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1st Central: Car Insurance reviews

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1.49
Based on 867 reviews, last reviewed 25th Feb 2025
100% decrease in 5 star reviews
in the past 90 days
14% 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

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:

2

Brilliant price. But very poor Customer Service Brilliant price on comparison site. Went with them and put partner on policy. Kept getting emails and messages, tried hardest to upload driving licenc... Read more Reviewed on: 25th February 2025
Karl B's avatar
Karl B
Read all reviews See your review

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 (867)

Review of the 1st Central, Car Insurance:

the duplicate your policy by accident.

2
the duplicate your policy by accident....I did get a refund for this but it was a headache.... I called them when i got a new car to cancel and go with someone else and they didn't do it so months later I had to ring them up again where they required email proof I was with someone else.....then said they have to wait to get that email cause the person on the phone couldnt see emails....will not be going with them again. Reviewed on: 20th January 2025
Tzice's avatar
Tzice
Reply from 1st Central Hi Tzice, 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. Ashley Response date: 21st January 2025
1st Central Logo
1st Central

Dont use these

1
What kind of car insurance provides breakdown cover but not recover your car when it breaks Reviewed on: 7th December 2022
Danny's avatar
Danny

Horrible company

1
Set me up for an automatic higher insurance renewal even though the previous year I had no accidents. Decided to take payment with no knowledge and consent at all, plus charged me cancellation fee. Reviewed on: 7th December 2022
Harry Pham's avatar
Harry Pham

car stolen and now recovered

1
my car was stolen, but was recovered. I only know this because the police informed me. No contact from 1st central, the claim handlers Brownswords are even worst - do not use this company. Reading previous reviews about increasing the quote that also happened to me. Stay from this company Reviewed on: 7th December 2022
Sharon Quigley's avatar
Sharon Quigley

Don't Use 1st central - scam charges

1
I hope people read the recent reviews on this terrible company. I'm now £200 out of pocket because I was tricked into a competitive car insurance quote on go compare. I paid up front for a year's car insurance and after uploading my VC5 keeper document they alleged I'd put in the wrong date of purchase of the vehicle (2021 Not 2022) they wanted to charge me an extra £157 pounds for the error which is nearly a third of a year's insurance for me. They offered no recourse on this so i decided to cancel my insurance and take a £50 fine and go with another provider. It took me 4 calls to cancel my insurance they kept hanging up mid conversation after I had told them I want to cancel my policy. I wasn't rude or angry at any point. Reading these reviews confirms this company have a recorded of hitting customers with unfair fines on any technicality they can find. It would appear they have a whole department dedicated to it. It's hard enough to manage finances with a young family and cost of living without big companies trying to unfairly fine you a significant amount of money for a simple error. I'd advise anyone who reads this to stay away from this company and if you have insurance with them don't pay their scam charges cancel your account and go with a reliable firm even if it costs you more. If you do need to claim, I imagine this is the last company you want as your insurer if the worst was to happen. Hope this review prevents some else getting ripped off by this terrible company Reviewed on: 6th December 2022
Paul T's avatar
Paul T

SCAM KEEP AWAY

1
I completed details online but in their system everything came out differently and somehow after 5 days they called me to check the details. And it turned out to be a surprise that I had to pay 120 pounds for the changes because something went wrong and then I started reading the review and I found thats they way to collect extra money. Of course, if you want to cancel the policy, you have to pay 106 pounds. I paid £370 for the whole year and wanted to save £30 from my previous insurer. Keep away this is the scam with lots of negative review. Reviewed on: 5th December 2022
John's avatar
John

Thieves

1
STAY AWAY! Not sure why they still not shut as they MUST! They are robbers , unprofessional and rude don’t know why they are operating. If you will have to deal with claim - accident which wasn’t your fault - and with fully comprehensive insurance- you will get nothing. They stealing cars saying can’t be fixed (when garages do not see problems there) and not paying out market value like-to-like. They are rude emailing “we not going to read your email in full and we will close complaint and we not going to respond anymore” is this is professional? Better do research first with who you will be insuring your car Reviewed on: 5th December 2022
Laura Bogdanova's avatar
Laura Bogdanova

Thieves

1
Do not ever insure your car with them! If you will need to deal with claim believe me they will **** you at each stage. They are acting like a thieves. I had car accident which wasn't my fault and have fully comprehensive insurance. Having comprehensive with them is same as having nothing- you will lost your car and money and time. One month round and still I've got nothing. Very rude on response , they are even responding that they not going to read email in full and it will be last email and they not going to respond. Unfortunately, I need take them to the court Reviewed on: 5th December 2022
Laura Bogdanova's avatar
Laura Bogdanova

Disappointed

1
Very disappointed and annoyed and angry Reviewed on: 2nd December 2022
Janis Berzins's avatar
Janis Berzins

SCAM

1
First central is a poor excuse for a company. I hadn’t yet drove my car yet they cancelled my insurance because my mum hadn’t downloaded the app. Only contact over email and cancel it without any communication. Their black boxes don’t work! Once I had downloaded the app I got in my friends car who is also with 1st central, her black box connect to my app and not her own! Meaning all her driving was logging in my insurance and none on her own! Which is a policy preach and overall so dangerous. After all this and loads of contact with the company they couldn’t care less. Still charged me a £114 cancellation fee. Save your time and money! Awful company. Reviewed on: 2nd December 2022
drew keane's avatar
drew keane

Terrible communication and not user friendly

1
I have found 1st Central to be a particularly poor company. They cannot respond when dealing with simple issues and are indifferent when their un-user friendly customer portal leads to issues. I will never pass them my custom again and encourage others to AVOID this poor company. Reviewed on: 1st December 2022
Paul E's avatar
Paul E

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