Cheapest cars to insure for new drivers 2024
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So, you've passed your driving test. Congratulations! May you enjoy many years of safe and happy motoring behind the wheel.
With the pleasantries out of the way, it's time for some bad news: car insurance is expensive, especially for new drivers. If you thought passing your theory test and perfecting the reverse parallel parking manoeuvre were challenging, wait until you face the horror of trying to find affordable cover. Be prepared to dig deep or ask your parents for help.
The good news is that the cost of insurance will come down when you've been driving for a couple of years – especially if you stay out of trouble. Which is why it makes sense to find a small car that sits in a low insurance group. Pick the right one and you could save hundreds, maybe even thousands of pounds a year.
We've picked 10 new cars that are cheap to insure for new drivers.
Cheapest cars to insure for new drivers
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Volkswagen Polo
The Volkswagen Polo is a great choice for new drivers looking for the cheapest cars to insure. The 80PS 1.0-litre Life model is rated group 3 for car insurance, while even the more powerful 95 1.0-litre TSI slots into group 9. The Polo also has a good array of active safety features, such as autonomous emergency braking, which helps further reduce premiums. Parents will be reassured by the Polo’s excellent Euro NCAP crash-test score, and the fact it is such an easy and secure car to drive shouldn’t pose any challenges to new motorists keen to build up their experience on the roads.
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Fiat Panda
The Fiat Panda might be long in the tooth – the city car was launched way back in 2012 – but it's a chic and surprisingly practical alternative to the likes of the Hyundai i10 and Kia Picanto. Its 1.0-litre mild-hybrid petrol engine delivers just 70PS, but thanks to cheap insurance and fuel economy knocking on the door of 60mpg, it's a very affordable car to run. It's also one of just a few cars that are available to buy new for less than £20,000. Just be aware that the Panda was awarded a zero star rating for safety by Euro NCAP.
Ford Fiesta
The Ford Fiesta is a deserved favourite car for new drivers. It is regularly one of Britain’s best-selling new cars, which means there is a huge amount of support and experience out there, helping keep repair costs low. This is factored into car insurance premiums – as is the just-enough performance of variants such as the 1.1-litre Ti-VCT. This engine falls into group 7 for car insurance, with the more powerful 1.0-litre EcoBoost also being sensibly-priced. The familiar Fiesta is an easy car to drive – and a fun one – while the latest versions have electronic safety aids that support new drivers if the road gets slippery, or they need to make a sudden manoeuvre.
Toyota Aygo X
Fancy a city car with a faint hint of SUV design? The Toyota Aygo X is one of the funkiest small cars you can buy, with bold styling and a range of different trim levels. All versions are powered by a 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine which can be mated to a manual gearbox or a CVT automatic, with prices starting from around £16,000. This makes it one of Britain's cheapest new cars, with the bonus of Toyota's excellent reputation for reliability. Thanks to insurance group ratings of 5-7, the Aygo X will be a cheap car to insure for new drivers.
Hyundai i10
The compact Hyundai i10 is a popular city car that new drivers will be drawn to, courtesy of its stylish lines and youthful detailing. Being a compact car, it’s very easy to drive, and a breeze to park, while its small engines mean it benefits from low insurance groups. The affordable i10 is generally very well equipped, with all-important safety tech coming as standard. Like all Hyundais, it also comes with a five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty, so it should be more than capable of shrugging off any wear and tear that comes from new drivers honing their motoring craft.
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Skoda Fabia
The latest Skoda Fabia is an extremely practical small car. The friends of new drivers will be amazed at how much space there is in the back seats, and the boot is enormous – as big as that of the larger Volkswagen Golf, in fact. All this comes with the potential for affordable car insurance, too. The entry-level 1.0 MPI 80 MPI engine has a group 4 insurance rating, even in stylish Colour Edition trim. This means the Fabia’s long-running tradition of being a cheap car to insure will continue, enhancing its reputation for offering great all-round value for money.
MG 3
The colourful MG 3 boasts extremely competitive insurance ratings. The VTI-Tech engine slots into insurance group 7, which means new drivers won’t have to pay through the nose to get on the road. It’s an affordable car to buy as well, and comes with a good level of standard equipment. MG even offers a seven-year warranty, bolstering the car’s long-lasting credentials. A five-door supermini similar in size to a Fiesta, the MG 3 is practical enough to grow with new drivers as they gain experience on the road. It’s better to drive than you might expect, too, although the cabin is a bit low-rent and it could be more refined.
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Kia Picanto
The little Kia Picanto is one of the most affordable small cars to buy and run, and if you pick the right model, it should be very cheap to insure. In 2 trim, the Picanto sits in insurance group 3, while other versions range from 4 to 5. The one exception is the sporty GT-Line S model, which gets a group rating of 11. In all cases, you don’t have to put up with a substandard car, either – the Picanto is good fun to drive and benefits from a cracking seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty. It’s a brilliant first car.
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SEAT Ibiza
The SEAT Ibiza is another supermini that often finds favour with new motorists. The sporty appearance and youthful approach of Spanish brand SEAT gives it one of the youngest ownership profiles across Europe. It’s certainly easy to see why the Ibiza is popular with new drivers: 1.0 MPI petrol engines have car insurance starting from a lowly group 3, while even the hot hatch-like FR Sport model falls into group 4. The latest Ibiza is packed with connected technology and is an engaging car to drive, while also offering a good array of standard safety systems.
Volkswagen Up
The Volkswagen Up is living on borrowed time, but it while it remains on sale, it's one of the best small cars for new drivers. All versions are powered by a 1.0-litre petrol engine producing 65PS and capable of achieving 55mpg on a combined cycle. It's also surprisingly practical, with plenty of space for four adults. What's more, unlike some city cars, it doesn't feel out of its depth when you leave the urban sprawl. Insurance groups start from a lowly group 3, so the cost of cover shouldn't give you too many sleepless nights.
How can new drivers cut the cost of car insurance?
In the first instance, new drivers can cut the cost of their car insurance by choosing a vehicle with a low power output. Car insurers penalise more powerful cars particularly strongly for new drivers, so it’s best to keep engine power as low as possible. It’s also worth sticking to a popular make of car, which should be cheaper to repair. Driving a smaller and more affordable city car or supermini, rather than a larger and more luxurious vehicle, will also help, as will parking on a private drive or in a garage, rather than on the street.
Why is car insurance so high for new drivers?
Car insurers use statistics and previous accident data to build up their risk profiles. These all point to new drivers being among the highest-risk motorists, which is why car insurance is so expensive for them. Factors include age, whether you’re male or female, where you live and, of course, what type of car you drive. It is an unfortunate fact of life that car insurance will cost more for new drivers than more experienced motorists.
What is telematics car insurance?
Many new drivers are switching to telematics car insurance in order to save money on their insurance. This involves fitting a ‘black box’ that monitors where and when they’re driving. It records factors such as speed, acceleration, braking and other parameters. The idea is to encourage safe and steady driving, and penalise new drivers who drive more dangerously. Black box car insurance is therefore cheaper than normal car insurance, for those who don’t mind being tracked all the time.
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