Best Cars to Insure for Young Drivers

In terms of special moments in your life, passing your driving test is up there with being the most important.

After passing your driving test, the next step is to find that first car that’s best for you. This process can be exciting, but can be equally as stressful.

One factor that can add to the stress is expenses of your vehicle, both to purchase and to insure, particularly when you are operating on a strict budget.

Today, we will be covering the best cars for cheap insurance, giving you a good outlook on what cars to consider.

1. Citroen C1

The first car on this list is the Citroen C1, a small hatchback car that has been on UK roads since 2005.

Having a small body style, the C1 still offers practical interior space along with safe driving.

Safety of the car is the strongest asset it has – upon release of its current generation, WhatCar? crowned the C1 ‘Most Reliable Car’ of 2014.

The 1.0-litre petrol engine may not give the Citroen model a lot of power, 68hp to be exact, but the smaller engines leaves the prices for insurance at a low cost across all variants of the vehicle.

Given the practicality and how safe it is to drive, the Citroen C1 is one of the cheapest cars to insure for young drivers.

2. Volkswagen up!

Now for the newest car amongst this list, that being the Volkswagen up!

The up! is Volkswagen’s take on a small hatchback car, providing customers an alternative to bigger VW models such as the Golf, Tiguan, or even the Volkswagen Polo.

Released in 2018, this car is definitely Volkswagen’s way of targeting new drives, with RRP prices of the vehicles varying between £9,000.00 to £17,300.00.

The up’s safe features makes the car cheap to insure, with the hatchback vehicle featuring a 1.0-litre, 59hp petrol engine, bringing costs down for the VW car.

It’s no secret that the Volkswagen up! has a lot of personality for a smaller vehicle, but what makes the car stand out to younger drivers is how cheap it is to attain and insure.

3. Ford KA

Ford have made various car models that cater to young drivers over the years, the Fiesta and Edge to name a couple, but to insure, the Ford KA is amongst the cheapest in the UK.

For years the KA has been a staple in Ford’s vehicle line-up, with the model being released all the way back in 1996.

The compact car has a power output of up to 73hp and is paired with a 1.2-litre engine. Whilst is may be more powerful than the Volkswagen up! and Citroen C1, the Ford model is still just as cheap to insure.

An alternative to the Ford KA is the KA+, a larger version of the original model that replaced the KA in 2016. The KA+ is also reasonably cheap to insure for young drivers, so it is a viable option if you fancy the bulkier KA model.

With Ford’s reputation of consistently manufacturing reliable cars, the KA (or KA+) is a great option for both practicality and low insurance prices.

4. Vauxhall Corsa

In 2023, the Vauxhall Corsa was the UK’s third best-selling car, only being topped by the Ford Puma and Nissan Qashqai. There is good reason for this – it’s a reliable, efficient, and cheap-to-insure vehicle that has been on UK roads since 1993.

Vauxhall has benefited a lot from the Corsa’s success, as when you think of first cars for new drivers, the Corsa is one of the first cars you think of.

The recent generation of the Corsa (2020-present) has a power output of anything between 73 – 134hp, depending on what version of the Corsa you go for.

Britian’s best-selling small car ever offers a great option for young drivers to start their motoring journey, with cheap insurance and retail price being large factors in the hatchback car’s popularity.

5. Fiat 500

Now last, but certainly not least, the classic Fiat 500.

Car manufacturing giants Fiat have pushed their flagship 500 model as the go-to car for young drivers across the world.

Even though the Fiat Panda is up there with cheapness regarding insurance, it’s safe to say the Fiat 500 has had a long-lasting impact on the motoring industry and deserves its flowers.

The Fiat model is equipped with a 1.0-litre engine that gives power outputs of 70hp, making it a safe car to drive, ultimately making it cheap to insure.

An alternative 500 model is the Abarth 500, which is Fiat’s sport-like version of the Fiat 500. The Abarth version is a little more expensive to insure due to its performance capabilities but is still a good option if you long for a 500 car.

The Fiat 500 has stood the test of time, with the first generation of the 500 hitting the roads back in 1936. Decades later, Fiat have developed the model to be a top choice amongst young drivers.

Final Takeaways

The cars that have been mentioned today are up there with some of the cheapest cars to insure in the UK.

Remember, insurance costs will always vary from person to person. Factors such as your age, mileage of vehicle, and many more will determine how much your car will cost to insure.

Please note, there are many other options of vehicles when it comes to the best cars for insurance involving young drivers, with this list outlining some of many cheap-to-insure car models to choose from.