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1st Central: Car insurance reviews

Name: Car insurance
Rating: 1.73 (968 reviews)

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1.73

Based on 968 reviews, last reviewed 17th Jul 2026

100% decrease in 5 star reviews

in the past 90 days

No new 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

Horrendous! Cheaper for a reason.... what a scam!!! Horrendous! After 3 weeks into my insurance with them, they contacted me to say they had increased my mileage a year as they have access to all previo... Read more Reviewed on: 17th July 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 (968)

Car Insurance for the call centre phobic!

Very happy with the customer experience i received from 1st Central. You can do everything online from taking out your policy to updating details and even changing vehicle. I found them through a comparison website but I would now definitely recommend. Reviewed on: 4th July 2017

ALARMINGLY DREADFUL COMPANY THAT STILL OPERATE? I AM NOT SURE THIS IS LEGAL...

On gathering quotes together for my impending car renewal, I went back to 1st Central because they cropped up on a site and this time round seemed to have a 5 star defacto rating. I was with them a couple of years ago. The quote that came up evaporated and no email - as promised - landed. Of course when I got hold of them a day later - they had doubled the price. For no reason. Now I have spent since June 10th - June 30th writing to them and calling them and using social media to this end too. They have - to be fair - made the odd attempt to call back but their promise to sort the issue and honour the quote they provided (that I could not but because had it not been for my screen grabs - that I had taken and filed - I would have thought that I had gone insane); though the old policy expired and still they have not made contact and enabled me to buy the policy. When I was with them a few years ago they said that there was a 'NON FAULT NON CLAIM' something or other (NO idea what) - that had suddenly landed and enabled them to add a few quid on to the policy. I have never made this call to them and there is no recall of it. It is not provable. Nothing has been provided as proof. They promised a refund because there is nothing there that enables them to add this additional charge on - yet they persist with verbally advising me about it. I would like to know if there is a name for this modus operandi - leading people in with cheap quotes that then evaporate and then no customer service that amounts to anything other than HOT AIR. Literally. In fact hot air would be more palatable. Sincerely, Mrs A.S Reviewed on: 2nd July 2017

Simple service and low cost

I always get hassle from insurance companies, but with 1st central, I don't. Everything is simple, great easy to understand information. Getting insurance dosnt take long it's easy to set up, no hassle and a great deal for your money. Love it. Reviewed on: 29th June 2017

Not the best

They will not deduct points on licence after the insurance has started even though every other company I've been with does therefore overcharging you significantly even though the points are removed from licence Reviewed on: 29th June 2017

Really quick, easy and pain free!

Quick easy and pain free car insurance - had a lot of issues with another provider and eventually gave up on them, revoked my contract and paid slightly more for 1st Central. I wish I'd done that earlier as they really are great, approval is easy and the website allows you to log in and do everything you need to do. They even have a reward scheme! Reviewed on: 23rd June 2017

Expensive as hell!

They literally charge for everything! Change of address, adding a driver, changing the name! Reviewed on: 22nd June 2017

Good service

Bought car insurance recently got a good price and the customer service was good. Reviewed on: 30th May 2017

Excellent all round

Fantastic service from a reputable company Reviewed on: 29th May 2017

horrible company

had an policy with them last year received an email about a month before my policy expire that will get another one with a new quote instead just got an email eight days before the end of my policy stating that my policy has been renewed and money has been taken !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I had no idea how much or anything else when rang them long waiting time on hold and then they said we could renew your policy, also lied about being in contact with me over a phone DON NOT INSURE WITH THEM RUDE HORRIBLE PEOPLE Reviewed on: 22nd May 2017

Would avoid at all costs

1 st Central is the worst car insurance provider ever. Constantly being kept on hold for over 25 minutes. I have a 1.3 litre car which I'm currently paying £173 per month and it's due for renewal at the end of this month. My new car insurance price with them is £195 per month with my 2 years no claims (absolute rip off). I have looked elsewhere and have found cheaper insurance elsewhere for almost half the price of what I'm already paying. Would avoid this company at all costs and wouldn't recommend this company to anyone. Reviewed on: 4th May 2017

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