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1st Central reviews

1st Central Logo
Rated Poor • 1.84/5

1st Central reviews

Verified business Last reviewed within 7 days
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  • 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 1,002 product reviews

Average score of 1.84/5
5 star
12%
4 star
5%
3 star
2%
2 star
2%
1 star
79%
Reviews for 1st Central have trended positively over the past 90 days

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)
Summarised by AI
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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 1002 company reviews • Last reviewed within 7 days

AVOID! Pay a little more with a genuine company

Car insurance • 28th September 2026

Horrendous insurance company. I made a genuine mistake with a date then 7 weeks down the line got told I had to pay ANOTHER £144... Horrendous insurance company. I made a genuine mistake with a date then 7 weeks down the line got told I had to pay ANOTHER £144 or my insurance would be cancelled. The date would have made zero difference to the the original quote, yes an amendment fee but not £144. Subsequently I won't be renewing any of the cars in the household with Ist central. TOP TIP the cheapest quote isn't always the best! Certainly not in this case. Read more Read less

{"display":"Michael ","full_name":"Michael ","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
Rated Terrible • 1.00/5
Read more product reviews

AVOID TERRIBLE SERVICE

Car insurance • 23rd September 2026

AVOID! Never again would I choose this company. Apparently I had made a mistake in putting the wrong month in when my son passed his... AVOID! Never again would I choose this company. Apparently I had made a mistake in putting the wrong month in when my son passed his driving test, this increased by £1,500 even though it was down as him having no NCD anyway. I went on the chat and asked to cancel the policy as I could get it cheaper elsewhere by £1,000 at least. Being at work is hard to call so tried whats app and chat on their website, the site constantly freezes then you get a message saying they closed after waiting hours in a queue. Sometimes I was position 194 so was so frustrating to the receive this message after such a long wait. Finally getting through, I was told that I was insured until 21st September and need not do anything, if I did not contact them further they would automatically cancel the policy. This morning I received an email to say they will be taking out my new payments of £352 a month, it's a corsa not a Lambroghini! Anyway here we are again hours on chat try to sort the problem out, currently 2nd in the queue for the past 50 minutes Read more Read less

{"display":"Mrs l","full_name":"Mrs l","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
Rated Terrible • 1.00/5
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Reply from 1st Central
Hi, Thank you for your feedback and for choosing 1st Central. 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 review to help improve our services. Emily
24th September 2026
1st Central
  • 1.00/5

    BIGGEST SCAM COMPANY AROUND QUOTE £1700 FOR INSURANC...

    BIGGEST SCAM COMPANY AROUND QUOTE £1700 FOR INSURANCE SO I PAY IN FULL PROVIDE PROOF OF MY NO CLAIMS BONUS THEY THEN PHONE AND DEMAND... BIGGEST SCAM COMPANY AROUND QUOTE £1700 FOR INSURANCE SO I PAY IN FULL PROVIDE PROOF OF MY NO CLAIMS BONUS THEY THEN PHONE AND DEMAND A EXTRA £900 FOR THE INSURANCE AS THEY WONT ACCEPT NO CLAIMS BONUS THEY THEN DEMAND YOU PAY IT IN FULL OR THEY WILL CANCEL YOUR INSURANCE WHILE CHARGING YOU £258 FOR THE PLEASURE OF THEM CANCELLING IT DON’T GO NEAR THEM I WILL BE TAKING IT FURTHER!! Read more Read less

    {"display":"Peter K","full_name":"Peter K","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
    Car insurance
    Peter K 18th September 2026
  • 1.00/5

    Impossible to cancel online, then hit with £111 fees.

    I took out a £272 annual policy and decided to cancel it shortly after. 1st Central advertises that you can cancel online, but the button... I took out a £272 annual policy and decided to cancel it shortly after. 1st Central advertises that you can cancel online, but the button was completely missing from my account portal. Because I couldn't cancel online, I was baffled; I spent ages trying to get through on the phone. By the time I finally reached someone, I was past the 14-day cooling-off period, and they slapped me with £111.96 in fees for just 20 days of cover! They charged a £50 "setup fee" (for a policy I set up myself online), a £50 "cancellation fee" (to click a button on their end), and charged me the full year's £22.47 Legal Cover. Charging 41% of an annual premium for 20 days of cover because your own website is broken is an absolute disgrace. Avoid this company! Their cheap headline prices hide massive hidden cancellation penalties. Read more Read less

    {"display":"Alexander Tarnok","full_name":"Alexander Tarnok","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/uploads\/avatars\/users\/1758861.png"}}'s avatar
    Car insurance
    Alexander Tarnok 17th September 2026
  • 1.00/5

    Cancelled policy whilst I was on holiday

    I signed myself up and my son as a named driver with the app and sensor. We then went on a family holiday for 4... I signed myself up and my son as a named driver with the app and sensor. We then went on a family holiday for 4 weeks travelling around Asia. Due to the app not understanding why we were not in the UK everything said we hadn't signed up properly and they cancelled our policy whilst we were away. I couldn't get hold of anyone to sort this out and I am still trying to speak to someone as they are now charging me £95 for their stupid insufficient app. Read more Read less

    {"display":"Sarah Brindley","full_name":"Sarah Brindley","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/uploads\/avatars\/users\/1757978.png"}}'s avatar
    Car insurance
    Sarah Brindley 11th September 2026
  • 5.00/5

    I have rac joint to my policy, had a breakdown at ho...

    I have rac joint to my policy, had a breakdown at home and the rac arrived very quickly.

    {"display":"Leon E","full_name":"Leon E","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
    Car insurance
    Leon E 23rd August 2026
  • 5.00/5

    Easy to set up the plan

    Easy to set up the plan which I did via Compare the Market last year. My renewal this year was cheaper than anything else on... Easy to set up the plan which I did via Compare the Market last year. My renewal this year was cheaper than anything else on the comparison sites so I went ahead and renewed. I haven't needed to claim for can't comment on the service. Read more Read less

    {"display":"Nikki Inkster","full_name":"Nikki Inkster","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
  • 5.00/5

    1st Central and the car repairers were excellent

    Had a crash, 1st Central and the car repairers were excellent. All fixed now.

    {"display":"Nigel C","full_name":"Nigel C","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
    Car insurance
    Nigel C 20th August 2026
  • 5.00/5

    1st Central have been amazing -they are clear and co...

    1st Central have been amazing -they are clear and consise with their information sharing, they have made everything really simple and easy and its the... 1st Central have been amazing -they are clear and consise with their information sharing, they have made everything really simple and easy and its the first car insurance ive ever had that reduced on auto renewal meaning I have not had to shop about for cheaper prices. Also suffering from ADHD combined with Autism i struggle to retain information, break down large overloaded information and remember things but 1st Central made everything easy with a simple easy to use app where everything is contained and accessible to make managing my insurance so much simpler. Read more Read less

    {"display":"Nikki A","full_name":"Nikki A","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
    Car insurance
    Nikki A 20th August 2026
  • 4.00/5

    They have been good overall and were great sorting i...

    They have been good overall and were great sorting issues after I had been in a collision

    {"display":"Laura W","full_name":"Laura W","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
    Car insurance
    Laura W 20th August 2026
  • 5.00/5

    A great choice for your car insurance needs.

    A great choice for your car insurance needs. Easy to deal with and great value for money products. Easy to use app , I would... A great choice for your car insurance needs. Easy to deal with and great value for money products. Easy to use app , I would definitely recommend this company if your looking to renew your car insurance. Read more Read less

    {"display":"Michael Walker ","full_name":"Michael Walker ","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar

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