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1st Central car insurance: the number, the hours and how to cancel online

The number 1st Central publishes for renewals and changes, the online route to cancel without calling, and the arrangement fee that is only partly refunded.

1st Central facts verified 25 September 2026 · FCA rules checked 26 July 2026 · Next review 26 October 2026

Quick answer

1st Central car insurance opening hours

DayHours on 0333 043 2085
Monday to Friday8am to 8pm
Saturday9am to 5pm
Sunday10am to 2pm
Bank holidays10am to 4pm

Those are the hours on 1st Central’s own contact page, which lists separate Christmas and New Year hours as well. Its car policy wording gives the same number for cancelling. If you have a 1st Central Connect telematics policy, the page gives 0333 043 1220 instead, with the same hours. Verified

Sales, renewals, changes and payments

0333 043 2085

Verified Published on 1st Central’s own help centre contact page for sales, renewals, making changes and payments, and in its car policy wording as the number to call to cancel. Open Monday to Friday 8am–8pm, Saturday 9am–5pm, Sunday 10am–2pm and bank holidays 10am–4pm. Checked 25 September 2026. Charged at your standard landline rate; included in most mobile call allowances.

Getting to the right team

We don't yet know how 1st Central's phone menu is structured, so we're not going to guess. If you work it out, we'd like to hear from you.

Before you call

You can cancel without calling. 1st Central says you can cancel online at any time: log in to Your Account, open the policy, scroll to “I’d like to cancel my insurance” and choose Cancel my insurance. Its chat bot and WhatsApp are listed as routes too. Verified

No notice is needed. Its help centre says you can cancel at any time without giving notice. Verified

The live site is 1stcentralinsurance.com. The old address, 1stcentral.co.uk, did not load securely when we checked, so use the new one for your account. General

Turning off auto-renewal is in your account settings. Go to Account settings, then Manage renewal settings. With auto-renewal on, 1st Central says your invitation arrives about two weeks before renewal. Verified

What you're entitled to

  • Your renewal can't cost more than an equivalent new customer would pay. Under the FCA's pricing rules (PS21/5, implemented through ICOBS 6B and in force since 1 January 2022), the renewal price for the same cover through the same channel must be no higher than the equivalent new-business price. The FCA reviewed these rules in July 2025 and left them in place. Verified
  • Fourteen days to change your mind. A statutory cooling-off period applies from the start of cover or from when you receive your documents, whichever is later. It applies again after each automatic renewal. Verified
  • Opting out of auto-renewal is free. You can't be charged for turning it off, and you can turn it off at any time. Verified
  • A £15 cancellation fee after 14 days, and the £50 arrangement fee is not fully refunded. For car policies starting on or after 19 December 2025, 1st Central publishes a £50 arrangement fee. Cancel before cover starts or within 14 days of the start date and it keeps £25 of it; after 14 days it keeps all £50 and adds a £15 cancellation fee. Optional extras stop being refundable after 14 days. For policies that started earlier, 1st Central says the fees are in the document inside Your Account; we have not seen those. Verified

Lines that work

"I have a like-for-like quote for £X. Can you match it at renewal?"

General General phrasing that works with any insurer. Have the quote ready before you call.

"If not, I will cancel online before the renewal date."

General True with 1st Central, which lets you cancel in your account without calling.

We publish these as effective general phrasing. They are not insider scripts, and we don't claim a specific saving from using them.

Where this comes from

ClaimSourceChecked
Number 0333 043 2085 and its hours including bank holidays; Connect number 0333 043 1220 1st Central’s own help centre contact page, help.1stcentralinsurance.com 25 September 2026
0333 043 2085 as the number to cancel; 14-day period to change your mind 1st Central’s own car policy wording (Core), hosted on 1stcentralinsurance.com 25 September 2026
£50 arrangement fee, £25 kept within 14 days; £15 cancellation fee after 14 days; for policies from 19 December 2025 1st Central’s own Important information page 25 September 2026
Cancelling online, by chat bot or WhatsApp; no notice needed; auto-renewal settings 1st Central’s own help centre articles 25 September 2026
Intermediary First Central Insurance Management Ltd; car insurer First Central Underwriting Limited 1st Central’s own site footer and About Our Insurance Services document 25 September 2026
Cancellation fees for policies that started before 19 December 2025 Held inside Your Account only Not known

Bill Watch

One email, three weeks before your renewal or fixed deal ends, telling you it's time to shop around. Free, and that's the whole product.

No spam, no sharing your address, unsubscribe in one click. We'll email you once to confirm. The reminder only starts after you click that link.