Make a car insurance claim
Accidents happen, which is why we’re here to help. Let’s get you back on the road as soon as possible.Or speak to our 24/7 Claims team on 0333 043 2011
Need assistance? How can we help?
Tell us what happened and we’ll point you in the right direction.
Already opened a car insurance claim with us?
If you’re wondering about an existing car insurance claim, you can speak to our friendly team over web chat, or give us a call from Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm.
The quickest way to get updates on your claim is by logging into Your Account.
Accessibility and extra support
We want to make sure you receive the correct level of support tailored to you – no matter your circumstances. Whether you’re experiencing a sudden life event or managing a disability or mental health condition, we’ll strive to make things easier for you.
Answers to important questions
If my vehicle is stolen after the loss/theft of my keys, would I be eligible to make a claim?
If your keys were lost or stolen, we would need you to make sure the car is safe to try and prevent someone taking it.
If you are unlucky enough to find your car has been stolen we have a dedicated theft team ready to help. Even if you are not sure you want to make a theft claim on your policy, you can call them for advice on 0333 043 2011.
A theft claim would be a separate claim on your policy which will affect your no claims discount and you would need to pay your theft excess.
For any more information and details of the terms and conditions have a look at our Insurance Document Wording here.
How much No Claims Discount will I lose if I claim?
If you make a claim on your 1st Central policy your No Claims Discount (NCD) at renewal will be reduced according to the scale below:
No claims discount you have now → Discount reduced to:
- 1 to 2 years → 0 years
- 3 years → 1 year
- 4 years → 2 years
- 5-7 years → 3 years
- 8+ years → 4 years
If you make more than one claim during your policy year your NCD will be reduced to zero.
If you are not at fault for your claim (provided the third party have accepted liability and we have recovered the total cost of the claim from them) your NCD will not be reduced.
If you have purchased No Claims Discount Protection your NCD will not be reduced.
If I don't make a car claim do I have to pay the excess?
No, you only have to pay your excess if you choose to make a claim for your car.
Who are your approved car repairers?
We choose our approved repairers carefully to make sure you get the best service possible and are confident that your vehicle is in safe hands.
So if you need to make a claim for your repairs, we'll keep you in the loop throughout the whole process, ensuring you get regular updates on how the repairs are progressing and when they're expected to finish.
There's no need to worry about being left without a vehicle, as not only will our approved repairers collect your vehicle from you and deliver your vehicle back once the repairs are complete, we'll also organise a replacement vehicle while the repairs are being completed, so you can get on with what matters.
All our repairs are guaranteed for five years, because we're confident in the skill of our team in delivering the quality of work that'll get your vehicle working good as new.
Our network is extensive and reaches across the width and breadth of the UK, including Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Wight, so no matter where you are, one of our approved repairers is never too far away.
What sort of courtesy car will I get?
If you make a claim on your 1ST CENTRAL policy and use one of our approved network repairers, subject to availability and providing the vehicle is repairable, you will normally be provided with a Group A vehicle (a small hatchback) for the duration of the repair.