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1st Central: Car insurance reviews

View other 1st Central products
1.71
Based on 965 reviews, last reviewed 7th Jun 2026
100% increase in 5 star reviews
in the past 90 days
8% 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

Please avoid this company, money grabbers! I purchased car insurance and then found a more comprehensive cover for the same price, so within 12 hours decided to cancel whilst policy was pending... Read more Reviewed on: 7th June 2026
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Deena C
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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.

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1st Central Car insurance reviews (965)

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

Pathetic excuse of a company

1
If I could give 0 stars I would. No wonder the insurance quotes are so cheap, they make their money back by scamming it out of you. No communication from their behalf. My monthly instalment was due out as normal however it wasn’t taken out, the next day I receive a text message saying my policy has been cancelled. Tried to get in contact with them and they have no valid reason as to why it’s been cancelled. Awful company. Stay well clear. Reviewed on: 1st December 2022
vanessa taylor's avatar
vanessa taylor

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