There’s nothing like the thrill of passing your driving test, but for many new drivers, the cost of insuring their first car can feel like a real roadblock. Looking at sky-high insurance quotes can be deflating; however, there are some budget-friendly cars out there that are perfect for new drivers.
At driveJohnson’s driving school, we’ve been helping learners pass their tests for over 20 years, and we’re often asked for our advice on the cheapest first cars. To help, we’ve put together a list of the top ten cheapest cars to insure for new drivers in the UK. These include the top 5 best manual cars for new drivers and 5 best automatic cars for new drivers, so that whichever transmission you prefer, you have some options to consider.
The factors affecting insurance costs for new drivers
A quick glance at any insurance comparison website will show that insurance premiums for new drivers can vary widely. Every insurance company considers certain factors when calculating the likelihood of claims, and therefore how much they should charge a policyholder. Knowing what these factors are and how they influence insurance prices can help you decide which car to choose.
The main factors affecting your car insurance quotes will be:
- Age and experience:Younger drivers, particularly those aged 17-25, are deemed higher risk by most insurance companies. This is because they have had less experience and, statistically, they are more likely to be involved in an accident.
- Location:Unfortunately, where you live can affect your insurance quote. Living or commuting in an area with a high traffic accident rate will also flag you as a higher risk for an insurance company.
- Engine size and power:This will have a large impact on your insurance premium. Insurance companies consider smaller engines easier to control for less experienced drivers; bigger or turbocharged engines, which are faster, are considered riskier.
- Car value and repair cost: Cars that cost more to repair cost more to insure. Choosing a car that’s durable and cheap to fix will significantly reduce your insurance premium.
- Insurance group: Insurance companies group every car into an insurance group. This usually ranges from 1 (the cheapest to insure) to 50+ (the most expensive). These groups are assigned depending on size, power, and the cost to repair. Buying a car in a lower insurance group can really help reduce your insurance costs.
What to consider when choosing a cheap car
As you can see from the above, the cheapest cars to insure for new drivers are those which:
- Are part of a low insurance group
- Have small engines
- Cost less to repair
- Are durable
The following vehicles meet all of these criteria.
The best manual cars for new drivers
Manual cars are mainly cheaper to insure than automatic vehicles, because they are often cheaper to repair, cheaper to purchase, tend to be in lower insurance groups, and are considered lower risk by insurers. Therefore, if you are looking for the cheapest to insure, a manual car is the best option.
Here are five of the cheapest cars to insure for new drivers with manual gearboxes:
- Hyundai i10 manual: This car is very popular amongst new drivers. It is small, with low running costs, and is easy to manoeuvre, handle, and park. It has a 1.0-litre engine and a low insurance group, making it a cheap choice when it comes to insurance costs.
- Kia Picanto manual: Another small 1.0-litre city car. It is known for being reliable, durable, and easy to drive. It is a great, affordable choice for new drivers because of its low insurance and running costs.
- Skoda Fabia manual: Has a non-turbo small 1.0-litre model that falls into low insurance groups, with a bit more space for passengers and luggage without increasing costs significantly.
- Toyota Aygo X manual: This model is compact and reliable, with a small engine. The low cost of running and insuring this car means that it is a popular choice for new drivers.
- Volkswagen Polo manual: This is a slightly larger car than the city cars listed above. However, it is still easy to drive for newly passed drivers, and the 1.0-litre version is a cheap version to both maintain and insure.
The best automatic cars for new drivers
While automatic cars can sometimes have higher insurance premiums than their manual counterparts, there are still plenty of affordable choices out there. Here are our top five automatic models for you to check out:
- Hyundai i10 automatic: This model has all the benefits of the manual version as well as the ease of an automatic gearbox. Though it is slightly more expensive than manual models, it is still one of the cheapest cars to insure for new drivers.
- Dacia Sandero automatic: This 1.0-litre car is slightly larger than some of the other cars listed here, but it remains in low insurance groups. It has more interior room, but is still easy to drive, whilst being cheap to run and insure.
- Kia Picanto automatic:Again, this car is on both our top automatic and manual lists. Its affordable running and insurance costs make it a popular choice for new drivers in either transmission.
- Toyota Yaris automatic:This car is popular with new drivers because of its reliability. It has a reputation as a dependable model with low running costs. It is also in low insurance groups, making it affordable to insure.
- Volkswagen up! automatic:Automatic versions of this car are among the cheapest cars to insure for new drivers due to their small engine size.
Why choosing the right first car matters
Choosing your first car is important, not just for financial reasons, but also for your own well-being. Having a reliable first car can increase your driving confidence, build good driving habits, and help you to feel safe on the roads. The right car can make challenging situations on the road, like city traffic or long journeys, feel much more manageable, giving you the positive freedom and independence all new drivers look forward to, rather than a stressful drain on your finances.
Final takeaway – choose your first car wisely
At driveJohnson’s, we strongly believe that every learner should have the best start to their driving journey so that they can build great driving skills for life. The above cars are ideal as they are not just affordable to insure and maintain, but they are also easy and practical to drive. Starting out in a car like these ones can help you feel confident behind the wheel and set you up for safe and stress-free driving for many years to come.
