1st Central reviews
Wondering how this rating works?
This score is generated using our own unique scoring method. It combines the 1-5 star ratings left by verified reviewers, when those reviews were submitted and other meaningful data from the reviews.
Across our website, we use the same consistent method and scores which update in real time as new reviews come in.
1st Central reviews
Verified businesses always have up to date contact details and can respond to reviews.
-
FCA approved and regulated
-
Award winning organisation
-
Fully digital service with no in-person branches
-
On-line application and approval process
Review summary
People rate this company as Poor based on 989 product reviews
Wondering how this rating works?
This score is generated using our own unique scoring method. It combines the 1-5 star ratings left by verified reviewers, when those reviews were submitted and other meaningful data from the reviews.
Across our website, we use the same consistent method and scores which update in real time as new reviews come in.
1st Central’s car insurance often starts cheap but quickly piles on fees and hikes premiums after the cooling-off period. Many found claims handling slow and unhelpful, with poor communication and rude staff adding to the frustration. While some praised the easy setup and low initial price, the hidden charges and terrible customer service left most regretting their choice.
Positive themes
-
1st Central’s car insurance is easy to set up with competitive initial prices. (24 mentions)
Negative themes
-
They hit you with unexpected admin and cancellation fees after sign-up. (24 mentions)
-
Claims handling is slow and poor with little communication or support. (8 mentions)
-
Customer service is rude or unhelpful; calls often dropped or ignored. (8 mentions)
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
Reviews for 1st Central
Showing 11 of 989 company reviews • Last reviewed within 14 days
Horrendous! Cheaper for a reason.... what a scam!!!
Horrendous! After 3 weeks into my insurance with them, they contacted me to say they had increased my mileage a year as they have access... Horrendous! After 3 weeks into my insurance with them, they contacted me to say they had increased my mileage a year as they have access to all previous the data from price comparison sites and on one previous quote I had put in a higher mileage. Then they rejected my no claims certificate and said I owed them almost another £900 - upon calling, I was then interrogated on the telephone for a whole hour as to my daily habits, I cancelled and went with a reputable insurer. After 30 years of driving, never known anything like it! Read more Read less
1st Central
Absolute scam. Avoid this awful company.
This company has been absolutely awful to use and has caused my family so much unnecessary stress. It almost feels like a scam at this... This company has been absolutely awful to use and has caused my family so much unnecessary stress. It almost feels like a scam at this point with how they manipulate information just to clear files off their desks. The accident happened in mid-November. My car was written off the exact same day and picked up less than a week later, but dealing with this company since then has been a total nightmare.Their handlers completely mismanaged the file from the start. They explicitly told us it was our fault, entirely ignoring our independent witnesses and evidence that was heavily stacked against the third party. Even the person handling our case openly admitted to me that the other driver was reckless, yet they were still going to put us fully at fault. I had to fight them, kick up a huge fuss, and launch a formal complaint before they finally investigated, admitted their initial outcome was completely wrong, apologised, and corrected the case to non-fault over a month later. After that failure, their engineering team rushed through a lazy total loss write-off based on automated algorithms. I was completely kept in the dark; I was never given the option of salvaging the vehicle, and nothing was properly explained to me at all. It was just dictated to me that the car was being written off with zero transparency.I have now received a Dartford Crossing charge for the vehicle and discovered it was auctioned off in January and passed a full UK MOT check in February. This explicitly proves the vehicle was completely, safely, and economically repairable. We had a bit over a year left of payments on that car, after which our long-term plan was to buy a second car for our family. Because of their errors, we are now trapped paying for a replacement vehicle, unable to afford a second car in the near future, and completely blocked from looking for one now as we should have been. I am warning other people to stay far away from this awful company. Absolutely do not use them, this has been months of stress, they have consisitently misinformed me and they are scammers! I am so sick of the constant stress and manipulation of this company Read more Read less
1st Central
Products from 1st Central
Car insurance
by 1st CentralWith 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...
Car insurance
by 1st CentralWith 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...
Breakdown cover
by 1st Central1st Central offer breakdown cover, provided by the RAC. You can choose from five levels of cover: RAC Roadside Only, RAC Roadside + Recovery, RAC Roadside + At Home, RAC...
Breakdown cover
by 1st Central1st Central offer breakdown cover, provided by the RAC. You can choose from five levels of cover: RAC Roadside Only, RAC Roadside + Recovery, RAC Roadside + At Home, RAC...
Personal accident
by 1st Central1st Central Personal Accident Cover provides protection for anyone in the car, including the policyholder, named drivers and any passengers. Cover is up to £60,000 for people over 16 and...
Personal accident
by 1st Central1st Central Personal Accident Cover provides protection for anyone in the car, including the policyholder, named drivers and any passengers. Cover is up to £60,000 for people over 16 and...
Home insurance
by 1st Central1st Central home insurance provides cover for contents, buildings or both combined. You can add additional cover to a 1st Central home insurance policy including accidental damage, home emergency cover,...
Home insurance
by 1st Central1st Central home insurance provides cover for contents, buildings or both combined. You can add additional cover to a 1st Central home insurance policy including accidental damage, home emergency cover,...
We are Smart Money People
Join 2 million active users who make better financial decisions with the power of reviews.
Create an accountProtecting trust by verifying companies and reviewers
The only site that specialises in financial services
Providing everyday people with a voice