Cheapest Cars To Insure UK 2023

Whether you’ve just passed your driving test and you’re on the hunt for the cheapest first car or you’ve been driving for a while and you’re looking to upgrade, something you’ll inevitably be considering is car insurance - especially as a young driver. 

When it comes to car insurance, young drivers can often have to fork out extortionate amounts of money, with the average cost of car insurance for an 18 year old in the UK currently standing at around £1,398 per year. 

With this in mind, you may be looking for the cheapest cars to insure as a student in the UK, so here are the cars that will likely cost you the least as a young driver… 

What is car insurance?

Car insurance provides financial protection for road users in the event that they are involved in an incident or collision. The level of protection you receive with your car insurance depends on the type of cover you opt for. 

The most basic form of car insurance is what’s known as third party cover, which protects you against any damage you cause to other road users, the public or their property.

As a minimum, all UK drivers must have third party cover, but this will not protect you against damage to your own vehicle or injury to yourself. For this reason, it’s often advised to get comprehensive cover - also known as ‘fully comp’ - which covers you and your vehicle as well as any other vehicles that are involved in an accident, regardless of whether it was your fault or not. 

How much is car insurance?

The cost of car insurance varies depending on the driver’s personal circumstances and is influenced by factors such as:

• Your age

• Your occupation

• Your address

• How long you have been driving 

• Whether you have been involved in any accidents previously 

• The make and model of the car you are insuring and its value, whether it has safety and security features and the size of the engine

• Your annual mileage

• Where your car will be parked overnight

Currently, young drivers aged between 17-19 can expect to pay up to £2,000 per year for comprehensive car insurance, however this of course can change depending on the above factors. 

Car insurers collect data about past claims and use it to predict how likely it is that people in different situations will make a claim in future, which is why they take into account things such as your occupation and the area in which you live. 

As an example, if you are a secretary living in an area with a low crime rate, you will likely pay less for your car insurance than a recruitment consultant living in an area with a high crime rate. 

How to get cheap car insurance 

As mentioned, the cost of your car insurance will depend on your personal circumstances, including your age, your driving record, how recently you passed your test, and the make and model of the car you wish to insure. 

But there are a few ways you can bring the cost of your car insurance down! 

To get cheaper car insurance, you might want to consider doing the following:

Get a car under Group One car insurance 

Each car belongs to one of 50 car insurance groups, with the cheapest cars for anybody to insure being those categorised under Group One, and the most expensive cars to insure being those in Group 50. 

Some of the most popular cars in Group One include the Citroen C1, the Ford KA+ and the Vauxhall Corsa. 

These cars cost less to insure as they tend to have smaller, less powerful engines, good safety and security features and are cheaper to repair. For a new, young driver, you’ll likely find your insurance will cost significantly less if you opt for a car under Group One car insurance. 

Get a black box installed

A ‘black box’ policy, also known as telematics insurance, is where software is installed into your car which uses technology to monitor your driving behaviour, such as your speed, acceleration and braking time. 

This data is tracked by your insurance company, which will then be used to determine your premiums. Having a black box installed can significantly lower a young driver’s insurance as it means they are more likely to drive carefully to avoid incurring higher premiums or having their policy cancelled altogether due to reckless driving. 

Complete a driving course such as Pass Plus

Some insurers will offer discounted insurance for those who complete a driving course after passing their test, such as the Pass Plus scheme. 

This scheme is an extra driving qualification set up by the Driving and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) which allows you to further develop your driving skills after passing your test. You can take this whenever, however it’s most beneficial for those who have passed their driving test within the past year. 

Not only will a course like Pass Plus help to build your confidence and driving skills, it can also reduce the cost of your insurance since it should make you less likely to be involved in an accident on the road and therefore less of a risk in the eyes of insurance providers.

Add a named driver to your insurance 

For new, young drivers in particular, it can be beneficial to add a named driver to your insurance - which is essentially adding another person to your car insurance policy. Adding a parent for example can reduce the overall cost of the insurance as long as they are not considered a high risk driver. 

Limit your mileage, increase car safety features and avoid modifications

Other simple ways you can get cheaper car insurance include limiting your annual mileage, increasing your car’s safety features (a car with anti-lock brakes for example will be cheaper to insure than one without) and avoiding modifications to your car such as modifications to the engine or exhaust system. 

What are the cheapest cars to insure in the UK?

As mentioned, the cheapest cars to insure in the UK are those listed in Group One car insurance. 

Some of the most commonly recommended cars for cheap insurance include: 

• Volkswagen Polo

• Vauxhall Corsa

• Citroen C1

• Ford Fiesta

• SEAT Ibiza

• Ford KA+

• Fiat Panda 

• Hyundai i10

• Kia Rio 

• Volkswagen Up

Best car insurance for students 

Looking for the cheapest car insurance as a student? With Go.Compare, you can find the best insurance policy for you by easily comparing hundreds of quotes. What’s more, TOTUM members get a £30 Amazon gift voucher when they purchase their first policy from Go.Compare.

If you haven’t yet passed your test, remember you can also get two hours dual control car rental for the price of one with Arnold Clark, making it cheaper and easier than ever to learn how to drive. 

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