Smart Money People Logo
Go to business site
Share this page
Link copied

1st Central: Car insurance reviews

View other 1st Central products
1.51
Based on 957 reviews, last reviewed 17th Apr 2026
100% increase in 5 star reviews
in the past 90 days
56% decrease 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

Just started my third year of car insurance cover wi... Just started my third year of car insurance cover with 1st Central. Good value for money, helpful customer service, clearly laid out website and easy ... Read more Reviewed on: 17th April 2026
Jade's avatar
Jade

Latest lowest rating:

1

Do not use this provider for your car insurance I’ve had a very poor experience with this insurer. They failed to respond to three or four of my emails, and despite requesting a call from management... Read more Reviewed on: 10th April 2026
Sherene 's avatar
Sherene
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 (957)

Avoid- feels like they are trying to scam customers

1
Bought insurance for car in May, got an email to send licence documents Docs were sent no issue Got a letter to say because the dates provided were wrong that there would be an increase of £137 At no point does 1st central ask you to input the dates and the customer advisor I spoke to Said it was because this was the dates I input into confused.com Very unhelpful and unsympathetic staff on phone which would make me believe they are getting the same type of calls over and over. AVOID 1ST CENTRAL AT ALL COST I cancelled my policy on the spot as was getting no where and took a finical hit rather than to pay the additional amount Reviewed on: 16th June 2023
Mmcbrien's avatar
Mmcbrien

Quick to take money don't follow up compromises when you claim

1
No follow up or feedback on progress of claim you have to do all the follow up Reviewed on: 16th June 2023
Neil Weerts's avatar
Neil Weerts

Can't even get the car model correct

1
Absolutely useless wrong car model on quote almost like it's purposely done for extra money as the only thing wrong was hp 60 more than my vehicle actually has but yet its correct anywhere else I have checked Reviewed on: 12th June 2023
S's avatar
S

The worst company

1
I had been messed about so many times with them. I Couldn't even access my account most of the time. They overcharge for everything, especially policy changes, which I have had to make because of their f**k ups, which even led to legal matters. I never write reviews but I have to WARN YOU NOT TO CHOOSE 1STCENTRAL.!! Reviewed on: 11th June 2023
Nic's avatar
Nic

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

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