What are the cheapest cars to insure?

What are the cheapest cars to insure?

Ever wondered which cars were cheapest to insure for young drivers, or drivers over 50, or even for teachers and nurses? Here's what the MoneySuperMarket data tells us.

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Every car registered in the UK is included in one of 50 insurance categories, running from one to 50. The easier a car is to repair, and the less rare, expensive or powerful it is, the lower the group it will be in. The lower the insurance group, the cheaper your car is to insure.

A car's grouping is based on multiple factors, including:

  • How much it costs
  • The cost to repair damage
  • The cost of 23 common replacement parts
  • How long it takes to repair
  • The car's performance, including acceleration and top speed
  • The safety and security features

A car in a higher insurance group will typically cost more to repair or replace, which is one reason why its premium will be relatively high. Insurance groupings are not the only reason for increased premiums, however: every driver's details and driving history are also a major deciding factor in the total cost of their insurance.

A car's age and value also affect how much you'll pay to insure it, along with any modifications you've made to its appearance or performance. If you're not sure which group your own car will fit into, you can use the MoneySuperMarket car insurance group checker tool.

Young drivers get a rough ride when it comes to car insurance premiums, with people aged 17 to 24 often paying hundreds more than older motorists. While there is good reason for this - youngsters are statistically more likely to be involved in a road accident, and the higher risk means higher premiums - there are ways to reduce the cost of cover.

One of those ways is to drive a sensible vehicle - smaller, less powerful cars are generally cheaper to insure as they're easier to drive. Below are the cars insured for the lowest premiums by drivers aged 17 to 19 and 20 to 24.

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These are the average premiums for full UK licence holders aged 17 to 19 with no additional drivers on their policy. Data collected between January 2019 and January 2020, correct as of March 2020.

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These are the average premiums for full UK licence holders aged 20 to 24 with no additional drivers on their policy. Data collected between January 2019 and January 2020, correct as of March 2020.

For similar reasons, older and more experienced drivers generally see the cheapest car insurance premiums on the market. They're at a lower risk of being involved in road accidents, and are therefore rewarded with much cheaper car insurance. If you're looking to cut even more costs, here are the cheapest cars to insure for drivers over 50.

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These are the average premiums for full UK licence holders aged 50 and over with no additional drivers on their policy. Data collected between January 2019 and January 2020, correct as of Match 2020.

There's nothing quite like driving along the motorway on a sunny afternoon, with the roof down, your shades on and the wind in your hair. While some convertible cars can cost hundreds of thousands making them very expensive to insure, not all are in that category - here are the cheapest convertible cars to insure.

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These are the average premiums for full UK licence holders driving convertible cars with no additional drivers on their policy. Data collected between January 2019 and January 2020, correct as of March 2020.

Electric cars offer a greener alternative to petrol and diesel, and as more manufacturers are getting in on the action the market is more varied than ever. Unfortunately not all electric cars are created equal, and some can be quite expensive both to buy and insure.

If you're planning on doing your bit for the environment without paying through the nose for cover, check out the cheapest electric cars to insure.

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These are the average premiums for full UK licence holders driving electric cars with no additional drivers on their policy. Data collected between January 2019 and January 2020, correct as of March 2020.

It's common knowledge that your occupation is a factor insurers consider when deciding your premiums, as some jobs carry higher risks than others when it comes to commuting and storing vehicles. We've looked at the cheapest cars to insure for some of the most commonly declared professions.

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These are the average premiums for full UK licence holders with no additional drivers on their policy, who have declared teaching as their occupation. Data collected between January 2019 and January 2020, correct as of March 2020.

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These are the average premiums for full UK licence holders with no additional drivers on their policy, who have declared administrative assistance as their occupation. Data collected between January 2019 and January 2020, correct as of March 2020.

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These are the average premiums for full UK licence holders with no additional drivers on their policy, who have declared nursing as their occupation. Data collected between January 2019 and January 2020, correct as of March 2020.

This piece wouldn't be complete without having an indulgent look at some of the most expensive commonly insured vehicles on UK roads. The reasons for these cars being costly to cover include:

  • Having parts that are rare or expensive to replace
  • Being faster or more powerful and therefore likelier to be involved in an accident
  • Being more attractive to vandals and thieves

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These are the average premiums for full UK licence holders with no additional drivers on their policy. Data collected between January 2019 and January 2020, correct as of March 2020.

You can see how much car insurance might cost for a particular model by using MoneySuperMarket's car insurance comparison tool. Enter the registration number and some information about your driving history to compare car insurance policy quotes.

If you haven't bought a car yet but do have a make and model in mind, all you need to do is add the type of fuel it runs on, whether it's a manual or automatic drive, the year it was registered, and the engine size and version of the car. You'll then be able to compare car insurance quotes for that exact car and get a better idea of how much it will cost you.  

You can filter the results by policy type and monthly and annual costs to help you find a car insurance policy that's affordable, and keeps you covered. Some policies might also let you add extra levels of protection to give you peace of mind that you'll be covered if you need to claim.

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