Best First Cars in the UK: Cheapest to Insure, Run, and Repair
Your first car doesn't need to be exciting. It needs to be cheap to insure, cheap to fix, and unlikely to leave you stranded. Everything else is a bonus.
We ranked every car in our database by the metrics that matter most to new drivers: insurance group, reliability, running costs, and number of things that can go expensively wrong.
The 15 Best First Cars
| Rank | Model | Ins. Group | Reliability | Running Cost | Critical Failures | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Volkswagen UP | 2 | 0.92 | £1.0k/yr | 0 | Simulate |
| 2 | Toyota AYGO Mk1 | 4 | 1.10 | £1.2k/yr | 0 | Simulate |
| 3 | Hyundai I10 Mk2 | 4 | 0.95 | £1.0k/yr | 0 | Simulate |
| 4 | Kia Picanto Mk2 | 4 | 0.95 | £1.0k/yr | 0 | Simulate |
| 5 | Dacia Sandero | 4 | 0.88 | £1.3k/yr | 1 | Simulate |
| 6 | Toyota Yaris Mk2 | 6 | 1.10 | £1.2k/yr | 0 | Simulate |
| 7 | Honda JAZZ Mk2 | 6 | 1.08 | £1.2k/yr | 0 | Simulate |
| 8 | Suzuki Swift Mk2 | 6 | 0.94 | £1.2k/yr | 0 | Simulate |
| 9 | Kia RIO Mk3 | 6 | 0.92 | £1.2k/yr | 0 | Simulate |
| 10 | Nissan Micra K13 | 6 | 0.90 | £1.2k/yr | 1 | Simulate |
| 11 | Skoda Fabia Mk2 | 6 | 0.88 | £1.3k/yr | 2 | Simulate |
| 12 | Vauxhall Corsa D | 6 | 0.88 | £1.3k/yr | 0 | Simulate |
| 13 | Fiat 500 | 6 | 0.80 | £1.2k/yr | 1 | Simulate |
| 14 | Toyota Yaris Mk3 | 8 | 1.08 | £1.2k/yr | 0 | Simulate |
| 15 | Suzuki Swift Mk3 | 8 | 0.98 | £1.2k/yr | 0 | Simulate |
Why Insurance Group Matters Most
For a 17-25 year old, insurance is usually more expensive than the car itself. A group 4 car might cost £1,200/yr to insure. A group 20 car could cost £3,000+. That difference buys a lot of car.
The Top 3 First Cars
1. Toyota Yaris
The boring answer is the right answer. Insurance group 6, reliability factor 1.10, virtually nothing goes critically wrong. You'll sell it in 3 years for almost what you paid.
2. Dacia Sandero
The cheapest new car in the UK is also one of the cheapest used cars to run. Simple mechanicals mean simple repairs. Insurance group 4.
3. Suzuki Swift
More fun to drive than a Yaris, nearly as reliable. Insurance group 8, and the 1.2 Dualjet engine is efficient and proven.
Cars to Avoid as a First Car
- [BMW 1 Series](/cars/bmw/1-series) — Insurance group 24, expensive parts, expensive repairs
- [Audi A1](/cars/audi/a1) — Looks small but insurance group 14 and VW-group servicing costs
- [Fiat 500](/cars/fiat/500) — Cute but reliability factor 0.80 and the TwinAir engine is problematic
- Mini Cooper — BMW underneath, BMW repair bills
Running Your Numbers
Every car is different. A 2012 Yaris with 40,000 miles is a very different proposition from a 2008 Yaris with 100,000 miles. Run your specific car through our simulator to see what you're actually signing up for.