This study aimed to identify factors that are associated with patients' overall trust in their general practitioner (GP). A survey of patients in ten general practices in the East Midlands was conducted. Most patients (76%) reported high levels of trust in their GP. Regression analysis showed that measures of the quality of the GP-patient relationship (GP-patient communication, interpersonal care, and knowledge of the patient) were strongly associated with trust in a patient's usual GP, whereas patients' reports of duration of registration with the practice, and proportion of visits to the usual GP were not.