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

1st Central: Car insurance reviews

View other 1st Central products
1.50
Based on 957 reviews, last reviewed 17th Apr 2026
100% increase in 5 star reviews
in the past 90 days
50% 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)

Deceptive. Disorganised. Disgusting.

1
This company is disorganised at best and complete scammers at worst. They will do anything to take your money and tell you your policies are cancelled when they aren't. It feels disgusting that a company can do this and get away with it: A few years ago I had an accident where my car was written off, 1st Central paid out but refused to let me cancel the policy despite there no longer being a car for me to be insured on . They forced me to pay for the remaining 10 months of the year despite me calling repeatedly asking to cancel. 3 months into this I cancelled the direct debit because the situation was ridiculous and shortly after, debt collection letters started arriving. I eventually paid the 10 months worth of insurance money for a car I couldn't drive and didn't have. The policy auto-renewed and so to avoid a repeat of the hassle of the last 10 months, I stuck with 1st Central. Last month I sold my newer car and then tried to cancel my policy. I spoke to a lady on the phone who seemed to think there would be no issue with cancelling and then told me I was due £650 refund. I told her I was surprised and wasn't expecting any money but after getting off the phone assumed it was compensation for the amount I had paid them from before. She transferred the money and cancelled policy. Over the next few days I received multiple phone calls telling me I needed to sign for the money, that they were unsure if I was owed an extra £50, or if I owe THEM money. A few more days later I get a phone call saying she got it wrong, I shouldn't have been given the £650 and they want the money back. I told them I cant pay it right away because my account was in an overdraft when she sent me the money in the first place, so she would have to wait until I got paid. She said 'ok' but that meant she wouldn't be able to cancel the policy until she has the money back and therefore policy would resume and £70 will be taken from the account as usual in a few days. They said someone would be in touch to arrange a payment plan. Days went by and I heard nothing from the payment team, so in an attempt to avoid them taking even more money from my account, and in the hopes they would cancel the policy they told me they had cancelled 2 weeks ago, my girlfriend helped me pay back the £650. This was 7 days ago, today I received 2 separate texts from 1st central asking me for £72. I do not know if they have cancelled my policy or not. I don't know how I can possibly owe them any more money but the last time I refused to pay them they blacklisted me, affecting my credit score and whether or not I can get a mortgage in the future. It feels disgusting that a company can do this and get away with it. This company is disorganised at best and complete scammers at worst. They will do anything to take your money and tell you your policies are cancelled when they aren't. DO NOT use this company. Reviewed on: 7th December 2022
Ellie's avatar
Ellie

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

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