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1st Central reviews

1st Central Logo
Rated Poor 1.54/5

1st Central reviews

Verified businesses always have up to date contact details and can respond to reviews.

Verified business
Last reviewed within 7 days
  • FCA approved and regulated
    FCA approved and regulated
  • Award winning organisation
    Award winning organisation
  • Fully digital service with no in-person branches
    Fully digital service with no in-person branches
  • On-line application and approval process
    On-line application and approval process

Review summary

People rate this company as Poor based on 924 product reviews

Average score of 1.54/5
5 star
12%
4 star
5%
3 star
2%
2 star
2%
1 star
79%
Reviews for 1st Central have trended negatively over the past 90 days

Latest positive rating

5/5

Found you online,needed a cheap quote,you certainly...

Found you online,needed a cheap quote,you certainly provided it.Thank you

Car insurance
Verified source 3rd June 2025

Latest negative rating

1/5

It feels dishonest and manipulative!! Avoid them!!

I initially received a quote over the phone, which I agreed to, and even got a confirmation email with the agreed amount. Later, I received... I initially received a quote over the phone, which I agreed to, and even got a confirmation email with the agreed amount. Later, I received another email saying my monthly payment would be higher than what was agreed. I had to call and go through a long, frustrating conversation just to get them to honor the original quote. Weeks later, while I was on holiday, I received another email asking to confirm some details. I called and was told my premium would increase by £150 per year because I hadn’t updated my job title after a recent promotion. I called again, spoke to a manager, and explained the entire situation — including the previous attempt to increase my payments — but was met with no support. The manager simply repeated company “procedures” and showed no willingness to help. This company clearly tries to take advantage of customers by increasing premiums after agreements have already been made. It feels dishonest and manipulative. I’m extremely disappointed and will never use their services again. Avoid at all costs! Read more Read less

{"display":"Ewelina S","full_name":"Ewelina S","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/uploads\/avatars\/users\/1245774.png"}}'s avatar
Car insurance
Ewelina S 17th June 2025

About 1st Central

1st Central is an award-winning, UK insurance company.

Launched in 2008 in Haywards Heath, today 1st Central policies currently protect more than 1.4m people across a range of products. You can get a quote and manage your policy online.

1st Central provide car and home insurance policies. You can also get breakdown cover and personal accident cover.

1st Central at a glance

Contact details

Phone
0333 043 2085
Social media

Reviews for 1st Central

Showing 11 of 924 company reviews Last reviewed within 7 days

It feels dishonest and manipulative!! Avoid them!!

Car insurance 17th June 2025

I initially received a quote over the phone, which I agreed to, and even got a confirmation email with the agreed amount. Later, I received... I initially received a quote over the phone, which I agreed to, and even got a confirmation email with the agreed amount. Later, I received another email saying my monthly payment would be higher than what was agreed. I had to call and go through a long, frustrating conversation just to get them to honor the original quote. Weeks later, while I was on holiday, I received another email asking to confirm some details. I called and was told my premium would increase by £150 per year because I hadn’t updated my job title after a recent promotion. I called again, spoke to a manager, and explained the entire situation — including the previous attempt to increase my payments — but was met with no support. The manager simply repeated company “procedures” and showed no willingness to help. This company clearly tries to take advantage of customers by increasing premiums after agreements have already been made. It feels dishonest and manipulative. I’m extremely disappointed and will never use their services again. Avoid at all costs! Read more Read less

Rated Terrible 1/5
Read more product reviews
Reply from 1st Central
Hi Ewelina, 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
18th June 2025
1st Central

Will Never Insure with 1st Central Again

Car insurance 16th June 2025

I’ve been a loyal customer of 1st Central for nearly four years. Never missed a payment, never made a single claim. You’d think that would... I’ve been a loyal customer of 1st Central for nearly four years. Never missed a payment, never made a single claim. You’d think that would count for something. Unfortunately, it doesn’t. I recently sold my car and cancelled the policy. It was my first time paying monthly for a full-year policy, and I was shocked to find out that cancelling halfway through the month — a month I’d already paid for — resulted in a £48.53 cancellation fee with no refund for the unused time. Apparently, paying monthly is actually a finance agreement, not a true month-by-month policy. It felt misleading, and left a bitter taste. Worse still, when I changed cars and tried to insure my new Land Rover Discovery, 1st Central outright refused to cover it, claiming it’s a vehicle frequently targeted by thieves. What’s the point of car insurance if the moment you actually need to insure a valuable or high-risk vehicle, they simply say no? I’ve had enough. I will never insure with 1st Central again. I expected a fair, professional service — instead I was left paying fees, denied cover, and questioning the entire point of their offering. Do your homework before choosing them. Just because they’re cheap up front doesn’t mean they’re fair in the long run. Read more Read less

Rated Terrible 1/5
Read more product reviews
Reply from 1st Central
Hi Naser, 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. We’ll use your comments to help improve our service. Ashley
18th June 2025
1st Central
  • 5/5

    Found you online,needed a cheap quote,you certainly...

    Found you online,needed a cheap quote,you certainly provided it.Thank you

    Car insurance
    Verified source 3rd June 2025
  • 1/5

    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... 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 bank took out a dispute with them on my behalf giving them 28 days to reply. They did not reply and my bank paid my money back to me. I am now being pestered by them by every means, text messages, emails, day in day out … now they have started calling me on my phone. Their messages are threatening me with legal action which is freaking me out as I’m 75 and never been in any trouble. I’m glad I have seen through other people here what kind of company they are but I don’t know how to get out of the situation. I did send an email to one of their addresses they give out but it was ignored. Read more Read less

    {"display":"Joan C","full_name":"Joan C","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
    Car insurance
    Joan C 3rd June 2025
  • 1/5

    Shambles!

    My insurance increased from £780 to £1080 after another year of no claims. Obviously, I then wanted to cancel my policy. I spoke to the... My insurance increased from £780 to £1080 after another year of no claims. Obviously, I then wanted to cancel my policy. I spoke to the online chat where I cancelled my policy and I received a confirmation email for this. £1080 was then taken from my account a few days later suggesting my policy was being renewed, even though I confirmed I was not renewing a few days prior! Having spoken to customer services, it will take up to 10 working days to get this money back. Absolutely shambolic. I will never use this company again and I will ensure all close family and friends do not use 1st central either. Disgusting. Read more Read less

    {"display":"Tyler M","full_name":"Tyler M","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
    Car insurance
    Tyler M 1st June 2025
  • 1/5

    DO NOT USE THIS INSURER

    DO NOT USE THIS INSURER (please see photos) On the 10th November 2023. 1stcentral incorrectly filed an at fault claim on my record costing me... DO NOT USE THIS INSURER (please see photos) On the 10th November 2023. 1stcentral incorrectly filed an at fault claim on my record costing me all my NCB. On the 7th may 2025 (over a year later) 1stcentral admitted fault and reinstated all my NCB. Now as you can imagine I was left out of pocket on all my future premiums due to 1stcentrals error. I got in contact with my current insurer and provided 1st central with the exact figures of how much out of pocket I was left due to having my NCB withheld. THEY REFUSED TO REFUND ME. Take this as a warning. Sean. Read more Read less

    {"display":"Sean M","full_name":"Sean M","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/uploads\/avatars\/users\/1218994.png"}}'s avatar
    Car insurance
    Sean M 23rd May 2025
  • 1/5

    racist management full of hate if you not English

    Worse comapy ever used insurance cancelled over wrong date of vehicle purchase by accident after 15 years on insurance, if you want decent insurance don't use these company and arrogant staff

  • 1/5

    Avoid.weekend direct debits

    Avoid. They will take direct debit even on Saturday night. Mine failed on Saturday night and I got message I’m going to be charged £15... Avoid. They will take direct debit even on Saturday night. Mine failed on Saturday night and I got message I’m going to be charged £15 extra for missed payment. I try to pay same day literally 5 min later and it’s already has £15 charge on. Money grabbing. My monthly payment is only £24 and to get £15 penalty is too much!!!! Read more Read less

  • 1/5

    Very bad and costly experience with 1st Central

    I am currently having an extremely disappointing and frustrating experience with 1st Central Car Insurance. After renewing my policy, I forgot to update the employment... I am currently having an extremely disappointing and frustrating experience with 1st Central Car Insurance. After renewing my policy, I forgot to update the employment status of an additional driver on my policy (from employed to unemployed). This simple change has resulted in an exorbitant charge of £160, including a £50 administration fee. What’s worse, this adjustment took my total policy cost to over £400—far more than I anticipated. Before renewing, I had thought their pricing was reasonable, but I now regret my decision. A quick comparison on MoneySupermarket showed that adding an unemployed driver typically doesn’t make a significant difference to the overall cost of insurance, with similar policies starting around £220 in total. I raised a complaint about the excessive charges, but their response was simply that they had followed proper procedures—no acknowledgment of how unreasonable this situation felt. Adding insult to injury, I can save around £50 by canceling the policy altogether and switching to another provider. However, even this would leave me out of pocket, as I would only receive a refund of £88 after all their deductions. It’s an entirely Kafkaesque experience and one I wouldn’t wish on anyone. I would strongly caution others to carefully consider alternatives before choosing 1st Central. Their pricing structure and customer service left me frustrated and out of pocket. Read more Read less

  • 1/5

    £400 to change address!!

    Following a change in circumstances I’m trying to change address on my car insurance policy for which 1st Central are trying to charge me £400!!... Following a change in circumstances I’m trying to change address on my car insurance policy for which 1st Central are trying to charge me £400!! I compared this amount with a new quote for the same details as on the policy with the same details but the new address which came out at cheaper! Daylight robbery!! Read more Read less

    {"display":"Marc W","full_name":"Marc W","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
    Car insurance
    Marc W 13th May 2025
  • 1/5

    Awful company- avoid at all costs

    Awful company as the reviews have been saying. Don't believe trust pilot reviews. There is clearly some sort of distinct issue with recognising no claims... Awful company as the reviews have been saying. Don't believe trust pilot reviews. There is clearly some sort of distinct issue with recognising no claims bonuses. In the fact that apparently my own spouse and I both had an accident on her insurance on the same day whilst we were both driving at the same time which is physically impossible. Despite the fact that all of the information was clearly displayed on the form from her insurance company Read more Read less

    {"display":"M H","full_name":"M H","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/uploads\/avatars\/users\/1216785.png"}}'s avatar
    Car insurance
    M H 12th May 2025

    Products from 1st Central

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