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1st Central: Car insurance reviews

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1.53
Based on 926 reviews, last reviewed 4th Oct 2025
No new 5 star reviews
in the past 90 days
38% decrease in 1 star reviews
in the past 90 days
See only 5 star reviews
12%
See only 4 star reviews
5%
See only 3 star reviews
2%
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2%
See only 1 star reviews
79%

Latest highest rating:

5

I have used this company before, and have never had... I have used this company before, and have never had any problems. Reviewed on: 6th September 2025
Tina Keeble's avatar
Tina Keeble

Latest lowest rating:

1

Cheapest quote didn't last long They came in as the cheapest quote and even though they're was done technical issues getting signed up I went with them then 1 week laid they needed t... Read more Reviewed on: 4th October 2025
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James
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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 (926)

Not filled with hope

3
I got a quote online but ended up having to ring them to complete it as the system wouldn't allow me to complete the process. I then spent an hour on the phone because they couldn't add the words 'the flat' to my address! Received paperwork and they've still not got it right... I'm wondering if they did it on purpose so they can charge me to update it! I hope I never have to make a claim won't be renewing when the year is up!! Reviewed on: 3rd August 2016
Gemma Bullimore 's avatar
Gemma Bullimore

AVOID, AVOID, AVOID!!!!!!!

1
How I wish I had read the reviews before buying a policy with the worst insurance company in this country. I was unfortunately fooled by the cheap price since every time I've gotten a quote 1st central has always come up as the cheapest. I was in a pretty bad crash, hit and run, in Feb 2016, on the motorway. It wasn't my fault, I got clipped by a van on the left rear of my vehicle. My car was brand new, only 3 months old and a lease vehicle. And because they couldn't locate this van driver, they said it was going to be split liability. It's the first of Aug today(5 months now) and I'm still fighting with them. They have stalled and stalled, tried to find any loop-hole they could not to pay out. They even tried to cancel my policy because apparently I had lied about when I passed my test but the reason why the date on my licence was different was because I had lost my previous licence hence the date on my new one was when I applied for it not when I passed my test. Unfortunately for them, I am very clued on when it comes to stuff like this so it didn't work. My claim has been put on hold numerous times because of one reason or another. Every time I call, I have to wait at least 20minutes only to speak to someone who has no bloody clue what the hell is going on and when they said they will call back, forget it coz they won't. I had to threaten to get some lawyers involved and also refer them to Financial Ombudsman that is only when I started to see some significant progress on my claim. I consider going with 1st Central one of the biggest mistakes I've made in a long time and as soon as my claim is settled, I a running for the hills. And I will make sure no one I know will make the same mistake I made of buying a policy with these incompetent and foolish thieves. As far as I am concerned, they should be shut down. Not having insurance at all is better than being insured by these idiots! Reviewed on: 1st August 2016
Maurice Musadaidzwa's avatar
Maurice Musadaidzwa

COULDN'T RUN A BATH

1
BEWARE!! This is a totally incompetent organisation. They made a mistake on the cancellation date of my policy, telling me that I was insured (in writing) and verbally telling the police that I wasn't, on a Saturday after I was stopped for a dead rear light bulb. The result was that I have been disqualified from driving and cannot work - my losses are well into five figures and the cheapest insurance quote I've had is £3000 a year. With the state of British courts it's taken four months to get the court to reopen the case and it'll be another six weeks before a hearing can clear me of the ban. The ban will stay on my record for ten years, costing me around £30k in car insurance. Premia don't go down any more - only up. My first formal complaint was not upheld by the company, despite having unequivocally proved their incompetence. Escalating the complaint to the company's board of directors and legal department resulted in them agreeing they were wrong, issuing a letter of indemnity and offering me £300 in compensation for my 'Inconvenience'. - Less than the court attendance have actually cost me by the time my license is reinstated. Other than saying 'We're sorry that you're disappointed with our service' there has been no apology whatsoever. I have now involved the Financial Ombudsman and reported the incident to the Financial Conduct Authority and involved a national daily newspaper. Reviewed on: 27th July 2016
David Lofts's avatar
David Lofts

Great company

4
Would recommend this company to family and friends. Reviewed on: 26th July 2016
R Lewis's avatar
R Lewis

Absolute rip-off merchants

1
Went to cancel my policy as I have got rid of my car. As soon as I cancelled the direct debit, they started posting and emailing aggressive default notices. When I called to cancel, they didn't want to charge a nominal fee (which I'd have been happy to pay), they charged £111 - which is almost as much as if I'd let the policy run out at the end of the term. Customer services were vile, refused to help, just kept telling me I'd agreed to it and had to pay it. I've read terrible stories now about how bad they are if you actually have a problem - there is no way I'd ever use them again. It's beyond belief that companies like this are even allowed to operate - they are no better than whatever the insurance equivalent of a loan shark is. Reviewed on: 22nd June 2016
Jo M's avatar
Jo M

Excellent Service

5
Purchased my car insurance with 1st Central and they made it so easy from getting the quote to the final purchase Reviewed on: 31st May 2016
Nichola Legge's avatar
Nichola Legge

Terrible service

1
Worst service. Renewed last April and had nothing but problem every single month. Kept sending me a default notice - even though they were at fault and failed to take my monthly payment out. I had to telephone every single month for them to take the payment. Cancelled and paid the remainder of the policy and they still took a card payment 1 week later even though I had cancelled and paid off. they have taken payment without my authorisation! THEFT and FRAUD spring to mind. DO NOT USE - CHEAPER IS NOT ALWAYS BETTER!! Reviewed on: 20th March 2016
Lmarie's avatar
Lmarie

CheekyCharges Campaigner

3
They say you can change details online for cheaper than if youwere to call them however it would not work for me so i had to call them to change my address Reviewed on: 11th March 2016
Jess Lambert's avatar
Jess Lambert

CheekyCharges Campaigner

3
Ok very basic currently looking around for other offers Reviewed on: 29th February 2016
Indi Sapara's avatar
Indi Sapara

Took ages to sort out an accident that was not my fault!

2
My car was hit when parked by a truck. 1st Central said they'd take control of the claim but simply handed it over to a shady third party claims management company, and then refused to discuss the matter further with me. They eventually compensated me for the inconvenience but come January I'll be moving my policy to someone else. Reviewed on: 10th November 2015
Chris Redman's avatar
Chris Redman

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