Write a review

1st Central: Car Insurance reviews

Name: Car Insurance
Rating: 1.69 (847 reviews)

View other 1st Central products

1.50

Based on 847 reviews, last reviewed 15th Nov 2024

No new 5 star reviews

in the past 90 days

17% increase 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

Ok where do I start ! Ok where do I start !!!!!! If you want to get car insurance then look else where !!!!!!!!! I have spent more time on the phone trying to get help with... Read more Reviewed on: 15th November 2024

Read all reviews See your review

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 (847)

Review of the 1st Central, Car Insurance:

AVOID THIS COMPANY AT ALL COSTS APPALLING COMPANY IF...

AVOID THIS COMPANY AT ALL COSTS APPALLING COMPANY IF YOU HAVE AN ACCIDENT THEY DO NOT LISTEN TO YOU OR FIGHT YOUR CLAIM A 3RD PARTY HIT MY SON HE TURNED OUT OF HIS LANE INTO MY SON ON A DUAL CARRIAGEWAY AND APPARENTLY ITS 50 /50 CASE LAW SAYS BOTH ARE AT FAULT SO MY SONS FAULT TOO EVEN THOUGH HE STAYED IN HIS OWN LANE AND DIDNT MOVE HE HAD NEARLY PASSED THE DRIVER WHEN HE DECIDED TO CHANGE LANES AND HIT HIM YET THE INSURANCE COMPANY DO NOT FIGHT THE LIABILITY JUST TAKE THE NO CLAIMS WITHOUT PAYING ANYONE OUT AND WITHOUT NOTIFICATION ABSOLUTELY AWFUL AVOID AVOID AVOID BECAUSE THEY ARE CHEAP DOES NOT MEAN GOOD AVOID AVOID AVOID Reviewed on: 10th November 2024

Reply from 1st Central Hi Joanne, 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. Ashley Response date: 11th November 2024

Awful, avoid

Only one star as it isn't possible to give zero. We decided to upgrade the family car, after looking around we liked a VW Caravelle, got a quote online to swap our current cover with 1st Central to the new car and on getting a decent quote put a deposit on the VW. I'd got the quote on the vehicles private plate and the day before we went to collect went online to change the quote to the new (original) registration but the system wouldn't find it. I tried to contact via web chat several times but kept getting removed from the system every time I connected with an agent and was then unable to log in again each time until I logged out, cleared my cookies and logged in again. I eventually got through to someone who after a long, confusing conversation told me they wouldn't insure it as it's a van. I stated that they had quoted me already all that had changed was the VRM and was told that I'd only been quoted because I'd just put 'Volkswagen' and not 'Caravelle' even though the quote clearly states 'Volkswagen Caravelle' the insinuation being that I'd given the wrong details to obtain a quote - the only details I had entered were in fact the VRM 1st Centrals own system giving the vehicles details and asking me to confirm. I explained that a Caravelle is a car not a van and is M1 Diesel Car on the logbook thus legally a car - the response was 'its a VAN we don't cover VANS' this went back and forth a bit until I gave up and rang. Same thing on the phone with a gentleman firmly but at least politely telling me my car was a van because it looked like one and his manager said it definitely was. I again tried explaining that it was classed by DVLA as M1 Diesel Car thus lawfully a car and that categories were based on the intended use of the vehicle not the chassis but they were adamant they wouldn't cover it as it was a van (his manager said so after all and what do the DVLA know) Upshot is I have to cancel my cover - £50 fee and pay 100 odd days of cover as they are adamant my car is a van and won't insure it and take my custom elsewhere. Terrible customer experience from staff who are terribly trained and do not have a clue. Reviewed on: 6th October 2023

I was ripped off

No matter how cheaper this car insurance company. They are called 1st central on Money supermarket, Go compare or Compare the market. Please avoid as they will refuse to represent you in the midst of an accident or claim. The Customer service is also awful Reviewed on: 5th October 2023

Hidden charges, you will get a SHOCK

STAY AWAY, I cancelled my policy and got a big shock. Here are the following charges for the cancelling the policy after I sold my car. Admin fee £50 Cancelling £50 Arrangement Fee £50 Excess Protect £27.99 Personal Accident Cover £30 Interest for paying monthly £62.84 Final COST OF payment to cancel Policy £272 ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING COMPANY. I wish I could upload the screenshot of the charges. Reviewed on: 2nd October 2023

Heartless company who will charge you at every turn

We have used this company many times over the years, as a couple, maybe over 6 different policies. Today my husband had his insurance cancelled because he mistyped his email address by ONE letter! Instead of using initiative and trying to contact him via another means, they’ve simply cancelled the policy and sent a letter to say so. CANCELLED the policy- meaning a black mark is on my husbands name and he will now have to declare it in future, raising our premium considerably for the NEXT 5 YEARS because of one small human error. When he phoned, customer service have been extremely unhelpful with a ‘nothing we can do attitude’ and the absolute JOKE is that we’re being charged for this. A family already struggling financially and they’ve completely thrown us under the bus. Please note: their ‘defence’ is that it is “all done by computer” so if you want an insurance company that has humans using their common sense or one that has any care for customer loyalty or customer service, this is the NOT the one for you! 110% do not recommend. Reviewed on: 30th September 2023

Crap company

Constant issues and when I got that sick of them they charged me 125 pounds to cancel! Watch this company as they love hidden fees Reviewed on: 29th September 2023

Absolutely aswful

my girlfriend insured with them and every week there was a problem which could cause her insurance being cancelled, named drivers not driving the car (they don’t HAVE to drive it), the black box being loose despite it being on the windscreen, having to register named drivers and having the app downloaded. Just constant hassle for no reason. Reviewed on: 27th September 2023

Not good car insurance

They blamed me for an accident that I wasn't even involved in and reduced my NCD as a result, which cost me about £200. 10 months later they admitted that it wasn't my fault and gave me back my NCD but not any of my over payments Reviewed on: 27th September 2023

Worst Insurance company ever

Don't be fooled by the initial low insurance quote you will no doubt be given by one of the price comparison sites, this is just to reel you in and your premiums will probably go up in the first few months. Their call centre would appear to be in the far east so consequently it's quite difficult to understand what's being said. Don't try emailing them either because they take on average five days to read it according to their own information. I cancelled my insurance with them after three months and was charged £154 for the privilege. Spend a little bit more and get your insurance from a reputable company. Avoid, avoid, avoid. Reviewed on: 21st September 2023

a £100 fee to make a small change !! Terrible customer service

I needed to make a slight change 1 hour after booking the insurance (28 days before it was due to start!) and they said that will be a £100 fee !! Terrible customer service Reviewed on: 20th September 2023

Rude customer service

Absolutely rude customer service who do not let you speak!! Definitely do not recommend Reviewed on: 18th September 2023

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

There's still more to see!

1st Central has a range of products available. Check the ratings of each product to find the right one for you. 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