Vehicle ScouterStartBest first cars in the UK
Honest picks for new drivers: cheap insurance, cheap parts, no catastrophic-cost faults. Each one comes with a full common-faults guide so you know what to avoid before you buy.
Every car here has a trim in group 1–5.
Real-world MPG, road tax and repair costs listed.
Known model-specific issues flagged, not hidden.
Ford Fiesta
Mk7 & Mk8, 2013–2023Cheap insurance from group 2, plentiful parts, forgiving to drive.
Vauxhall Corsa
Corsa E (2014–2019) & Corsa F (2019–)Group 1 insurance on some 1.2 petrol trims — hard to beat for a 17-year-old.
Toyota Yaris
XP130 (2011–2020) & XP210 (2020–) inc. HybridBulletproof reliability, hybrid means huge MPG in town, cheap insurance.
Honda Jazz
Mk3 (2015–2020) & Mk4 (2020–) inc. e:HEV HybridVery reliable, tall roofline is practical, forgiving to drive.
Hyundai i10
Mk2 (2014–2019) & Mk3 (2019–)Group 1 insurance, 5-year Hyundai warranty (when new), cheap parts.
Kia Picanto
Mk2 (2011–2017) & Mk3 (2017–)7-year Kia warranty transfers to new owners — huge for a first-car buy.
Peugeot 208
Mk1 (2012–2019) & Mk2 (2019–) inc. e-208Cheap petrol trims start in insurance group 5 — affordable to insure.
Toyota Aygo
Mk1 & Mk2, 2005–2022Group 1 insurance, near-zero tax on early cars, and a 1.0 engine that just keeps going.
Citroen C1
2005–2022 (shared with Peugeot 108 and Toyota Aygo)Same mechanicals as the Aygo but usually a few hundred pounds cheaper.
Fiat 500
2007–2024Cheap to insure in 1.2 Pop form, and there are thousands of them so you can be picky.
Renault Clio
Mk4 & Mk5, 2012–2024Low insurance groups on the 1.2 and plenty of well-equipped used stock.
Skoda Fabia
Mk2 & Mk3, 2007–2021VW engineering at a supermini price, with group 1 insurance on the 1.0 MPI.
Seat Ibiza
Mk4 & Mk5, 2008–2024Sharp looks with VW Group mechanicals and low insurance on the 1.0 MPI.
Volkswagen Polo
Mk5 & Mk6, 2009–2024Feels a class above inside, holds value, and the 1.0 MPI sits in very low insurance groups.
Hyundai i20
2012–2024Long warranty, low insurance, and almost nothing goes wrong mechanically.
Dacia Sandero
2013–2024The cheapest way into a nearly new car with a warranty and very low insurance.
Suzuki Swift
2010–2024Light, fun to drive, mechanically simple and cheap to insure.
Nissan Micra
2010–2023Group 1 insurance on some versions and a light clutch that suits new drivers.
Renault Captur
Mk1 & Mk2, 2013–2024Slightly bigger feel than a supermini, still cheap to insure and run.
Frequently asked questions
What makes a good first car in the UK?
Three things: low insurance group (ideally 1–5), cheap parts availability, and no known catastrophic-cost faults on that model and year. A £1,500 saving on the purchase price is meaningless if the car needs a £2,000 gearbox six months in.
What's the cheapest car to insure for a 17-year-old?
Anything in insurance group 1–3 with a small petrol engine — Kia Picanto, Hyundai i10, Vauxhall Corsa 1.2, Ford Fiesta 1.1 and Peugeot 208 1.2 are consistently the cheapest. But quotes vary hugely by postcode; get a real quote before committing.
Petrol, hybrid or electric for a first car?
Petrol is still cheapest to buy and insure. Hybrids (Yaris, Jazz) win on running costs if you drive a lot in town but cost £2–4k more used. Electric is only competitive if you have home charging AND can find a used Nissan Leaf or MG4 under £10k.
Should I buy from a dealer or privately?
Dealers give you the Consumer Rights Act — you can reject a faulty car in the first 30 days. Private is cheaper but you get no comeback. For a first car under £5k, buy privately only if the car has a bulletproof reputation (Yaris, Jazz, Picanto) and you can inspect it thoroughly. Otherwise pay the £500-£1000 dealer premium for the legal protection.
Found one? Check it before you commit.
Paste the reg — we'll pull its MOT history, cross-check against known faults for that model, and tell you if the asking price is fair.
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