What are the cheapest and best first cars for new drivers?

Ford Fiesta

The Ford Fiesta is the UK’s best-selling car and the newer versions include the MyKey system, which allows parents to restrict the car’s maximum speed as well as the stereo volume, and it includes a seatbelt reminder. New Fiestas are priced from £19,060.

Mini Cooper

Although it's one of the most expensive on the list, a Mini Cooper a popular first choice for best first cars if your budget stretches to one. A new Mini cooper will cost from £21,795.

Which are the best used cars for new drivers?

Many of the best first cars for new drivers will be second hand, not brand new. It could also be the case that a new driver is using a car that's been passed onto them, from a friend or family member.

With used cars though, it's still important to look at how much the insurance will cost. Here we look at some of the cheapest second-hand cars to insure for new drivers.

Dacia Sandero

The Dacia Sandero is one of the cheapest new cars to choose, starting at £2,630. The Sandero is more spacious than your typical first car and has models in insurance group 2.

Ford Ka

If your budget won't stretch to a new Ford Ka+, you can pick up a three-to-four-year-old previous generation model for less than £5,000 on the second-hand market, with most in insurance group 2 or 3.

Vauxhall Corsa

The Corsa has always been a popular first car for new drivers, with some hatchback models in insurance groups 1 and 2. You can pick up a car that's only a few years old for less than £5,000.

Volkswagen Polo

The 1.2-litre VW Polo from 2002 onwards is in insurance group 3. You can get a 2012 model for under £3,000, making it a great option for those looking for a cheap first car with the desirable VW badge.

Chevrolet Spark

The entry-level Chevrolet Spark is cheap to insure as it's in group 1, and you can pick up a model in good condition under your budget.

Skoda Fabia

Skoda’s 1.2-litre Fabia Classic, Silverline and Blueline models are in insurance group 2, and you can pick up a 2006 version in triple figures.

Fiat Panda

The 1.1-litre Panda is in the lowest insurance group — it’s affordable to buy too, with examples from 2006 coming in under budget.

Should I choose a petrol, diesel or electric first car?

You may be better going for a petrol car over a diesel car. As a new driver, chances are you are going to be looking at a smaller car, of which there are fewer diesel models available, as the diesel car becomes less fashionable.

Diesel cars are more economical, but you will need to be travelling long distances for the savings to kick in. Some petrol engines have the option of a stop-start, which can take some getting used to, but will offer some fuel savings.

Electric cars are the future - with cheaper fuel costs - but they still suffer from limited range compared with more traditionally fuelled vehicles. They also take longer to fill up and there are fewer public charge points to use during a long journey, or while away from home. They tend to cost more to buy and insure - although over the longer term you can make savings thanks to cheaper fuel and running costs.

However, following the announcement of the diesel and petrol ban, the government have pledged extra grants for electric car buyers and investing more money on charging points.

2030 petrol and diesel ban

In 2020, then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a ban on all new cars and vans that are powered by petrol and diesel from 2030, though some hybrids will still be allowed.