Smart Money People Logo

1st Central: Car Insurance reviews

1.50
Based on 849 reviews, last reviewed 29th Nov 2024
50% increase in 5 star reviews
in the past 90 days
16% increase in 1 star reviews
in the past 90 days
See only 5 star reviews
12%
See only 4 star reviews
5%
See only 3 star reviews
2%
See only 2 star reviews
2%
See only 1 star reviews
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
Phillip Richardson 's avatar
Phillip Richardson

Latest lowest rating:

1

BEWARE!! Ludicrous charges! THEY DO NOT CARE!! Took out insurance and over a week later they asked for proof of NCB and proof of claims. Asked my last insurance provider for this. When I didn’t get... Read more Reviewed on: 29th November 2024
Katharine D's avatar
Katharine D

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 (849)

Review of the 1st Central, Car Insurance:

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

1
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
1st Central Logo
1st Central

MONEY GRABBERS NO CUSTOMER CARE

1
If you want to deal with actual decent humans that can relate to you and actual provide care in there service stay away from this company, find another company. They want your money only and do not provide a good service. They wouldn’t even spare 1 phone call to make important confirmations with you. DISGUSTING TERRIBLE COMPANY. They cancelled my insurance policy without actually making effort to ensure I am aware of this. I could have ended up in a really serious and dangerous situation and the weird unhuman person I spoke to on the phone could only say 2 things ‘I understand your frustration’ and ‘we sent an email’ mind you this was after I had already spoke with them on the phone to confirm my renewal and they just cancelled the policy no actual confirmation with me or even 1 phone call for a company I have put more than 2k into you’d think they’d be able to call you 1 time to speak to you about something this important. They want your money and that’s it there is no form of customer relationship or care. It’s disgusting! Reviewed on: 8th July 2023

Rip off for a company

1
Absolutely disgusting the way I have been treated by this company avoid at all costs !!! Rip you off!! Do not get your car insurance with them they will rob your money! Reviewed on: 6th July 2023

Absolute shocker of a company

1
So my partner had an accident which totalled his car, it's now a month and a half gone, I really don't know where to start with explaining the incompetence observed. Firstly my partner nas courtesy car cover, this took far to long to initiate with the rental company (Enterprise, who have also been completely incompetent during this) and the insurance company just not speaking to each other, both of them harassing my partner and asking him to send messages to the other company. This has been an on going issue the entirety of this claim, initially they said my partner was not at fault, then he had a letter saying it was partial fault, then he spoke to a chap who said he was fully at fault, followed by an email saying he wasn't at fault. 2 weeks into the claim, enterprise said they were taking the courtesy car off cover due to a dispute with who was at fault, my partner called his insurance who sent him an email saying they were arranging for the courtesy car to stay on cover.... Then 1st Central tried to offer 3.500k for my partner's 1 series BMW (valued at 7k) explaining thats the price any trader would pay for it, my partner explained he wasn't a trader and he'd be buying it at the prices a trader would sell it for, they came back with 4 k, this went on, and after another lengthy battle, he managed to get them to 5k which was still below the car value, but accepting it with fear of losing the will to live if this went on much more, we've found out this morning that neither party have spoken to each other and now we have a bill for the courtesy car as it wasn't put back on claim, even though they said it would be and the courtesy car should be covered until 5 days after the claim is settled and money has been received.,... Just avoid at all cost, I don't even know how they're still trading Reviewed on: 5th July 2023

Avoid like the plague!

1
Charged my £50 to cancel my policy one hour after setting this up online! Their Customer service was horrific. So unhelpful and indifferent. Never again! One valuable lesson learned today. I’m totally disgusted! Reviewed on: 3rd July 2023

Scam ?

1
Son took telematics policy out in Feb 23 - has had 2 letters warning letters for phone usage - has never used phone in car - Cannot cancel policy online - phoned today 3 "hang ups later" and numerous "holds" finally cancelled at a cost - nice work if you can get it - AVOID THESE CROOKS Reviewed on: 29th June 2023

Stay clear from this company

1
Stay clear from this company. I was contacted this month (June 2023) after taking an insurance policy out with them in April. They are stating that I had not put the right amount of time I have been driving for and they had to make this change on there end. I asked for proof of me putting the wrong dates in and the reply was it was done on Money Super Market website where the information was incorrect. I had directly brought the insurance through 1st central website not money super market I was just looking for comparison on there website I have then check money super market website and it stated the right amount time of year I have been driving. Because of this error which they cannot prove I am being charged £83.41 plus a £50 admin fee. They still cannot show me proof of these changes so I have know taken this to the Financial ombudsman. Reviewed on: 27th June 2023

If it was possible to give no stars I would

1
Absolutely shocking company,I was happy to cancel my policy at a cost of £80 after 3 weeks..Customer service is possibly the worst and rudest I have ever come across,and having ensured the cancellation payment had been taken from my bank account, the extremely rude lady processed to put the phone down.This company will more than likely come out the cheapest on various comparison sites, but for your own sanity and peace of mind DO NOT GO WITH THEM . Reviewed on: 27th June 2023

Not helpful in the event of an accident

1
this company is good only if there is nothing happens. I had an accident on 11th June and they took my car to investigate the damage on 13th June. It is 27st June, and they are saying it will take FEW MORE DAYS to make any progress. They have written off my car just because of a damaged bumper. No courtesy car, no help, no updates. very disappointed, will never go back to this useless company. they never call to update about the progress. I am tired of calling them to know what is happening with my claim. policy ref: FPM6016208734FC Reviewed on: 27th June 2023

Cheap for a reason

1
So like most people, I used a price comparison site and 1st central were the cheapest for the cover I wanted. No issues at all for years when your paying and make no claims then this year I had a bump, took around a month for them to book my car into a garage, then weeks for them to give the go ahead on repairs and no courtesy car provided even though I'm covered. No updates I've had to constantly chase things up and they keep palming me off saying someone is dealing with it and will call back and I've not had 1 person call me back. The garage blame the insurance company and vice versa. I honestly wouldn't recommend this company to anybody it almost been a month without a car Reviewed on: 22nd June 2023

Rip off insurer

1
If I could give zero stars I would. Be careful even the smallest incorrrect detail will have them asking for a considerable amount of money. Owned car since 2017, go to insure it in 2023 as moneysupermarket had the date of ownership as 2016 they wanted to increase policy by 25%. Feels like they are ripping off customers. Paid the cancellation fee which was not much less than they wanted rather than be insured by this cowboy outfit Reviewed on: 22nd June 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