my policy no longer met the criteria to be insured by the company and that my policy would have to be cancelled. I advised that I was still a student and got a job to make some extra money, but that I wouldn't be using the car for commuting. I was baffled by the brick wall they put up in terms of communication, continually stating that, because I had a job they would have to cancel my policy. Needless to say I was extremely angry and unsatisfied so I demanded to speak to a manager, which they refused, repeating the same line over and over. They then charged me for having to have my policy cancelled and stated I'd be getting a refund, missing £100 of my original quote, for only 17 days of cover. I have now had to quickly arrange new insurance which had ended up costing me an extra £120. I would strongly advise you not to use this insurance company as I believe they bring people in with low cost quotes and make it very difficult to maintain your policy if you have any changes to make. Please spread the word to anyone considering taking a policy with them. Reviewed on: 19th November 2016

Avoid!

Terrible customer service! I was calling 3 times to renew my policy and they still didn't do this! I must buy new one. Then they blocked my account and sent me an e-mail, that they need proof of my address, driving licence, second driver driving licence and other documents from almost 10 years! Everytime the same message "We will cancell if you not...". Just avoid! Reviewed on: 31st October 2016

rip off merchants

Was supposed to be quited 813 pounds i relocated 10 minutes down the road to a new address the quote increased by 400 quid to 1200, absolute rip off, 3 years no claims no motoring conviction and 0 points on my licence no idea how they can justify a quote like this, scum bag company Reviewed on: 24th October 2016

Great service

Could not ask for a better insurance company got me on the road within mins to problems at all Reviewed on: 20th October 2016

Avoid At All Cost's Scammers Whom Rip You Off

took out insurance as they were the cheapest They Started my policy 2 weeks earlier not on the date i said i declared i had 1 fault accident in last 10 years This morning they took 170 from my account out of the blue as they said i did not declare the accident i declared bear in mind was not to start to 24/10/16. phoned them up man was really obnoxious and said well what u want me to do about it. ?????? Luckily i record all important conversations from the start even ask the name of person im talking to etc date and time. re phoned and they said they will refund as i have now cancelled with no fees .... so will have to wait... to top it all put me overdrawn so now paying bank fees. Update 4 NOV 2016 Bank waved all fees and 1st insurance after hours of continually calling gave me a full refund so happy now Reviewed on: 19th October 2016

Great value and easy to use

I received an email from 1St central as had been a customer in the past, they offered a discount if I came back to them. Went on a well known price comparison web-sites then half heartily took them up on their offer to try them..... they beat the comparison website prices, wish I had tried them first, and they made it really easy to take out a policy... Thanks guys. Reviewed on: 19th October 2016

Happy with the company's offer

Only a week with 1 st Central. happy with the offer so far ! Hope it all goes smoothly for the whole period ! Reviewed on: 16th October 2016

Insurance Without a Fuss!

Considering how onerous finding and then joining insurance companies can be, this was a walk in the park! I was happy to find that the quote I got through a price comparison website is exactly what I ended up paying. (It has not always worked out this way, believe you me.) When I elected to insure with 1st Central everything just went smashingly well. I did not have trouble getting my documents, and of course, I could do anything else online. That is how it ought to be, because I have no time for being held up by a voice message that, "we are very busy today"! (And invariably it is the same message every day! Thank you for doing it the easy way. Keep up the good work, or else, with very fickle customers these days, you will be left alone. Reviewed on: 14th October 2016

Unexpected Extras from 1st Central

I recently took out a policy with 1st Central, as they were the cheapest around with the best cover. I was surprised that they sent me details of a website where you can also get cashback and discounts on vouchers etc, free for thos who have insurance with them. Also, no hassle with the policy which I took out and can amend online. Reviewed on: 13th October 2016

A complete scam of a company

Don't be fooled by there cheap price, as the saying goes if its to good to be true. Well these people are out to sting you by admin charges to bring thier price to the correct market value. Had noting but problems from the very start we did not know if we were insured or not as there system was supposedly down for 72 hours, then there email system was not working. after a 53 minute wait on the phone they confirmed that we were insured then to receive there first letter asking for proof of everything or £ 75.00 admin charge. Reviewed on: 7th October 2016

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