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1st Central: Car Insurance reviews

Name: Car Insurance
Rating: 1.68 (866 reviews)

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1.49

Based on 866 reviews, last reviewed 16th Feb 2025

100% decrease in 5 star reviews

in the past 90 days

18% 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 changed the address to another one 200 yards away... I changed the address to another one 200 yards away from the first one. They wrote that they would pay me 17 pence extra. But my renewal went up from ... Read more Reviewed on: 16th February 2025

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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.

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1st Central Car Insurance reviews (866)

AVOID and RUN

I would like to give ZERO. I was looking for a cur insurance and came across with this scammers. Got insurance in May 2022, uploaded requested documents, the documentation list was ridiculously long, never had anything like that with other insurance companies. Despite the fact that i had 14 days to cancel, they didn't review documentation till July, after review they increased my insurance price up to £300 with explanation that was discrepancy between the dates. In order to cancel the policy they listed all applicable fees: £50 - arrangement fee £50 - admin fee £50 - cancellation fee £30 interest payment £90 cost of 46 days insured Ended up to pay £180 to cancel the policy (some payments were made so was deducted from total cancelation cost) I was thinking what could go wrong with this company, but i was very wrong. Read reviews and choose right company, otherwise you will loose monies. Will report to Ombudsman. Reviewed on: 6th July 2022

Rip off

This appeared to be the cheapest car insurance I could find, as I’d been looking for a while but the prices seemed to be going up daily so I panicked knowing I had to sort out my insurance but didn’t want to pay an extortionate price. When I first saw the price I thought it was just about manageable but then literally saw nothing about a £50 broker fee! So I tried to cancel and they were adamant that I would not be able to get the £50 back, but guess I have no choice but to stick with them but hope I have no issues if I have to make any claims Reviewed on: 6th July 2022

Worst company I have ever dealt with

The initial claim call was good but things quickly deteriorated. A courtesy car was not requested and due to the delays it could take 3 weeks to get one at least. I have no update on my vehicle repair and they seem to be saying it was going to take a week before someone in the allocations team even started looking for a garage to repair the car. Nobody has provided me with an update but I do weirdly keep receiving emails about my child's booster seat! If only I had a car to pick him up in. I don't live with my son and haven't been able to see him so what good is a booster seat. The complaints team issued a holding letter stating they would take 14 days and when I've tried to speak to them they've been too busy...I bet they are very busy! It's a mess and this company should be shut down if they can't provide a reasonable level of service. I don't know how I can resolve it as literally nobody wants to or can help me. I'm gutted. Reviewed on: 6th July 2022

Feels like I have been scammed...

I purchased a policy via a comparison website. Inputed the details (not asked by the insurance conpany for anything more before proceeding) - a couple of weeks later I was requested to send a copy of my licence front and back along with the named driver and a copy of the no claims letter. Didn't thing much of it - I then have an email saying becuase the details of when I passed was out by less than a year (becuase they ask how long you have held you licence not when you passed) I was charged a premium and an administration fee... which means unless you are renewing bang on the date you passed... they are Likely to charge you for the privilege. I will be avoiding them like the plague going forward Reviewed on: 5th July 2022

Nothing but a Scam. Avoid like COVID

nothing but a cowboy operation. refused to accept an email of proof of No Claims Bonus. even though ive never had this issue with any other insurance company. an absolute joke of a company. Avoid like Covid Reviewed on: 5th July 2022

AVOID AVOID AVOID

my car was involved in an accident at not my fault. Since the 30th of May 2022( today is the 4th of July) and my car is still not taken to the Body shop. When I organized a Body shop myself insurance claimed that I have to pay a fee of £250 because it's not their chosen Bodyshop. The 1st central has been feeding me with the promises that they are working hard to allocate a garage for me, which is not true. It took me 10 minutes to find and agree with the garage for a repair. But insurance still is acting like they can not fix the problem, blaming the garrage that they are not responding. 1st central also stopped paying for my courtesy car and told me that I have to return to the Enterprise. They constantly continue lying. Their staff is very unprofessional and lacks knowledge. They either hang the phone when you are calling for an update or say: We are very sorry, unfortunately, we are doing our best to sort this issue out. But in reality, they don't do anything. I am wondering who employs people who don't k know what they are doing. I strongly advise you not to go with this company as your insurance. AVOID AVOID AVOID. Reviewed on: 4th July 2022

Worst insurance company I've ever dealt with!

Had a vandalism claim made in February this year, although it had been repaired and all documentation send as per earlier agreed estimate, garage that finalised repairs has no received due money yet?! Been calling them at least once every week but only thing im getting is "we will escalate with our finance department" that has no direct contact number that can be called. No managers or anyone with decision making power ever available to speak to you, and obviously good luck waiting for arranged call back being made... Absolutely ridiculous customer service, ombudsman and fca informed! Reviewed on: 4th July 2022

very poor ther website is a joke it doesnt keep your records upto date.

every time i use there website it refuses my debit card when there is ample funds in it,i have tried my partners card which has more than ample funds in it and it refuses that also,i tried phoning and the same thing happens and because they have the first five cheapest quotes you have to go elsewhere and you finnish paying alot more. Reviewed on: 3rd July 2022

AVOID THEM!

SCAM!! AVOID THEM! I have signed agreement with them and after free withdraw period they decided to ask me for dvla codes, licence pictures and proof of no claim bonus. I don't see any problem to give them proof of no claim bonus, but I definitely won't give third part company so sensitive information like dvla access. Moreover, I have noticed that they do not cover me on other cars, which was one of my main criteria. If 1st central would ask me about it in the first 14 days of my cover, I would simply withdraw it with no costs. Moreover, I am wondering why company like this do not ask for so important information before sign the agreement. That would be 'red flag' for me on the very beginning. Now they have asked me to pay for policy cancellation plus extra fees. Total costs for 26 days of cover is 128 pounds!!!! That is ridiculous. This is quarter of full price!!!!!! They force you to pay them, no matter what! AVOID EVERY COST!!!!!!! Reviewed on: 29th June 2022

Scam

Lured me in with a good price. Had to make a small change, non risk affecting, and the price doubled. Either pay a huge admin fee or an even bigger fee to cancel. Apparently they’re “payable” and there’s nothing that can be done even when the price should never have changed. Takes ages to get through by phone. Their call centre is in South Africa and the latency is horrible so it takes 10 seconds for people on the phone to hear what you’re saying which causes painful conversations. Went back to my old insurer esure who never failed me. Reviewed on: 29th June 2022

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