Smart Money People Logo
Share this page
Link copied

1st Central: Car insurance 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
17% decrease 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

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
Ewelina S's avatar
Ewelina S
Read all reviews Write a 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.

Review 1st Central: Car insurance now

Help others make smarter decisions by sharing your own experience.
Give a 1 star rating Give a 2 star rating Give a 3 star rating Give a 4 star rating Give a 5 star rating
Write a review

1st Central Car insurance reviews (903)

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
Jdou Pomnejdou's avatar
Jdou Pomnejdou

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
Jamie Harrison's avatar
Jamie Harrison

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
Sudana's avatar
Sudana

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
Karina Homa's avatar
Karina Homa

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
David Hunt's avatar
David Hunt

Excellent highly recommended

5
They do a good deal on car insurance cheaper too Reviewed on: 31st May 2023
Conor Robinson's avatar
Conor Robinson

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
Plumas alternas's avatar
Plumas alternas

Great service

5
Amazing price, great service, friendly staff Reviewed on: 30th May 2023
Victor Taylor's avatar
Victor Taylor

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
Vee's avatar
Vee

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
Chez's avatar
Chez

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

Want to see more from 1st Central?

    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
    Man on beach

    News, guides and insight from our team

    View resource hub
    UK money news stories - 24 July 2024
    UK money news stories - 24 July 2024
    24th July 2024
    Posted in Money Talks by Errolyn Smith
    Your Money, Your Voice: Have your say
    Your Money, Your Voice: Have your say
    24th July 2024
    Posted in Our insights by Errolyn Smith
    Our latest research - customers see little impact of FCA's Consumer Duty one year on
    Our latest research - customers see little impact of FCA's Consumer Duty one year on
    24th July 2024
    Posted in Our insights by Darryl Barkwill
    Consumer credit awards winners 2024
    Consumer credit awards winners 2024
    11th July 2024
    Posted in Awards by Darryl Barkwill