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1st Central: Car insurance reviews

Name: Car insurance
Rating: 1.67 (894 reviews)

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1.50

Based on 894 reviews, last reviewed 13th May 2025

300% increase in 5 star reviews

in the past 90 days

87% increase in 1 star reviews

in the past 90 days

12%

79%

Latest highest rating:

5

Very pleased with quote I received and they were ver... Very pleased with quote I received and they were very helpful Reviewed on: 5th May 2025

Verified source

Latest lowest rating:

1

£400 to change address!! Following a change in circumstances I’m trying to change address on my car insurance policy for which 1st Central are trying to charge me £400!! I com... Read more Reviewed on: 13th May 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 (16)

Brilliant price. But very poor Customer Service

Brilliant price on comparison site. Went with them and put partner on policy. Kept getting emails and messages, tried hardest to upload driving licences and DVLC check. Came back with extra charge for partners SP30 of nearly £90 and £50 just to change the policy details. Yes the manager tried to help but to know avail. Yes it was my fault for my error but to cancel policy was £107 so I just had to pay as I'd lose more money than the extra. Pure greed as a company and I see many complaints and wish I hadn't gone with 1st Central. I won't use them again, they've lost my custom next year. They say they pride themselves on customer service. Many others would disagree.!!! Reviewed on: 25th February 2025

Reply from 1st Central Hi Karl, Thank you for your feedback. We’re sorry to hear about your experience with us. All details on the policy impact the price of the policy we offer, if details are found to be incorrect we need to update them and this can impact the price of the policy. If you’d like to speak to the team about this process, please give us a call on 0333 043 2095. We’re here to help from Mon-Fri: 9am to 5pm. Ashley Response date: 26th February 2025

the duplicate your policy by accident.

the duplicate your policy by accident....I did get a refund for this but it was a headache.... I called them when i got a new car to cancel and go with someone else and they didn't do it so months later I had to ring them up again where they required email proof I was with someone else.....then said they have to wait to get that email cause the person on the phone couldnt see emails....will not be going with them again. Reviewed on: 20th January 2025

Reply from 1st Central Hi Tzice, We’re sorry to hear on this occasion your experience with us hasn’t been as positive as we’d hoped it would be. We’ll use your comments to help improve our service. Ashley Response date: 21st January 2025

Frustrating

I've been with this company for the past few years. I've just bought a new car and was trying to sort a new policy as mine for my old car was about to run out. It was so frustrating trying to get through on the phone. I can't imagine that many people are phoning. After getting through I was passed in 3 times and the options are not clear and two people couldn't help me. Finally got to speak to one person, they was called Aphiwe. She just could not understand me. I was born and have lived in England all my life. How can a company based in England have staff who cannot understand me. After getting an awful quote I decided to look on a comparison website. Somehow found a better deal on there? Today I spoke to someone called Jonathan on the online chat. He was so miserable and blunt on there. I asked how to do something and all I got was a 2 word answer. Unfortunately i cannot be bothered to deal with the faff if finding another insurance company. I don't think I will be renewing next year. I dread to think how difficult it could be to claim if there was an accident. Reviewed on: 7th October 2024

Reply from 1st Central Hi Kelly, We’re sorry to hear on this occasion your experience with us hasn’t been as positive as we’d hoped it would be. We’ll use your comments to help improve our service and training for our agents. Ashley Response date: 8th October 2024

RUN!! Scammers

Firstly, upon having an accident was only given a fraction of the cars value, which then took them over 4 weeks to pay me. Leaving me with ni money to purchase a new car, so I couldn't get to work.When i evenutslly got a new car, i was told the montly price was £84 to then be slammed with a £120 bill each month. I complained over 8 weeks ago now and have been lied to each time about when they will resolve it. I now have my legal team involved!! AVOID LIKE THE PLAUGE Reviewed on: 19th March 2024

Doubled Prices

I would say that I have no trouble with this insurer, they do their job (seemingly) and offer lots of extras. Sadly, they doubled my premium on the last renewal for no reason and then when I changed my car to an older one they added even more to the premium. I suspect they may be money-grubbing city types. Reviewed on: 24th August 2023

They proceeded to take £143 from my bank account without my knowledge or permission

After taking out what I thought was a reasonably priced policy,I later changed my email address and phone number. I contacted their call centre who after nearly 2 hours agreed to amend my details. However when I discovered that money was taken unlawfully from my bank account,it was obvious that they had been sending communications to my old email and phone which I couldn't access. The car was stolen in August 2022 which has been traumatic as It was my late wife who bought it in 2017. Stay well clear of this company Reviewed on: 15th November 2022

Waste time and money

NOT RECOMMENDED -2 weeks after accident they don't provide car repairer. Car is still on the driveway and customer service just say.... We send email about etc. I'm spoke six times with customer service about. This is a jock, don't buy policy with the company just lost time and money. Reviewed on: 3rd August 2022

Hidden costs do not use.

Difficult to contact when wishing to cancel . Paid £89 to cancel in the end. When setting up policy should’ve explained better . Terms and conditions confusing. Reviewed on: 23rd July 2021

Average

Insurance wasnt bad but I found customer service hard to get through too and I preferred my previous insurers Reviewed on: 2nd August 2020

Poor handling of error

When I took out the policy I made a slight error in the information I provided - missed the box "when did you start living in the UK" and it defaulted to born here. Instead of allowing me to correct the error and pay the premium difference, the insurer chose to void the policy, although it was still within the 14 days cool down period. They have since admitted not have handled the case fairly and trying to make amends. Still ongoing. Reviewed on: 5th July 2017

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