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1st Central: Car insurance reviews

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
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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

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!

1
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
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1st Central

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

Absolutely incompetent con men

1
Would not take my direct debit would not set it up after 4 months they tried to blame me and threatened to cancel my policy charging me obviously. My bank said they had never attempted to set up a direct debit this is a scam so you end up paying late payment fees and eventually pay a cancellation fee just to be rid of them . They made alot of money for doing nothing . Advisers are just kids no idea what each other is doing waste of time talking to them may as well bang your head against a wall .NEVER AGAIN. I have now changed to Churchill who are reputable and no issues what so ever . Reviewed on: 23rd May 2023

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