Cheapest Cars To Insure In The UK: Best Used Cars For Low Insurance Groups
For many UK drivers, especially those newer to driving, insurance can cost more per year than the car itself. Picking a model that sits in a low insurance group is one of the most effective ways to keep running costs down, alongside the usual factors like your age, location and driving history.
What Makes A Car Cheap To Insure
UK cars are rated into insurance groups from 1 to 50, with lower groups generally meaning cheaper premiums. Insurers set this based on several factors:
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Engine size and power output
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The car’s list price and cost to repair
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How readily available and expensive parts are
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Security features fitted as standard
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Safety features, including automatic emergency braking on newer models
Types Of Used Cars That Are Typically Cheaper To Insure
1. Small-Engine Superminis
Compact superminis with small, low-power petrol engines, such as the Toyota Aygo, Hyundai i10, Kia Picanto, Volkswagen Up and Fiat 500, are consistently among the cheapest cars to insure in the UK, largely thanks to their low engine size, modest performance and low repair costs.
2. Older, Simpler Hatchbacks
Older generations of popular hatchbacks with small engines, such as earlier Ford Fiestas and Vauxhall Corsas, often sit in lower insurance groups than their newer, more powerful equivalents, though this needs weighing against higher running and maintenance costs on an older car.
3. Cars With Modern Safety Tech
Newer models fitted with automatic emergency braking and other advanced driver assistance features can qualify for lower insurance groups than older equivalents, even with a similar engine size, since insurers factor in the reduced accident risk.
Other Factors That Affect Your Premium
Insurance group is only part of the picture. Your premium is also shaped by:
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Your age, driving experience and claims history
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Where you live and where the car is kept overnight
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Annual mileage and how the car is used
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Modifications, which can significantly increase premiums or affect cover
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Telematics or “black box” policies, which can lower costs for careful drivers
Checks To Run Before Buying A Cheap-To-Insure Car
A low insurance group doesn’t tell you anything about the individual car’s condition or history. Before buying, it’s still worth checking:
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MOT history for advisories and recurring issues
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Mileage records for consistency with the car’s age
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Outstanding finance, which transfers risk to you as the buyer
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Write-off or stolen markers on the vehicle
Frequently Asked Questions
What Insurance Group Is Considered Cheap?
Groups 1 to 10 are generally considered the cheapest to insure, and this range includes many small-engine superminis and city cars.
Does A Cheap Car To Buy Mean Cheap To Insure?
Not necessarily. Insurance group depends more on engine size, performance and repair costs than the car’s purchase price, so it’s worth checking a car’s specific insurance group rather than assuming.
Can Modifications Affect My Insurance?
Yes, even minor modifications can increase your premium or complicate a claim, and some insurers require modifications to be declared regardless of size.
Should I Still Check A Cheap-To-Insure Car’s History?
Yes. Insurance group only reflects the model, not the individual car, so checking MOT history, mileage and finance status is just as important as it would be for any other used car.
Choosing a used car in a low insurance group, particularly a small-engine supermini or city car, is one of the simplest ways to reduce your running costs, especially as a newer driver. But a low premium says nothing about the specific car’s condition, so it’s still worth running a full vehicle history check before you commit to buying.