Write a review

1st Central: Car insurance reviews

Name: Car insurance
Rating: 1.67 (903 reviews)

View other 1st Central products

1.51

Based on 903 reviews, last reviewed 17th Jun 2025

400% increase in 5 star reviews

in the past 90 days

20% increase in 1 star reviews

in the past 90 days

12%

79%

Latest highest rating:

5

Found you online,needed a cheap quote,you certainly... Found you online,needed a cheap quote,you certainly provided it.Thank you Reviewed on: 3rd June 2025

Verified source

Latest lowest rating:

1

It feels dishonest and manipulative!! Avoid them!! I initially received a quote over the phone, which I agreed to, and even got a confirmation email with the agreed amount. Later, I received another em... Read more Reviewed on: 17th June 2025

Read all reviews See your review

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.

1st Central Car insurance reviews (903)

Review of the 1st Central, Car insurance:

Shambles!

My insurance increased from £780 to £1080 after another year of no claims. Obviously, I then wanted to cancel my policy. I spoke to the online chat where I cancelled my policy and I received a confirmation email for this. £1080 was then taken from my account a few days later suggesting my policy was being renewed, even though I confirmed I was not renewing a few days prior! Having spoken to customer services, it will take up to 10 working days to get this money back. Absolutely shambolic. I will never use this company again and I will ensure all close family and friends do not use 1st central either. Disgusting. Reviewed on: 1st June 2025

Reply from 1st Central Hi Tyler, 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: 2nd June 2025

Worst company

My insurance went up for no reason, asked for help they refused and said go somewhere else. We can’t help you. I been with them for 2 years but they did not bother to give a decent quote to a loyal customer. Reviewed on: 10th June 2024

Reply from 1st Central Hello, We’re sorry to hear on this occasion your experience with us hasn’t been as positive as we’d hoped it would be. The price of insurance is rated on a daily basis, which means this can change at renewal. We have this article that goes in to some details on what makes up the price of insurance - https://www.1stcentralinsurance.com/car-insurance/what-affects-your-price. I'm sorry we weren't as competitive for you this year, but I hope we can welcome you back in the future. Ashley Response date: 11th June 2024

Great First Impression

I haven't had to claim yet and I hope I don't have to but the process to apply was easy and their website is excellent. Reviewed on: 9th June 2024

Reply from 1st Central Hello, Thank you for your review and for choosing 1st Central this year for your car insurance. Ashley Response date: 10th June 2024

Took out a policy via comparison site to start today...

Took out a policy via comparison site to start today, when confirmation can't through, they put start date as 8th not 3rd. Phoned thinking it would be an easy fix, nope. Told me the system won't allow it. I would have to cancel, £50 admin fee, they would hold onto my money already paid for ten days, and I would have to pay another £250 today to start another policy. Explained it was their mistake - Faith told me they have never made this mistake! Absolute scammers, my car is lying outside in the city with no insurance, the day after I passed my test. Made a happy occasion an absolute nightmare. Please do not use them. Reviewed on: 4th June 2024

Reply from 1st Central Hello, We’re sorry to hear on this occasion your experience with us hasn’t been as positive as we’d hoped it would be. If there’s anything you’d like us to look into for you, please contact us by sending an email to [email protected]. Please include your policy number and details of what’s gone wrong, and we’ll see if we can put things right. We’ll use your comments to help improve our service and training for our agents. Ashley Response date: 5th June 2024

Pleasure

It was a great pleasure to have the opportunity to collaborate with this insurance company. They have a good value for money and a great management. Reviewed on: 2nd June 2024

Reply from 1st Central Hi Ecaterina, Thank you for your review and for choosing 1st Central this year for your car insurance. Ashley Response date: 3rd June 2024

Affordable

Great affordable car insurance can’t go wrong Reviewed on: 30th May 2024

Reply from 1st Central Hi Kelsey, Thank you for your review and for choosing 1st Central this year for your car insurance. Ashley Response date: 31st May 2024

Cheap insurance with great benefits

Have yet to actually make a claim but cheap insurance with great benefits Reviewed on: 21st May 2024

Reply from 1st Central Hi Elle, Thank you for your review and for choosing 1st Central this year for your car insurance. Ashley Response date: 22nd May 2024

Stay away from these

I have had a policy with these for few years. Changed to a new car today. Tried to call them, after multiple messages to say press 1 for this or 2 for that, a message said you can save on admin fees to change your car through your account portal. So logged in, went to the part to change the car, gave a price of just over £35 per month this matched other quotes I had received. Based on this I went ahead. Then found that the new instalments were going to be over £75 per month. Then had to call them to see what has gone wrong. Nothing had gone wrong, I was advised by the guy that prices can change, I mention that this had only been a matter of minutes, to which I got nothing. They now want to charge me £150 to cancel. I have cancelled, if they take try to take the money, we will be going to court. DO NOT USE THESE CON ARTISTS I will be leaving this review everywhere I can find. Also reporting them to any governing body I can find Reviewed on: 3rd May 2024

Reply from 1st Central Hi Nick, 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 would like to look into this further for you to help resolve this, please send an email to [email protected] with your policy number a summary of your experience similar to your review and we will look into it. Ashley Response date: 22nd May 2024

Stay clear of this company.

Will never use again, went to cancel my policy and they wanted £116 which I cannot afford. This included the cancellation fee of £50. The £50 I would understand but not the rest. They are just money grabbing and very poor customer service. Reviewed on: 28th April 2024

Reply from 1st Central Hi Jess, 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 advise of the £50 cancellation fee when a policy is being set up. The remaining balance will be made of time on cover and interest. We have this FAQ that goes in to some details on this - https://help.1stcentralinsurance.com/kb/FAQ/content/PROD-7744/If-my-car-policy-is-cancelled-why-do-I-still-owe-money-to-1st-CENTRAL?query=why%20do%20i%20owe. Ashley Response date: 22nd May 2024

BEWARE THE AUTO RENEWAL!!

By law, you have a minimum 14-day cooling-off period during which you can cancel the policy for any reason. Imagine how upset I am that these haven't contacted me with a quote, sought the appropriate approval to debit my account, and then refused to return my payment. WHEN I DONT EVEN OWN THE CAR ANYMORE!! Reviewed on: 16th April 2024

Reply from 1st Central Hi Steve, 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 us to look into this further for you, please give us a call on 0333 043 2095. We’re here to help from Mon-Fri: 9am to 5pm. Ashley Response date: 22nd May 2024

BE WARRY OF 1stCentral Insurance!

Attention Potential Customers Attention Potential Customers: Exercise extreme caution when considering 1stCentral Insurance.!!!! Due to an small mistake on my part, where I accidentally reported the wrong month for an accident (May instead of June), my policy was cancelled. I was even charged for cancellation! While I acknowledge my error, the severity of their response has left me facing unexpected financial hardship. Now, I am facing increased premiums and difficulties in finding a new policy because of the cancellation on my record. It is unfair that a simple error should lead to such harsh consequences. It's clear that their priority lies in maximizing charges rather than offering fair and accurate service. I strongly advise looking into other insurers who value fairness and accuracy in their client dealings! Reviewed on: 10th April 2024

Do you have a different 1st Central product?

Share your experiences with products to help others make smarter financial decisions and learn more about different products available. Write a review

Alternative products

Car insurance
from Sainsburys Bank 1.56 from 156 reviews
Car Insurance
from Insure 2 Drive 2.41 from 13 reviews
Motorbike Insurance
from Hastings Direct 3.30 from 12 reviews

Want to see more from 1st Central?

Breakdown cover
from 1st Central 4.47 from 16 reviews
Personal accident
from 1st Central 2.00 from 5 reviews
Home insurance
from 1st Central 0.00 from 0 reviews

View all products

Join Smart Money People

Keep up to date on ratings of your favourite businesses. Find out about our awards and write new reviews with ease

Create an account

News, guides and insight from our team

View resource hub