Buying your first car

What to consider

Insurance groups

Cars are rated in insurance groups from 1-50. Lower numbers are cheaper to insure. As a new driver, consider cars in groups 1-10 initially.

Running costs

• Fuel efficiency (mpg)
• Road tax (based on emissions)
• Service intervals and costs
• Parts availability

Popular first cars

• Ford Fiesta
• Vauxhall Corsa
• Volkswagen Polo
• Toyota Yaris
• Hyundai i10/i20

Checks when buying

• HPI check for outstanding finance, theft, or write-off history
• Full service history
• MOT history (free to check on GOV.UK)
• Test drive in various conditions
• Independent inspection for private sales

Insurance tips for new drivers

• Get quotes before buying. some cars cost much more to insure
• Consider black box (telematics) policies
• Adding an experienced named driver can help reduce premiums
• Pay annually if possible (monthly costs more overall)
• Compare quotes from multiple providers