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

10% 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

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

SHUT THEM DOWN

Sent numerous emails and asked for information but ignored. OK at taking your money but useless if you need support. They should be shut down by the regulator Reviewed on: 22nd November 2023

Rip of company

Do not use rip of ! They give you cheap qoute then month or so later email you with some excuse as to why they want more money of you, happend twice now !!!! Reviewed on: 22nd November 2023

Time & Money Waste

not writing anything out of anger but this organisation is BOGUS - their after sales service is pathetic - they don't know how to manage or maintain the positive impact on customer - I have bought their insurance 1st in sep (they have cancelled it without any reason and then they have forcefully deducted 78£ from my account as a cancellation charge). Then I have trusted them again in Oct and bought their insurance 2nd time and guess what their payment department was facing some issues and they failed to collect a payment from my account and cancelled my insurance without even calling me and the best part they were continuously sending me threatening txt to pay 120£ cancellation fees. I have called many times - emailed but no one responded - I have paid almost 200£ which was not even my fault. pathetic service - pathetic company - pathetic experience. Reviewed on: 20th November 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

Alternative products

Caravan Insurance
from Towergate 5.00 from 2 reviews
LittleBox
from Admiral 1.60 from 30 reviews
Van Insurance (discontinued)
from Saga 5.00 from 1 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