Smart Money People Logo

1st Central: Car insurance reviews

1.50
Based on 901 reviews, last reviewed 3rd Jun 2025
400% increase in 5 star reviews
in the past 90 days
50% increase 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

Found you online,needed a cheap quote,you certainly... Found you online,needed a cheap quote,you certainly provided it.Thank you Reviewed on: 3rd June 2025
Verified source

Latest lowest rating:

1

Totally Fed up I had insurance with Ist Central on my new car. They took £538 out of my bank account after I had informed them I wouldn’t be renewing with them. My... Read more Reviewed on: 3rd June 2025
Joan C's avatar
Joan C

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. Write a review

1st Central Car insurance reviews (901)

The Worst Insurers EVER

1
They locked me out of my online portal by cancelling the wrong policy on there but not their system. They were told about this numerous times, then charged me to change my name even though I couldn’t change my details online for free, then apologised as they shouldn’t have charged me. Still didn’t fix the issue with online portal. A year of complaints about not having access to my online portal. My policy changed one day to expired so I couldn’t update payment details - I called and queried it. They said I had nothing to pay as it expired. Then debt collectors call. I do have to pay. I try to pay, I can’t because my policy isn’t active on the online portal. It’s revolved by the complaints team. They compensate me. Still nothing arrived. Now they’re calling me for payment again which I can’t make because I can’t access my policy? They’re terrible! They don’t communicate, incorrectly charge you, mismanage their own systems and deny access. I’d rather take the bus than deal with them again. Reviewed on: 14th September 2022

Scammers!!!

1
Be careful with this insurer, they don't refund all money before 14 days. Scammers !!! Reviewed on: 13th September 2022

1stcentral

5
Good value for money easy to join, renewal was less than last year. Reviewed on: 13th September 2022

Worst car insurance ever beware

1
Theyre getting the money to charge cancellation even if the policy havent started yet. Very poor customer service and trying to dig you more information to add and then charge you more . Ridiculous amount of money has been charged to our policy that is not even started yet. Worst car insurance ever and worst customer service ever, they will get money out of ur pocket . Admin fee and expensive charges. Too bad . Wont recommend at all and pls beware Reviewed on: 11th September 2022

The Deal will look attractive however

1
They will charge you huge administration fees - they will cease your insurace without warning for matters that they should know the answer to such as (transfer of no claims between policies) their online portal mostly doesn't work as it should. - do yourself a favour and go with someone with some street credit not mickymouse. Reviewed on: 7th September 2022

Worst insurance company

1
This is the worst insurance company I ever seen Reviewed on: 7th September 2022

AVOID BY ALL MEANS! absolute con artists! worst insurance company ever, over £200 charge just to cancel, over £380 to amend, do not go with these!!!!

1
Worst experience ever!!!!! tried to charge me £200+ just to cancel my insurance after only 2 months???!!! also massive hidden charges to policy when amending (which would have been only £10 extra per month in my situation), please be aware!! DO NOT insure with these cowboys. Cocky/threatening behaviour from phone operators who sound like are in another country, also it takes an age just to get through to them when you ring. Other insurers just updated my other policy on another car (same situation) hassle free without the £331 added premium and £50 'Admin Charge' or ridiculous £200 fee for cancelling, very unprofessional and very extortionate, an absolute disgrace of a car insurance company. Reviewed on: 6th September 2022

Con of a company- do not use

1
I paid around £300 for annual csr insurance. After 9 months I was told that I got the dates of my driving test (which was 20 years ago) wrong by a few months. They proceeded to charge me and extra £278. DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY Reviewed on: 6th September 2022

Please listen to the poor reviews

1
Bad reviews are often written off as people having a whinge or a moan or a “Karen” moment … this is NOT the case with this company I have struggled for nearly 6 months, approximately 20+ hours in calls, emails, sourcing my own garage, contacting third party companies for clarification of absolute lies told to me by 1st Central … still to not even have had my vehicle approved for repair I am continuing to make payments as per my contract and all I get in return is stalling Please please seek another company for your insurance Reviewed on: 5th September 2022

No responsibility

1
My daughter had her car stolen, the car was recovered but required new keys as the thief had them.first central organised the new keys to her fiat 500 through a third party .all was ok for a week then the car wouldn’t start at all. The fiat dealer said the keys had corrupted the engine management system which would cost over £2000 to fix (the car is valued at about £1000) first central won’t take responsibility for the third party who wrecked the car and have even got my daughter to deal with the key company,when they should be doing it .I am livid she has been treated like this after the trauma of having her car stolen.please avoid these jokers at all costs she still has no car after 8 weeks and this lot are still fobbing her off .shameful. My email is Paperplane24@hotmail .co.uk if anybody would like to discuss this further, Steve. Reviewed on: 5th September 2022

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