Insurance is often the single biggest running cost for new drivers, sometimes exceeding the value of the car itself. Choosing the right car from the outset can make a genuine difference of £1,000 or more a year. Here are the cheapest cars to insure for new drivers in the UK.
Best Cars for New Driver Insurance
Hyundai i10
The Hyundai i10 is consistently one of the most recommended cars for new drivers, with the base 1.0 litre petrol variant sitting in insurance group 1, the lowest possible. It also benefits from a five star Euro NCAP rating and Hyundai’s five year unlimited mileage warranty.
Volkswagen Up
The Volkswagen Up, with its 1.0 litre engine, comfortably sits in group 1, making it one of the cheapest options on the market while still offering a surprisingly spacious cabin and boot for a car of its size.
SEAT Ibiza
The SEAT Ibiza falls into insurance group 3 in its most common 1.0 litre petrol form, combining low running costs with more style and interior space than many rivals in the same price bracket.
Toyota Aygo X
The Toyota Aygo X blends Toyota’s renowned reliability with genuinely low insurance costs, making it a strong choice for new drivers who want to minimise both breakdown risk and premium costs.
What Makes a Car Cheap to Insure for New Drivers?
- Small, low powered engine: smaller engines are statistically linked to fewer high speed collisions, keeping insurance groups low.
- Strong safety rating: a five star Euro NCAP rating can help offset some of the higher risk associated with inexperienced drivers.
- Good security features: alarms, immobilisers and tracking systems reduce theft risk, which insurers factor into pricing.
- Affordable, widely available parts: common, mainstream models tend to have cheaper repair costs than rare or specialist models.
Other Ways to Reduce Insurance Costs as a New Driver
- Add an experienced named driver such as a parent, which can lower the overall perceived risk on the policy.
- Consider a black box policy, which tracks your driving and can reward safe habits with lower premiums.
- Pay annually rather than monthly where possible, since monthly payments often include additional interest charges.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest car to insure for a 17 year old?
The Hyundai i10 and Volkswagen Up, both in insurance group 1, are consistently among the cheapest options for the youngest and newest drivers.
Does a used car cost less to insure than a new one?
Often yes, since used cars typically have a lower value to insure, though the specific model and insurance group matter more than simply choosing an older car.
Related reading: want to understand the groups themselves? See our guide on car insurance groups explained.
Written by the Apriliapartsbuyer editorial team, covering UK car insurance guides for new drivers.
