Write a review

Go to business site

1st Central: Car insurance reviews

Name: Car insurance
Rating: 1.51 (952 reviews)

View other 1st Central products

1.50

Based on 952 reviews, last reviewed 4th Mar 2026

100% decrease in 5 star reviews

in the past 90 days

15% increase in 1 star reviews

in the past 90 days

11%

80%

Latest highest rating:

5

Good and not too expensive Was looking for good value car insurance and found this one. Not too expensive and so far can’t say anything bad. Very easy to sign up. Reviewed on: 5th September 2025

Latest lowest rating:

1

FRAUDSTERS!!!!!!! BUYER BEWARE!!!!!!!! DO NOT BUY!!!! In 35 years of using car insurance companies, I have NEVER been robbed/conned like this before! This company comes up as cheap but I can now see why, ... Read more Reviewed on: 13th February 2026

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.

Write a review

1st Central Car insurance reviews (952)

STAY AWAY

Woke up to an email saying my policy was going to be increased by almost double with absolutely no reason or no consent from myself whatsoever. I was in shock. After ringing the insurance to find out more it was because they automatically increased my annual mileage from 10,000 to 20,000!!! Again with NO CONSENT. They done this, and it was admitted to me on the phone by them, because they seen one of my previous quotes was for 20,000 miles (this was auto filled by a comparison website due to my last year’s insurance requirements). But after i noticed the mistake i amended the quote and changed it to 10,000 miles as i don’t drive as much anymore for many reasons. So because of this they tried to accuse me of doing more miles and filling out incorrect information, so took it upon themselves to add more miles to my policy without consent! There was an email sent out to me regarding sending proof of no claims, which i done and it was all verified, but i missed the tiny part of the email at the bottom that said ‘please can you contact us to confirm some details over the phone.’ They said this was to discuss the mileage situation before they made the changes, but since i never got back to them down to a genuine mistake of my own, they decided to take matters into their own hands and actually amend my policy without asking me?!?! Instead of actually trying to contact me again via email or even better via phone call?? That’s just one of the issues i’ve had with the company since joining 3 months ago but i can honestly say they are the biggest con insurance companies out there. Constantly trying to rip customers off to make more money. STAY AWAY! Reviewed on: 19th August 2022

Will take every penny they can - even if the insurance period HASN'T STARTED

Forced into selling my car after taking out insurance. Was due to start a gew days later and asked to cancel. £50 charge... no debates - refused to waive or partially waive. No point going to people who see you as a piggy bank. Reading up, they also charge ludicrous mid-term change costs... just avoid. Their online staff were fairly nice, however useless. Reviewed on: 19th August 2022

Con artists

Was told if I wanted to ever cancel my policy it would be £50. Somehow turned into £168! Avoid!!!! Reviewed on: 18th August 2022

Worst company in the last 7 years

They increase my policy without a reason Reviewed on: 18th August 2022

worst company! avoid her!

I got a quote at £ 70 then they asked for pre-insurance papers and raised me to £ 120 a month! they don't reply to the e-mail, you can't get along with them, it's just stealings! Reviewed on: 18th August 2022

Terrible

choose 1st Central though a comparison site...which my details were already input in, the price was good...they asked for proof of NCD which I received from my previous insurer as an email which I forwarded. A few weeks later I received an email stating my account was over £500 in arrears ( original quote £314 which I'd paid in full) so I rang and rang to be told they didnt accept emails but needed a letter headed PDF as proof, my previous insurance company had never been asked for this by any other insurance company but did it. Thought that was it but received another email, I was in arrears for £270..this time it was my job title (I have 2 job titles and they don't appear together in a drop down box, but I work in education), ring, ring, ring again sorted, told I owe nothing...had an email to say I owe nothing...then got an email asking for £61...£50 of which was admin....rung again and again...got a bit shouty but paid £11 after standing my ground on the admin fee, told all sorted.....2 weeks on another email...want my driving licence front and back and a code from the government website to review it, I'm now sat here waiting for another email to arrive telling me I'm in arrears again after reviewing my licence (never had a point on it). 1st Central are awful, their customer service are arrogant and aggressive, if you don't stand your ground, produce evidence of communication they will rinse you. I have both my car and house insure which I would cancel but I pay upfront and they give you very little back. I will never ever use them again and certainly wouldn't advise anyone else to either. Reviewed on: 18th August 2022

Awful

3 months ago my car was stolen and written off, still not been settled and customer service fob you off with excuse about them waiting for a report from brownsword who are their legal team. Reviewed on: 18th August 2022

Worst insurance company

I added an additional driver and then cancelled before the start date and it’s been over a month and I haven’t been refunded. I’ve contacted them several times and apparently the accounts team ‘haven’t quite got to it’. How much longer do they need!!!! They owe me £486!!!! Reviewed on: 17th August 2022

Poor process, poor communication, poor customer service

Original online quote didn't complete fully on the account setup, but they managed to process the deposit. When I called they said the money had gone somewhere but the online quote had disappeared and I would have to call Customer Services to get a requote (which just happened to be £300 more expensive????). I declined the offer of the insurance policy, naturally, and found one considerably cheaper elsewhere which I took out. Lo and behold! A day later they take the deposit for the "lost" online quote and activate that policy. The sauce of it... without any permission to do so after the conversations and records on their ChatBot as well. Very poor... I would suggest leaving well alone and looking elsewhere. Reviewed on: 17th August 2022

Intimidating and accusatory

Had an issue with the details provided, they had not updated the new details I gave and suggested they should take 50 pounds as an admin fee. I was told my premium was lower by £2.17 but they would charge £2.19 to change the details. Challenged my job title to see if it was accurate and at no point felt like my customer needs were met. AVOID AT ALL COSTS Reviewed on: 17th August 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

Alternative products

Motorbike Insurance
from Lexham 2.20 from 7 reviews
Car insurance
from Admiral 4.74 from 22423 reviews
Car insurance (discontinued)
from Girls Drive Better (inactive company) 1.15 from 9 reviews

Want to see more from 1st Central?

Breakdown cover
from 1st Central 4.44 from 16 reviews
Personal accident
from 1st Central 2.23 from 5 reviews
Home insurance
from 1st Central 0.00 from 0 reviews

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

News, guides and insight from our team

View resource hub