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1st Central: Car Insurance reviews

Name: Car Insurance
Rating: 1.69 (852 reviews)

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1.50

Based on 852 reviews, last reviewed 22nd Dec 2024

75% decrease in 5 star reviews

in the past 90 days

10% decrease in 1 star reviews

in the past 90 days

12%

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

Latest lowest rating:

1

I had a policy with 1st Central three years ago, an... I had a policy with 1st Central three years ago, and my experience was terrible, as I outlined in a review back then. Unfortunately, I feel compelled ... Read more Reviewed on: 22nd December 2024

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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 (852)

Review of the 1st Central, Car Insurance:

BEWARE!! Ludicrous charges! THEY DO NOT CARE!!

Took out insurance and over a week later they asked for proof of NCB and proof of claims. Asked my last insurance provider for this. When I didn’t get them in time they charged £175. I had told them I had contacted twice to get these documents. I decided to cancel after nearly 4 weeks and for this I was charged £156, minus my first payment, despite their website saying it’s a £10 cancellation fee after 14 days!! Very impersonal service and completely ridiculous charges!! Felt as though they grabbed me with a cheap quote and then added on extras to make money. My monthly payment went from £37 to £55!! Felt like dealing with robots whose job is to add money on excessively!! Wish I’d read these reviews first!! Reviewed on: 29th November 2024

Reply from 1st Central Hi Katharine, Thank you for your feedback. We’re sorry to hear about your experience with us. All details on the policy impact the price of the policy we offer, if details are found to be incorrect we need to update them and this can impact the price of the policy. If you’d like to speak to the team about this process, please give us a call on 0333 043 2095. We’re here to help from Mon-Fri: 9am to 5pm. Ashley Response date: 2nd December 2024

Excellent value with no hidden costs

I have had a few policies with 1st central and they have always stood out. They have great communication and regular updates without being overbearing. The policy portals are easy to use with quick access to all documents associated with the policy. With excellent value for money and no hidden extras. Reviewed on: 23rd August 2024

Reply from 1st Central Hi Tillytot, Thank you for your review and for choosing 1st Central this year for your car insurance. Ashley Response date: 27th August 2024

Hassle to begin with but stuck with them!

When creating a quote, I accidentally wrote the wrong date in a box and my goodness, it kicked off a chain of events where I had to provide bits of paperwork I’ve never had to provide to any insurance companies before (I’ve been driving for 16 years). So trying to start the insurance was a lot of hassle. HOWEVER I’ve had to change parts of my policy throughout the year e.g. adding on my husband, changing car and it is very simple and straightforward on the app! A competitive quote again this year so I am staying with them. Reviewed on: 23rd August 2024

Reply from 1st Central Hi Francesca, Thank you for your review and for choosing 1st Central this year for your car insurance. Ashley Response date: 27th August 2024

Best car insurance company

Going to be my second year with 1st central, and I am very happy with the Company. It is the best one out there, I would recommend one million time of her to everyone Reviewed on: 23rd August 2024

Reply from 1st Central Hi es, Thank you for renewing with us. We’re happy to have you on-board for another year Response date: 27th August 2024

Wish we had read all the bad reviews on here for the...

Wish we had read all the bad reviews on here for the company, before we took a policy out for my son ,customer service staff not helpful, some were rude put the phone down on us ,cost us 135.00 pounds to cancel a policy we only used for a month, but that's a small price to pay ,better companies about, would not recommend this company to anyone Reviewed on: 17th August 2024

Reply from 1st Central Hi Ma w, 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 and training for our agents. Ashley Response date: 20th August 2024

Loyal customer for 5 years, despite their annual spi...

Loyal customer for 5 years, despite their annual spikes in costs, however this renewal period I was asked to provide information (already declared on the renewal) and was asked to pay an additional £1995 for the changes. The main change was that I was now unemployed on health grounds. Zero flexibility, rude and robotic customer service agents, and they’re costing me more than I can afford as a single parent on UC, to cancel the policy and seek a different one. Terrible, terrible, terrible. Reviewed on: 15th August 2024

Reply from 1st Central Hi Mecha I, Thank you for your feedback. We’re sorry to hear about your experience with us. All details on the policy impact the price of the policy we offer, if details are found to be incorrect we need to update them and this can impact the price of the policy. If you’d like us to look into this further for you, please give us a call on 0333 043 2095. We’re here to help from Mon-Fri: 9am to 5pm. If there’s anything you’d like us to look into for you, please contact us by sending an email to [email protected]. Please include your policy number and details of what’s gone wrong, and we’ll see if we can put things right. Ashley Response date: 16th August 2024

Avoid at all costs, you can't block their texts.

I purchased insurance that I cancelled the same day as I managed to get a cheaper quote elsewhere. I called them up before the policy was due to start and they refused to cancel it until it had officially started which is illegal as you are allowed a 14 day period to withdraw from any financial contract for any reason at any time. They charged me a small amount to make the total paid £50 which I could accept (even though I was entitled to a refund since I requested it cancelled the same day and before the policy started) but now they're pestering me saying I owe them almost £50 and there's no reason for it. They text you via an invalid number so you can't block their texts as well which is majorly scummy. Avoid at all costs. Reviewed on: 15th August 2024

Reply from 1st Central Hi Cernunnos, 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 would like to look into this further for you to help resolve this, please send an email to [email protected] with your policy number a summary of your experience similar to your review and we will look into it. Ashley Response date: 16th August 2024

Did the comparison website just come up as cheapest...

Did the comparison website just come up as cheapest well so I thought after taking out a policy a week later they sent me an email asking for the V5 I uploaded it three days later everything seems good nearly 3 weeks of past over the cooling off period and they have now informed me they're going to charge me £59 for making a slight mistake on the purchase of date for the vehicle absolutely shocking. This really is made my day it's put me in a right mood if it was £10 or £15. I could understand it possibly charging me £59 just to enter a date on the website. Well I won't be renewing my policy or ever going with Yu this company again and I will certainly warn all of my friends about them! Reviewed on: 12th August 2024

Reply from 1st Central Hi Steven, Thank you for your feedback. We’re sorry to hear about your experience with us. All details on the policy impact the price of the policy we offer, if details are found to be incorrect we need to update them and this can impact the price of the policy. If you’d like us to look into this further for you, please give us a call on 0333 043 2095. We’re here to help from Mon-Fri: 9am to 5pm. Ashley Response date: 13th August 2024

Shockingly terrible.

Shockingly terrible. Sat away. Not fit for purpose. Reviewed on: 10th August 2024

Reply from 1st Central Hello, We’re sorry to hear on this occasion your experience with us hasn’t been as positive as we’d hoped it would be. Let’s see if we can help put this right for you. Just give our team a call on 0333 043 2066 or speak to us on web chat which can be found on our website. We’re here to help from Mon-Fri: 8am to 8pm, Sat: 9am to 5pm, Sun: 10am to 2pm. Ashley Response date: 13th August 2024

The worst insurance company on the market keep well...

The worst insurance company on the market keep well away they are just a ripped off give all the info they need then cancel your insurance if I was not on top off my email i would have been driving around with no insurance not even a phone call to let you no so dangerous do not trust not worth the risk no manther how cheap they say you getting insurance as your not realy Think it just a scam Reviewed on: 2nd August 2024

Reply from 1st Central HI Christopher, 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 would like to look into this further for you to help resolve this, please send an email to [email protected] with your policy number a summary of your experience similar to your review and we will look into it. Ashley Response date: 13th August 2024

Funny how their google / Facebook reviews are turned...

Funny how their google / Facebook reviews are turned off! Complete scammers and shoddy practices! Be warned and pay a little extra if you need to with a reputable insurance company, it will save you a lot in the long run!. Reviewed on: 18th July 2024

Reply from 1st Central HI Jason, We’re sorry to hear on this occasion your experience with us hasn’t been as positive as we’d hoped it would be. If there’s anything you’d like us to look into for you, please contact us by sending an email to [email protected]. Please include your policy number and details of what’s gone wrong, and we’ll see if we can put things right. Ashley Response date: 19th July 2024

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