Smart Money People Logo

1st Central: Car insurance reviews

1.50
Based on 951 reviews, last reviewed 13th Feb 2026
100% decrease in 5 star reviews
in the past 90 days
23% increase in 1 star reviews
in the past 90 days
See only 5 star reviews
11%
See only 4 star reviews
5%
See only 3 star reviews
2%
See only 2 star reviews
2%
See only 1 star reviews
80%

Latest highest rating:

5

Good and not too expensive Was looking for good value car insurance and found this one. Not too expensive and so far can’t say anything bad. Very easy to sign up. Reviewed on: 5th September 2025
Matus's avatar
Matus

Latest lowest rating:

1

FRAUDSTERS!!!!!!! BUYER BEWARE!!!!!!!! DO NOT BUY!!!! In 35 years of using car insurance companies, I have NEVER been robbed/conned like this before! This company comes up as cheap but I can now see why, ... Read more Reviewed on: 13th February 2026
Mem's avatar
Mem

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 (951)

Review of the 1st Central, Car insurance:

Awful service

1
Son took out insurance online. Got an email saying they needed extra docs by a certain date,which son sent. Only realised they had cancelled his policy when he saw he had extra money in his bank. No communication of ANY kind telling him what they had done. Lucky he was off for a few days. He could have been done for no insurance and he needs a clean license. Simple txt or email to let him know before they sent the refund and it could have been all sorted. Absolutely useless. Reviewed on: 3rd May 2022

Scams scams scams

1
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

1
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 !

1
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

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

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