Cheapest cars to insure

MoneySuperMarket helps insure hundreds of thousands of drivers every year, so we know a thing or two about what it costs to insure a car.

There are lots of factors that combine to make up your insurance quotes, from the make and model of the car you drive, to your age, occupation and driving history. And because we insure so many people from so many different walks of life, we have a pretty good idea of how much every type of car costs to insure on average.

With that in mind, we’ve looked through our latest car insurance data to find out the cheapest cars to insure in 2021.

The cheapest cars to insure overall

With average annual premiums of £525, the Nissan Qashqai is currently the cheapest car overall to insure in the United Kingdom (according to MoneySuperMarket data collected between January and December 2020).

The top 10 cheapest cars to insure all share similar characteristics: they’re small, reliable, easy to repair – and not overly powerful. In other words, they’re great little run-arounds that are safe to drive and cheap to maintain.

According to MoneySuperMarket data correct as of December 2020

Why are some cars more expensive to insure?

Every car registered in the UK is included in one of 50 insurance categories. 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, pushing up premiums. 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.

What are the cheapest cars to insure for new and young drivers?

Young drivers get a rough ride when it comes to car insurance premiums, and people aged 17 to 24 often pay hundreds of pounds more per year than older motorists.

There are good reasons for this: younger drivers are statistically more likely to be involved in road accidents, which means insurers adjust premiums upwards to cover the cost.

One of the best ways to cut car insurance when you’re young is to drive a sensible vehicle: smaller, less powerful cars are cheaper to insure as they're easier to drive.

The cheapest car for a young driver to insure in 2021 is the Skoda Citigo. At just under £900 per year on average, that’s a very good deal – most cars cost more than £1,000 to insure if you’re under 25.

According to MoneySuperMarket data correct as of December 2020

What are the cheapest cars to insure for drivers over 50?

Older and more experienced drivers, on the other hand, are generally offered much cheaper car insurance premiums. They're at less risk of getting into road accidents, and are therefore rewarded with much cheaper car insurance.

If you're looking to cut even more costs, these are the cheapest cars to insure for drivers over 50.

Interestingly, the very cheapest car to insure when you’re over 50 is an old classic: the MG B. This two-door sports car costs just £82 per year on average to insure!