Is there a more exciting time for a young driver than the day they pass their driving test, throw away those learner plates and contemplate the best cheap first car to buy, now that they can drive unaccompanied?
When thinking about buying a first car on a budget, the most pressing concern (aside from the price) is whether a car has a low insurance group, as young drivers are heavily penalised by car insurance companies for their inexperience, even when buying a small car. Concerned parents helping with the car buying process will also want their offspring to drive something that’s going to be safe and reliable. Although those offspring themselves will probably be far more concerned over whether their car has smartphone connectivity.
With that in mind, here are our top picks of the best cheap first cars to buy. You can browse one-by-one below, or you can search for great deals on all our chosen cars, all at once, right here.
The Best Cheap First Cars in 2024
- MINI One (2001-2006)
- Vauxhall Corsa (2006-2013)
- Volkswagen Polo (2002-2008)
- Renault Clio (2005-2011)
- Skoda Citigo (2012-2020)
- Ford Fiesta (2008-2017)
- Dacia Logan MCV (2013-2020)
- Toyota Yaris (2011-2019)
- Hyundai i10 (2014-2019)
- Kia Picanto (2011-2016)
MINI One (2001-2006)
Just about any young driver would surely be happy to get behind the wheel of a MINI as their first car. The BMW-engineered supermini is still as cute and lovable today as it was when it launched 20 years ago. The MINI One was the entry-level version and despite having a 1.6-litre engine, it’s surprisingly insurance friendly, even for first-time drivers.
Not only is the MINI cheap to buy, but it should be relatively affordable to run, too, returning fuel efficiency of 40-mpg-plus from its petrol engine, providing you don’t spend too much time sitting in traffic. Vehicle Excise Duty (road tax) of £205 shouldn’t break the bank, either, and servicing at an independent specialist will be affordable as the MINI isn’t particularly complicated. Common faults include a weak manual gearbox, so we'd recommend you search out a post-July 2004 model, which has a stronger transmission for more peace of mind.
The best thing about a MINI, though, is the way it drives. Even this lower-powered version is an entertaining car, and it's refined on the motorway, too. It won’t be as safe as a brand new car, but when it was new it gained four stars from Euro NCAP for adult protection.
MINI Review
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Vauxhall Corsa (2006-2013)
The Vauxhall Corsa isn’t the most inspiring car on the market, but it does many things really well and doesn’t have many downsides. This fourth-generation Corsa was larger than earlier models, and it’ll also be one of the cheapest cars on this list of used cars, making it an excellent choice for young drivers on a budget. There are a large number of engines to choose from but for less than £1,000 you’ll be looking at a petrol version, with the best choice being the 1.2-litre.
This gives a good blend of enough performance, decent 40mpg fuel economy and a group 2 or 3 (of 50) insurance rating, depending on trim level. The Corsa was designed from the outset to have low running costs. The 1.2-litre engine will have a £150 annual VED bill while servicing is required once every two years or 20,000 miles. While it doesn’t have the premium cachet of a Volkswagen Polo or the driver involvement of a Ford Fiesta, a Vauxhall Corsa offers practicality, dependability, plenty of interior space and low running costs.
Vauxhall Corsa Review.
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Volkswagen Polo (2002-2008)
For our £2,000 budget you might just be able to find a Volkswagen Polo from the fifth generation, but it’ll probably be a tired, higher mileage example. That's why we think the fourth-generation Polo is a much better bet. Yes, it’ll be a little older, but you’ll be able to buy a car that’s in better condition, and have a wider choice of cars to choose from.
There was a choice of petrol and diesel engines in this generation of Polo, but unless you’re doing a very high mileage, we’d stick to the petrols, as they're less complex and consequently less expensive to repair if something does go wrong. The entry-level 1.0-litre engine is ok for driving around town, but for motorways and dual carriageways, you’ll be better off with a 1.2-litre or 1.4-litre model, although these models do sit in higher insurance groups.
Do check what options are fitted on a prospective purchase. The S models did without air-conditioning, so go for a higher spec car if possible to get some creature comforts. Overall, the Polo is a good, solid, dependable choice. It's not the most exciting car to drive, but it was solidly built and, while it won’t be as cheap to maintain as a contemporary Ford Fiesta or Seat Ibiza, it’s an excellent choice for a more premium feel.
Volkswagen Polo Review
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Renault Clio (2005-2011)
While it’s perhaps not as reliable as a Toyota Yaris or as fun to drive as a Ford Fiesta, the third-generation Renault Clio is an excellent all-rounder for not a lot of money. There are three-door and five-door hatchbacks to choose from, and you might also find one of the rare Sport Tourer estate models.
This model of Clio, which shared its mechanicals with the contemporary Nissan Micra, was a far more grown-up machine than the versions that came before it, with plenty of safety features, which makes it a much better choice for new drivers. There’s plenty of space inside and it has a decent boot, too, along with a great choice of economical engines and trim levels that range from somewhat spartan to well equipped.
For new drivers, the 1.2-litre models probably offer the best blend of performance and affordable insurance premiums. If you rack up a high mileage, then one of the diesels could be worth a look, although they tend to be slightly more expensive. Build quality isn’t quite up there with the best, so check any prospective purchase thoroughly and ensure it has a full service history.
Renault Clio Review
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Skoda Citigo (2012-2020)
We could have picked either of the Skoda Citigo’s close relations here – the Volkswagen Up and the Seat Mii – but thanks its slightly less premium badge, the Skoda is our choice as it's slightly cheaper to buy as a secondhand purchase.
What you get for your money is a superb city car that's fun to drive and very affordable for new drivers on the insurance front, with many of the least powerful models sitting in group 1 or 2. The Citigo is a safe choice, too, gaining the maximum five-star rating when it was tested by safety organisation Euro NCAP.
Despite its diminutive size the Citigo is a fairly practical prospect, providing you accept you won’t be able to take that much luggage with you on your travels, but there’s room for four adults to be perfectly comfortable. Skoda as a brand does very well in customer satisfaction and reliability surveys and running costs will be low. Pre-2017 models are also zero rated for Vehicle Excise Duty (road tax) thanks to their low emissions. It might not be quite as fashionable as a Fiat 500, but the Citigo is beautifully formed and an ideal first car for a new driver.
Skoda Citigo Review
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Ford Fiesta (2008-2017)
Being a recently qualified driver doesn’t mean that you can’t have a bit of fun behind the wheel. And if that’s what you fancy, then there’s really only one choice, and that's the Ford Fiesta. It’s been at the top of the bestseller lists for longer than any other manufacturer cares to remember, and with good reason: it’s a great car to drive. The Fiesta does everything pretty well, offering good space inside and cheap running costs, but what really sets it apart is a level of driver involvement missing from many of its competitors. Rivals like the Suzuki Swift can get close for fun, but none can surpass.
For our sub-£3,000 budget we’ll be looking at the sixth generation of Fiesta, produced between 2008 and 2017. It’s a car with a more polished driving experience than plenty of cars costing twice as much, all in an affordable package. The excellent 1.25-litre engined cars are still a lot of fun while keeping running costs and insurance for new drivers at acceptable levels. As an all-rounder that’s fun to drive, there really aren’t many cars that have as much to offer as the Ford Fiesta.
Ford Fiesta Review
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Dacia Logan MCV (2013-2020)
For young drivers looking at first cars, the overriding concern is the cost insurance. That almost inevitably means you'll end up in a tiny city car, but what if you need more space for mates or for running your belongings to university and back? Then you need a Dacia Logan MCV, which is based on the Dacia Sandero supermini. It won’t carry much cachet with your friends, but it offers no-frills motoring at a very reasonable cost. Choose a Logan SCe 75 model and insurance costs should be very friendly indeed.
You'll also be able to revel in 573 litres of boot space, which is more than you get in the estate version of the BMW 5 Series, a much bigger car that costs four times the price, making it one of the best cars of its type for practicality. It’s not inspiring to drive, because while the ride is soft and comfortable, it also has a roly-poly cornering attitude. But if you’re after a larger car that's economical to run, the Logan has few peers. Watch out for the entry-level Access model, as it doesn’t come with air-conditioning or even a radio, but move up to an Ambiance or Laureate model and you’ll get enough kit. The Logan isn’t smart or sophisticated, and doesn’t have the best safety rating, but if you need space it's a very good first car.
Dacia Logan MCV Review
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Toyota Yaris (2011-2019)
In reliability studies the world over, Toyota consistently scores the highest marks. If that’s your primary concern then the Toyota Yaris should certainly be on your shopping list. It’s not as much fun to drive as a Ford Fiesta or even a VW Polo, but where it really scores is in its dependability.
There were a range of different engines to choose from, but the most insurance friendly for the younger driver are models equipped with the 1.0-litre VVT-I engines. They're solid and dependable and will be cheap to run with excellent economy figures, but the 1.3-litre or 1.5-litre models are very affordable, too. There’s plenty of choice when it comes to trim levels, there are three-door and five-door body styles to choose from, and it’s more practical than the smaller Toyota Aygo.
While the Yaris might not be a class leader in any specific area, it is a very well-rounded package; solid and dependable, with an enviable reliability record and low running costs. That makes the Yaris a very sensible choice for a young driver taking their first steps on the car ownership ladder.
Toyota Yaris Review
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Hyundai i10 (2014-2019)
The current Hyundai i10 is one of our favourite city cars, but as it was launched in 2020 it doesn’t quite fall into the budget cars category just yet. But the previous generation i10 was almost as good, and comes at a very reasonable price point.
To benefit from the cheapest insurance costs, you’ll need to look for a model with the 1.0-litre engine, but with several trim levels to choose from, your i10 can still be well-equipped. It's a roomy city car with a practical five-door hatchback body that's more spacious than those of rivals like the Citroen C1 and Peugeot 107, and it's finished inside with higher quality materials that are well screwed together.
It’s good to drive, too, with quick-witted steering that makes it fun on the back roads, and while the 1.0-litre engine can feel a little strained at motorway speeds, it still feels refined when covering longer distances. As an all-rounder that’s cheap to insure and run, it really is an excellent car for recently qualified drivers.
Hyundai i10 Review
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Kia Picanto (2011-2016)
If you’re looking for a car that’s cheap to insure yet also offers low If you’re looking for a car that’s cheap to insure yet also offers low running costs elsewhere, then it’s hard to look past the Kia Picanto, specifically the model that was produced between 2011 and 2016. To benefit from low insurance, you’ll need to go for one of the lower powered 65bhp 1.0-litre models, but that’s more than enough to be getting on with, especially if you’ll be doing the majority of your driving around town.
As well as cheap insurance, you’ll also benefit from decent economy; 50mpg is more than achievable, and if your budget will stretch to around £6,000, you could get a car still covered by Kia’s class-leading seven-year warranty. Granted, the Picanto isn't the roomiest car in the class, and you might find the 1.0-litre engine becomes a little vocal at higher speeds. But as an all-round package it still takes some beating. For a young driver who wants low running costs, as well as a car that’s easy to drive, the Kia makes a very good case for itself.
Kia Picanto Review
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