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1st Central: Car Insurance reviews

Name: Car Insurance
Rating: 1.68 (866 reviews)

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1.49

Based on 866 reviews, last reviewed 16th Feb 2025

100% decrease in 5 star reviews

in the past 90 days

14% decrease in 1 star reviews

in the past 90 days

12%

79%

Latest highest rating:

5

Very good quote on car insurance, and recommended on... Very good quote on car insurance, and recommended on go compare site Reviewed on: 25th September 2024

Latest lowest rating:

1

I changed the address to another one 200 yards away... I changed the address to another one 200 yards away from the first one. They wrote that they would pay me 17 pence extra. But my renewal went up from ... Read more Reviewed on: 16th February 2025

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About this product

Here at Smart Money People, we collect 1st Central car insurance reviews from genuine customers, to help you make an informed decision about your next provider.

1st Central was founded in 2008 and has been growing fast ever since. Specialising in car insurance, the brand offers a variety of products with different levels of cover, including a telematics policy for newer drivers.

When choosing a new policy, take the time to ensure it is suitably robust and meets all of your needs. Do you want breakdown cover included in the policy? Do you need legal cover? What about cover for any medical expenses that may occur after an accident? Working out your priorities before searching for a policy can make the selection process much easier. Check out our 1st Central car insurance reviews to find out what others think.

Have you had a car insurance policy with 1st Central? Whether good or bad, share your experience with the Smart Money People community to help us increase trust and transparency in financial services. Were you satisfied with the price of the premium? Did you have any interactions with the customer service team? Leave a 1st Central car insurance review today to help other drivers just like you.

1st Central Car Insurance reviews (866)

Review of the 1st Central, Car Insurance:

Avoid 1st Central Car Insurance at all costs.

Avoid 1st Central Car Insurance. They come up as the cheapest on many insurance comparison websites but they make their money through high administration fees any time you or they make changes to your policy. They requested added information 30 days after I applied and with only 1 day to go in my 14 day period, so when I had a disagreement over the documents I couldn't get out within the 14 day grace period. When they find fault in your documents, they don't explain what the problem is online and you can't make any changes to your policy until you've paid the admin fee. The call centre operator had an extremely noisy background (yelling and laughing) so I couldn't hear what was being said. They also failed to action something I requested over the phone. Two separate operators gave me incorrect information as to why my policy was being changed and why I had to pay the admin fee, wasting a day of my time and one less day to get this all sorted. They made it as difficult as possible for me to give them the new information to have the admin fee removed - I couldn't just upload to my online account and I have to call them once I've sent the documentation otherwise my email goes to the back of the 5 day long queue and I'll miss the due date. Most people wouldn't bother and just accept the fee, but that is how they make their money. I'll be cancelling as soon as possible. Could not imagine trying to go through this process if I ever had to make a claim. Reviewed on: 12th November 2024

Reply from 1st Central Hi J A K, 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. We’ll use your comments to help improve our service. Ashley Response date: 13th November 2024

Jokers

Absolute rubbish. Asked for no claims that I sent 3 times then decided I had accidents on record, except I don’t … not anywhere with anyone else. When I queried it they wanted all my documents from every insurance ever as proof that they were in the wrong. Total waste of time and effort dealing with them, jokers just want to stick your insurance payments up. Reviewed on: 18th December 2023

Do not use them

Sadly, 1st central failed to do the job they were committed to do. I paid enough money through the year and they simple closed my claim, no communication, nothing. My car was hit, I had 2 witnesses, they both seen the person, the car that damaged mine. 1st cental failed to support my claim stating there's nothing they could do. Then without notice closed my case. Said they tried contacting me, which was simple untrue. Please do not use them, pay little more money and get somone better. Reviewed on: 16th December 2023

Car Accident

Had an Accident in March, one of there insured drove into the back of me when I was stationary, they admitted liability now saying accident never occurred, bunch of jokers Reviewed on: 14th December 2023

Avoid

Avoid! They do unnecessary checks. Creating work and expense for you. Things that other insurers have never asked for. Reviewed on: 8th December 2023

Nothing but trouble

For some reason this company could not take payment despite the banks insistence that 1St Central were able to access funds. After several months of assurances and repeat issues this was finally resolved. However, my car had to be scrapped as the head gasket had blown. Cancellation fee was £109. Total rip off and will not be renewing on my other vehicle when the time comes. AVOID AT ALL COSTS, Reviewed on: 4th December 2023

Avoid at all costs!

Had a non fault accident, other party's insurance claimed liability but 1st central have still been taking monthly payments for a car that is written off. Expected me to pay nearly 6 times the price of their cancellation fee, will be glad when I no longer have any ties to this dreadful "company" Be aware that even in a calm collected conversation you will have abuse thrown at the by most representatives at this company, even had money reimbursed due to the insults and way their staff spoke to me by their management. If you want to have an easy time when going through a stressful time such as an accident use any other company as 1st central will make your life and the process hell! Reviewed on: 2nd December 2023

Scam/hidden charges

Charged extra upon arbitrary request of further documents (V5C) even though I have been with 1st Central before. Avoid at all costs. Reviewed on: 1st December 2023

£50 non-refundable arrangement fee. what a scam

I have just canceled my policy after it was renewed yesterday. There is a non-refundable arrangement fee of £50 I had to pay. Arrangement fee. Hmm. Careful with 1st central. I will try not to get a new policy from them in the future Reviewed on: 30th November 2023

Legalised criminals

Filthy company that should be investigated and ceased from trading. A pure scam. Do not have any dealings with them. They appear cheap but immediately look for holes in your policy and charge you for any changes they want to make, then they’ll look again and do the same again. Shameless. I’d happily pay double to insure with just about anyone else. The whole setup is probably just a bunch of crooked lawyers that have outsourced a customer service department to Manila. What are they really going to do for you if you have an accident anyway Reviewed on: 28th November 2023

Couldn't be worse if there was a cash prize

100% the worst company I have ever dealt with in my life. Not only the worst insurance company but the worst company. Nothing but problems which they make themselves. Went through to them from compare the market and after paying for a full year upfront, the next month was nearly daily emails of new problems they've come up with. Each time I'd sort their problem they'd somehow find a new one. They needed my v5, they needed a bill of sale, they wanted proof of everything i'd written! They accused me of being in a at fault accident, they refused the first 2 emails from Admiral of non fault accident 2 years ago! The emails weren't in pdf and they need pdf. Then my name is wrong, I've put Mike instead of Michael and 6 weeks after, they've noticed and now I need to pay them. This company is vomit inducingly horrendous and I would strongly recommend people read the reviews thoroughly before considering putting such a huge amount of trust into this untrustworthy, money grabbing, nit picking, horrible customer service group of fools. Stay clear, wish we had Reviewed on: 28th November 2023

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