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1st Central: Car Insurance reviews

1.51
Based on 854 reviews, last reviewed 6th Jan 2025
100% decrease in 5 star reviews
in the past 90 days
No new 1 star reviews
in the past 90 days
See only 5 star reviews
12%
See only 4 star reviews
5%
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2%
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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

So my son passed his test 27th Apr 2023,he was stopp... So my son passed his test 27th Apr 2023,he was stopped by the police may 27th 2023,he went to court 5th Dec 2023,where he was convicted of a DG10 and ... Read more Reviewed on: 6th January 2025
Bridget M's avatar
Bridget M

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 (854)

Review of the 1st Central, Car Insurance:

BEWARE!! Ludicrous charges! THEY DO NOT CARE!!

1
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 them in time they charged £175. I had told them I had contacted twice to get these documents. I decided to cancel after nearly 4 weeks and for this I was charged £156, minus my first payment, despite their website saying it’s a £10 cancellation fee after 14 days!! Very impersonal service and completely ridiculous charges!! Felt as though they grabbed me with a cheap quote and then added on extras to make money. My monthly payment went from £37 to £55!! Felt like dealing with robots whose job is to add money on excessively!! Wish I’d read these reviews first!! Reviewed on: 29th November 2024
Reply from 1st Central Hi Katharine, 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. Ashley Response date: 2nd December 2024
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1st Central

Rip off

1
1st central charged me £350 for amending my employment status. I renew my policy after two years with them but as I was on maternity leave and didn't return to work I changed my mileage per year when I was renewing. Unfortunately I omitted to also change my work status from employed to unemployed. I got an email to call 1st central to verify some details. Woman on the phone was wondering why my mileage changed so much as it went down from 11000 to 4000 I told her I'm not traveling to London every day which is around 70miles a day and now I'm at home after the maternity leave and didn't go back to work. She said I forgot to amend it in my new policy and said she will change it. When she asked me how I want to pay the £350 cost for changing this detail that she made I actually had to ask her three times what she wants from me as I couldn't believe that cost! I cancelled insurance with 1st central on the spot over the phone. Avoid avoid! Reviewed on: 8th June 2023

AVOID

1
Policy number FPM6017224852FC AVOID THESE PEOPLE. They are trying to extort an extra £118 fro me. I received an email a month into the policy, explaining that the licence-obtained dates for my partner and me were wrong. The dates were exactly the same because they sync in with the Confused website drop-down box question "For how many years have you held your licence?" Both of us 20yrs plus, no exact date was asked for, and if it was I would have provided the exact dates. I also spoke to an agent who asked me to rethink my annual mileage, he talked me into changing it NOW I KNOW WHY. So I changed it from 7k to 9k. This was also listed as a reason for the extra £118. They sent me an email cancelling my policy in seven days, and demanded another £48 to cancel with the threat of a bailiff if I don't pay. AND THEN the same day I received another email demanding £118 within seven days and that I could keep the policy but only if I pay the £118. THE FIRST EMAIL WAS SENT TO SHOCK ME AND TO SOME BUILD PAIN. THE SECOND EMAIL WAS MEANT TO MAKE ME FEEL THAT THERE IS A WAY TO KEEP THE POLICY AND TO PAY THEM MORE MONEY. THESE GUYS ARE WICKEDLY CLEVER AND THEY KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING. I won't be extorted and I'd rather pay more and use a fit and established company. I've never been treated like this by a car insurance company. I will post this everywhere if it means that I can save someone else from this kind of treatment. Trading standards next. Reviewed on: 3rd June 2023

Worse car insurance company

1
I would not recommend this company to anyone . This has been the worse mistake f my life . I am having trouble with my first car and choosing this insurance has feel like an ongoing nightmare. There is no communication as to what is going on they take days to reply to my email . I'm looking for a new ans better car insurance. Don't choose 1st central. They are a complete waste of time. Trust me you don't want to have countless headaches and frustration. Reviewed on: 2nd June 2023

AVOID

1
AVOID I made a claim for non fault repair, to schedule the repair it takes already 2 months. You call them every second day and they pass me from the team to the team, which are in locations like Sount Africa and cannot help but lie about the solutions, every person tells you different information. AVOID Reviewed on: 2nd June 2023

Hopeless renewal process

1
The renewal process was so difficult, after 3 hours we have up and took a more expensive policy just to get away from then Reviewed on: 2nd June 2023

Excellent highly recommended

5
They do a good deal on car insurance cheaper too Reviewed on: 31st May 2023

Total Scam

1
I got the insurance through an online insurance comparison site. One month later they ask me for loads of documents, all is correct and they ask for an unjustified increase of £‎200 in my policy. I've just asked them for my money back and to cancel the insurance, this is total abuse. Reviewed on: 31st May 2023

Great service

5
Amazing price, great service, friendly staff Reviewed on: 30th May 2023

Bad

1
This is honestly one of the worst companies ever, they send you a review to fill out literally just after you take the insurance out, so I’m sure you only have positive things to say. God forbid you ever have to claim, they have the worst communication, they send you around town and back and forth between teams. A lot of mechanics won’t do any of their repair work because they don’t pay them, so you may be waiting a VERY long time for their “approved mechanics” to fix your car. I had to find my own body shop repair and luckily they did the work. I had to get the ombudsman involved because it honestly was the worst service EVER. Reviewed on: 30th May 2023

DO NOT USE PLEASE

1
Worst customer service ever asked to speak to managers and a call to be listened to and they refused. Rude on calls and give wrong advice PLEASE USE ANYWHERE ELSE Reviewed on: 25th May 2023