Cheapest First Cars For New Drivers

From insurance group 1

When you think of cars that are popular amongst newer drivers, the Volkswagen Polo is likely to come to mind. Much loved for its strong build quality and recognisable design, Volkswagen’s offering holds its own against rivals such as the Toyota Yaris and the Audi A1 in the widely competitive supermini segment.

The cheapest models to insure are those with the 1.0-litre petrol engine, of which there are a few variants to choose from. Used ‘S’ and ‘SE’ models offer everything you need but we’d recommend looking at a ‘beats’ model as they provide more fashionable styling and an uprated sound system.

While Polo models in insurance group 1 are equipped with an engine that only offers a performance figure of between 65bhp and 85bhp, they compensate for this by being highly economical, with 55mpg+ being more than achievable. Higher-powered, turbocharged variants are also available but expect to pay more for your insurance if you opt for one of those models.

From insurance group 3

With its retro looks and cheaper price tag, the Fiat 500 is popular among newer drivers for a variety of reasons.

As a nimble city car, squeezing into tight parking spaces and zipping in and out of urban traffic is a breeze, taking much of the stress out of daily driving. It’s also one of the most characteristic options you’ll find in this segment, with a variety of colour combinations to consider when searching the used market.

Having been around for over a decade, there’s a variety of used Fiat 500 examples that offer low insurance costs, but it’s the 1.0-litre mild hybrid ‘Hey Google’ models that are the cheapest, residing in insurance group 1. However, models with this powertrain are pretty rare, so it’s worth considering the 1.2-litre ‘Pop’ (insurance group 5) as an alternative.

From insurance group 1

Sharing the same platform as the Volkswagen up! and the Skoda Citigo, the Seat Mii is a dependable city car that’s also fun to drive. Originally available with 59bhp or 74bhp 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engines, the Mii went electric-only in 2019.

The 1.0-litre S and Ecomotive versions fall within insurance group 1, so it’s those models you need to look out for if getting the lowest possible premium is your goal. However, most models also sit in relatively low insurance groups.

In addition to low insurance costs, practical benefits of the Mii include £20 road tax, 62mpg fuel consumption and 251 litres of boot space. Although compact, it easily fits four adults inside, and with some clever interior design elements, the Mii feels surprisingly comfortable and spacious, particularly in the front.

From insurance group 15

Used electric cars can often be more expensive than petrol or diesel alternatives primarily due to their relative rarity and higher cost when new. However, there are plenty of great used electric cars for new drivers to consider that don’t cost a fortune to insure, one of which is the Renault Zoe.

As one of the first dedicated mass-market EVs available, the Zoe has proved popular over the years, particularly amongst urban drivers. With an all-electric range of up to 239 miles (depending on the model variant), it makes light work of the daily commute and is fairly comfortable on longer stints too.

The cheapest used Zoe models to insure will come in the Expression trim (insurance group 15), offering useful tech such as cruise control and a Bluetooth voice control system, but there are various models to consider that won’t cost much more to insure.

From insurance group 1

The Skoda Citigo is smart, stylish and surprisingly spacious. Practical and cheap to drive, its simple design feels grown-up and timeless. Sharing the majority of its parts with the Volkswagen up! and the SEAT Mii, it shares many of the same benefits as the latter but with a focus on value for money.

With two adults sitting in the back, it can store up to 251 litres in the boot — or if you fold the rear seats down, it can pack an impressive 959 litres.

All of the available trims for the Skoda Citigo sit within groups 1-4. Even better, there are multiple trims to choose from in insurance group 1, such as the 1.0 MPI SE or the 1.0-litre MPI Sport.

From insurance group 1

Longer than the original Ka and with five doors, the Ford Ka+ comfortably holds four adults and 270 litres of luggage capacity (or 849 litres with the rear seats folded). Available with either a 1.2-litre petrol engine or a 1.5-litre diesel engine, it’s an affordable car that’s quiet to drive and well-equipped inside.

Only available with a 5-speed manual gearbox, the KA+ is easy to drive with light steering that makes it easy to manoeuvre around town and in supermarket car parks. The interior is a pleasant place to spend time thanks to its decent-quality cabin and easy-to-use controls that are well laid out.

Our recommended trim for new drivers needing the cheapest possible car insurance is the Ka+ Studio 1.2 Ti-VCT, which falls into group 1.

From insurance group 3

It’s hard not to love the cutesy Fiat Panda. It’s a car which has been central to the Italian brand for decades but, in more recent times, has evolved to become even more efficient and cheap-to-run. It’s still small, too, so it can be great for those who don’t feel all that comfortable parking yet its range of peppy and efficient engines deliver a good mix of performance and fuel-saving attributes.

Available in a variety of eye-catching colours, the Panda is a great car for all kinds of jobs and it won’t be too expensive to repair and run in general, either. Remember, you can also get the Panda in a more rugged ‘Cross’ specification which throws in chunky bumpers and a slight rise in ride height for more ground clearance. These versions will cost slightly more to insure, however.

From insurance group 1

The Citroen C1 has all of those key attributes that you want from a cheap-to-run car. It’s got a small engine and, because of that, it’s inexpensive to insure and maintain. Plus, with small wheels and chunky plastic bumpers, it shouldn’t cost the earth to repair should you have the odd car park ding.

While the C1 may not offer the sportiest of driving experiences it’s more than nippy enough for around-town driving while its compact dimensions make it an absolute breeze to park. The C1 is available in a variety of funky colours, too, and you can even find certain versions with a fold-back fabric roof – though expect these models to sit in a slightly higher insurance group.

From insurance group 1

The Hyundai i10 is a small city car with plenty of space and equipment, providing new drivers with excellent value for money as a used car.

The design of the i10 is sharp and stylish, and many versions are fitted with helpful technology like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It can also hold its own on motorways, proving to be surprisingly quiet and refined at higher speeds.

Thanks to the 3-cylinder petrol engine, the i10 can travel up to 467 miles on one tank of fuel with an average fuel economy of 53.3 mpg. To get a version that falls into insurance group 1, you’ll want to look out for the 1.0 Premium Auto or the 1.0 Advance Auto models.

From insurance group 2

As one of the most stylish options available in the supermini segment, the Renault Clio goes toe-to-toe with the likes of the popular Ford Fiesta and Vauxhall Corsa.

However, much like its counterparts, the Clio has also long been a go-to for new drivers thanks to its inexpensive running costs, chic aesthetics and well-equipped nature. It’s more practical than many of its rivals too, offering an impressive 391-litre boot space that’s more than suited to the daily lives of most.

Insurance costs for a used Renault Clio will vary depending on which variant you opt for. The examples with the lowest insurance group are those with 64bhp or 74bhp engines. Despite their low power figures, these models still feel nimble and are highly economical, with over 50mpg being easily achievable.