Best Cars for Cheap Insurance

First up is the Ford Ka+, a practical choice with five doors, plenty of room inside and lots of useful storage space. The Ka+ falls into insurance group one or two with good fuel economy to boot – that means very cheap car insurance and small running costs. Ford’s reputation for inexpensive servicing and repairs is cause for good cheer too. As such, it will prove cheap to run and is affordably priced to buy. The Ka+ shouldn’t trouble you reliability-wise either, but be sure to check for bumps and scrapes on the paintwork.

The Toyota Yaris throws a bit more styling into the mix, but it’s still roomy and practical for a car of this size. It also has good equipment levels as standard and economical engines that include a hybrid option. Toyota has a very good reputation for reliability and any issues will likely have been resolved by the car’s first owner. The Yaris is a popular first car, so look out for scuffs and scrapes caused by less-experienced drivers.

The Fiat Panda is a little taller than many of its competitors, which means it feels spacious inside with plenty of headroom. It’s not just practical though, it’s economical too, and there’s a range of engine options. The Panda was affordably priced new and improved offerings from rivals should mean used prices have dropped. Possibly not a dealbreaker for many, but it’s worth noting that Euro NCAP re-evaluated the Panda in 2018 as zero stars for safety (though it originally scored four stars in 2011).

Volkswagen is a trusted brand that seriously knows how to make small cars, and the Polo is one of the best in its class. In fact, it’s hard to find much to criticise – it’s refined, well built, practical and economical. It drives well too, but it’s pipped to the post on this front by the Ford Fiesta. Be braced to pay a little more to actually buy the car, but remember that Volkswagens are renowned for holding their value well. Plus, performance-wise, it’s one of the best cars for cheap insurance. There’s a range of engines on offer, and it’s the 1.2 petrol in S trim that has the lowest insurance bracket (3-4).

If you don’t know Kia, they’re Korean and have been on the up-and-up for some time now. The Rio is their small car offering, and running costs are a big factor in it making our list. It’s frugal with fuel and the insurance fees are unlikely to be high. The Rio’s styling won’t knock your socks off or get you admiring glances from the neighbours, but it’s roomy, practical and very likely to be reliable. A solid choice that won’t break the bank.

The Skoda Citigo is a city car developed alongside partner companies’ Volkswagen Up! and SEAT Mii, all three sharing essentially the same mechanics under a different skin. It’s cheaper to option than the other two, so if the styling and badge are okay with you, it’s a very savvy buy. The Citigo is practical for a car of its size, with good driving manners and low running costs. A heads up: if you can, the automatic gearbox is best avoided because of its sluggish gear changes.

Dacia is a lesser-known manufacturer, but when the Sandero arrived in 2013 it was the cheapest new car in the UK. That translates into some low-priced used bargains, and the insurance on most trims falls into groups 2-6. Cheap doesn’t mean bad either – the Sandero offers efficient engines and good levels of practicality. Just bear in mind that the interior quality is somewhat lacking. Dacia kept costs low by using older Renault mechanics, meaning the parts have been tried and tested. Put simply, the Sandero is a no-frills option that’s definitely worth considering.

The Ford Fiesta has been around since 1976 and is now in its eighth iteration. That’s given Ford plenty of time to hone their skills, and the Fiesta really is one of the best in its class. It’s cheap to run but also great fun to drive, and because it’s been very popular for so long, there are plenty out there to fit a range of budgets. Keep insurance low by sticking to smaller engines and lower trim options – and avoiding the performance ST trim (as fun as it is).

With a very affordable purchase price and low running costs, the Hyundai i10 has been a serious consideration since 2008 – so finding a used bargain won’t be difficult. The entry-level SE trim falls into insurance group 4, making it the best choice for low car insurance premiums. Hyundai isn’t a brand with as many bragging rights as some others on this list, but it’s on an upward trajectory and for very good reason. Second-generation cars from 2014 feel and look better, but earlier models are absolutely worth a look too. Try to avoid the automatic gearbox as it can impact economy and performance.

The second Skoda on our list, the Fabia is affordable to buy and cheap to run. An S-trim 1.0 MPi has an insurance bracket of just 1-2, which is why it makes our list. It’s well-equipped (on all but the base trims) and very practical – there’s even an estate version as well as the hatchback. It feels well-built and is likely to prove reliable thanks to Skoda’s reputation in this area.

Hopefully our list has given you food for thought on how to get very cheap car insurance. If you’ve been inspired, why not check out the listings and search for your next car. If you’re still not sure, have a read of some of our reviews of the models above for a more in-depth look.