Write a review

1st Central: Car Insurance reviews

Name: Car Insurance
Rating: 1.68 (867 reviews)

View other 1st Central products

1.49

Based on 867 reviews, last reviewed 25th 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:

2

Brilliant price. But very poor Customer Service Brilliant price on comparison site. Went with them and put partner on policy. Kept getting emails and messages, tried hardest to upload driving licenc... Read more Reviewed on: 25th February 2025

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 (867)

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

Scam company.DO NOT insure anything with them

Scam company.DO NOT insure anything with them If i could put ZERO.i would.DO NOT insure your car with these people, they will put you in debt!!!!!!!! This company and its highly untrained staff should be banned from operating as an insurance company. I get passed pillar to post to people who have no clue what they are doing. They decided to not pay out an accident as 1 person decided to lie that i use my car out of the terms - i have yet to hear any proof or recording justifying what they claim. Funny thing is , i had insurance for 6 months after the accident and even got renewed half way through!!!! so how have you put as voided ???? because you don't want to pay?!!?!?!?!? I am left with a £5,000 bill for the other driver involved! with 7 days to pay and after calling EVERYDAY and filing and complaint and requesting investigation - almost 2 weeks later and NOTHING. do you now why? because the racist ,rude unprofessional ,claims handler made it up and now they cant justify as to why this has happened. You have put me in financial difficulty because of your lazy liar team. you know whats the worst thing is, i would have been unaware completely as i received NO correspondance from them. NOTHING, not even online. i only found out when the other cars insurance sent me a bill. I will be going to the papers the media and any source to uncover the truth of your shoddy company.Happy to take peoples money but not to follow your own procedures. I know i cannot be the only one and i will make sure i round up all who have been done wrong by your company and bring you down. Date of experience: 03 July 2023 Reviewed on: 17th July 2023

Easy to use and no fuss

Really straight forward to use services and good communications. Great price, will continue to use if the price is good. Reviewed on: 17th July 2023

DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY!

There isn't enough space to write the absolute farce we've had to go through with this absolute outfit of clowns. From call handlers, right up to senior management they're all completely inept at their job. Trading Standards, The Financial Ombudsman AND Watchdog have all been informed about 1st Central. Next, Main stream media and the national press! Reviewed on: 15th July 2023

Track Record of Extortion

I can see other reviewers have been had over on incredibly minor detail and charged £100 plus for ‘amendments’. In 45 years of being insured and having never made a claim in my entire driving history I have fell foul of these people who are clearly on a mission to obtain money by any means possible. I predict that they will be gripped by the relevant authority very soon and won’t be around much longer. AVOID Reviewed on: 14th July 2023

Disgusting company do not use ever!!

So disappointed at how my daughter has been treated by this company... she got a quote 1st on line then spoke to an advisor on the phone who never informed her the difference between social,domestic, pleasure and commuting policy covers . Especially knowing yes was a new young driver! Unfortunately this has left my daughter with a debt of £6600 . DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY Reviewed on: 14th July 2023

Scams scams scams

Be aware people this company doesn’t help when You have an accident and also steal your money Reviewed on: 12th July 2023

Rip off

They really will come up with any way to sting you for cash. It’s not an insurer, it’s more like a loan shark. 50£ for this, 45£ admin fee here, little bit more over there. Really such a dishonest and grasping company. They don’t inform you of consumer rights or misinform you instead. Not good, but only 10 months to go! Reviewed on: 12th July 2023

Shocking !

I work in both industry horticulture and agriculture, they have amended my policy occupation just to horticulture and have charged me nearly £200 extra without my permission!!! Reviewed on: 10th July 2023

MONEY GRABBERS NO CUSTOMER CARE

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

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

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 Fish Insurance 2.00 from 2 reviews
Car Insurance
from Acorn Insurance 1.59 from 72 reviews
Van Insurance
from Swinton Insurance 1.00 from 9 reviews

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