Statistically, younger drivers are involved in more road accidents than older drivers. This is why insurers tend to charge younger drivers more for insurance than older drivers.
But there are many things young drivers and new drivers can do to drive down the cost of insurance. And the best thing you can do to get cheaper insurance is choose a car that’s cheaper to insure.
What Makes a Car Cheap to Insure?
Every car sold in the UK belongs to one of 50 car insurance groups. Insurers use these insurance groups when working out how much to charge for their premiums. Higher insurance groups tend to be more expensive, while lower groups can be cheaper to insure.
Why Are Higher Insurance Groups More Expensive?
Cars in higher insurance groups tend to be expensive, high-performance vehicles. Thieves are more likely to target them, and if they’re involved in an accident, the repair costs will be sky-high. As a result, cars in high insurance groups cost the most to insure.
What Are Low Insurance Groups?
Cars in lower insurance groups, on the other hand, tend to be low specification models with smaller engines. They don’t cost much to buy, they don’t cost much to run, and they don’t cost too much to repair. As a result, they’re relatively cheap to insure.
For more information, read our complete guide to car insurance groups.
What Are The Cheapest Cars to Insure?
The cheapest cars to ensure are easy to handle, they have low running costs, and they’re relatively cheap to insure. As a result, they’re the perfect cars for new drivers, young drivers, or for anyone who wants to save some money.
Also, these cars are likely to have relatively low emissions. This means they can also help you save money on car tax. Read our guide to the best tax free cars.
When shopping around for the cheapest car to insure, just bear in mind that you can buy most cars in a range of sizes and trim levels. Some of these might push the car into higher tax bands and insurance groups. So take care!
You can read our full guide to buying your first car.
Plus, if you’re looking for the cheapest car to insure, you’re probably better buying a used car than a brand new car. Some manufacturers may have discontinued certain low-cost trims. There are many benefits to buying used, but it’s important to know what you’re looking for. You can read our used car checklist.
Citroen C1
This compact and agile car was apparently designed for the city. It’s just 3.46 metres long, but it has five doors and a wealth of space on the inside. So as small cars go, it’s surprisingly practical. Because it’s cheap to insure, it’s a perfect choice for younger drivers. But it also has certain features that’ll help new drivers build up their confidence on the road – such as a mirror screen for easier manoeuvres.
Fiat Panda
You can get a Panda as a 4×4 or as a stylish sporty number. But if you want a car that’s cheap to insure, choose the Active or the Dynamic model. Most of the models in this trim are in a low insurance group. They’re compact city cars that combine a safe, comfortable and reliable drive with ultra-low running costs.
Vauxhall Corsa
Most Corsa trims are also in low insurance groups. They should be relatively cheap to insure but maybe not as cheap as Fiat Panda models. Still, this remains an ideal choice for your first car. It’s compact yet sprightly, and some models include many features as standard that’ll make life considerably easier for new drivers – such as rear-view cameras and parking sensors.
Ford KA
Being in the lowest insurance groups the Ford Ka is a great choice if you’re looking for low running costs and cheap car insurance albeit they aren’t the most powerful cars on the road. This one’s classed as a “supermini”. It’s spacious, safe, and manoeuvrable – just the sort of things you need if you’re new to driving!
Other Ways to Get Cheaper Car Insurance
The car you drive can make a world of difference when it comes to the cost of your insurance. But if you’re a young driver, you should always expect to pay more for cover than older drivers. However, there are a few more things you can do to drive down the cost of your cover.
You can take the government’s Pass Plus scheme after you pass your driving test. It’s a bit of additional training in conditions that you might not have experienced during your lessons. Instead of a formal test, your instructor will assess you throughout your course. That means you’re effectively guaranteed to reach the required standard in all of your modules.
Take the Pass Plus scheme and you’ll demonstrate to your insurers that you’re a conscientious driver who’s committed to safe and sensible driving. This might result in a lower car insurance premium.
Another thing you can do to prove you’re a safe driver is build up a no claims discount. This won’t give you any immediate savings. But it can help you make significant savings in the long-term.
You can read our complete guide to getting cheaper car insurance.
Get Comprehensive Cover For Less
We’re committed to driving down the cost of car insurance. We offer competitive cover for drivers of all ages with a range of extras, including personal belongings cover and optional RAC breakdown cover.
As soon as you get your own policy you’ll start building your no claims discount. We’ll also let you protect your no claims discount after just one claim-free year. So all it takes to make a saving on the price of your policy is a single year of careful driving!
If you want cheaper car insurance, give us a call. Get a quote for young driver insurance and buy online in minutes.
