Easy to drive and cheap to fix, with plenty of cars to choose from.
Watch out for: Avoid sporty trims, which can push insurance up. Test any Powershift automatic carefully.
Cheap to buy and insure on the smaller engines, and parts are everywhere.
Watch out for: Check for warning lights and suspension wear, and look for a full service history.
More boot space than most first cars, with simple mechanicals.
Watch out for: Check the timing belt or chain history on the engine fitted.
A newer car for the money, with low running costs.
Watch out for: The basic trims are very basic, so check the spec suits you.
Light controls and easy to park, a good choice for town driving.
Watch out for: Test CVT automatics for smooth behaviour, and check the service history.
Comfortable and well equipped for the money, with low running costs.
Watch out for: Test all the electrics and check the service history carefully.
Comfortable, economical and modern inside.
Watch out for: Some PureTech petrol engines have known timing belt issues, so check the belt has been serviced on time.
Keeping a first car cheap to run
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Choose a small petrol engine: it avoids diesel DPF problems on short trips and keeps insurance lower.
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Avoid modified cars: modifications can raise premiums or make a car hard to insure, and they must be declared.
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Get the quote first: quote on the exact registration before you hand over any money.
Checks to run before you buy any of these
A good model can still be a bad car. Whatever you pick from this list, the history of the individual car matters more than the badge.
1.
Run the registration through a free vehicle check and make sure the make, model, colour and year match the advert. 2.
Read the MOT history for mileage that rises steadily and for advisories that keep coming back. See how to check MOT history. 3.
Check for outstanding finance, write-off and stolen markers with a full report before you pay anything.
4.
Match the V5C to the seller and to the VIN on the car. Our V5C guide shows what to look at. 5.
Take our free used car checklist to the viewing so you do not miss anything on the test drive. Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest first car to insure? Small city cars such as the Hyundai i10 and Toyota Aygo are usually in the lowest insurance groups. The exact group depends on the engine and trim, so check the specific car.
Is a £5,000 budget enough for a first car? Yes. It buys a good choice of small cars, with money left over for insurance and the first service if you choose carefully.
Should a new driver buy an automatic? Only if you passed your test in an automatic or prefer one. A manual-licence holder can drive both, and manuals are more common and often cheaper at this price.
What should a new driver check before buying? Check the MOT history, service history, finance and write-off records, and make sure the V5C matches the seller. Our used car checklist covers the viewing. Which CarVerified report covers this?
The cars on this list are popular, which also makes them common on finance and common in insurance write-off records. Silver Plus adds the finance check, and Gold is the most complete report.
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Free check: start with the free vehicle check for the make, model, colour, year and MOT and tax status. •
Silver: the core vehicle history check. Finance is not part of Silver, but it can be unlocked separately. •
Silver Plus: adds the outstanding finance check, which matters on any car that may have been bought on PCP or HP. •
Gold: the most complete report, adding ex-taxi, salvage and valuation checks. See all our lists in best used cars UK, or go straight to the best used cars under £5,000, best used cars under £10,000, best automatic cars under £10,000, best family cars under £15,000, best reliable diesel cars, best reliable petrol cars, best used hybrid cars, best used EVs.