If you love the idea of owning a sports car but are put off by the prospect of hefty insurance premiums, all is not lost. Contrary to popular belief, it is possible to find a sports car with a comparatively low insurance group rating. In fact, we'd suggest that there are plenty of fast, fun used cars that won't cause your jaw to drop when it's time to get a quote. To prove it we’ve got 11 of the best here, listed in ascending order according to their insurance group rating.
Admittedly, there's no truly exotic machinery on this list because anything seriously fast or high-end does sit in a high insurance group. But each of the cars we’ve selected here has sporty looks and is guaranteed to put a grin on your face behind the wheel. And with insurance group ratings ranging from 16 to 34 (out of 50) they should raise a smile when it comes to getting an insurance quote, too.
As ever, don’t forget that insurance groups are only a guide, and aren’t a guarantee of cheap insurance cover: other factors such as where you live, where the car is kept, your driving record, and how you intend to use the car will also be used by your insurance company to calculate your car insurance premium.
As such, it’s always a good idea to get a range of car insurance quotes to find the best deal with the right level of cover.
11 Used Sports Cars With Cheap Insurance
- Honda CR-Z – Group 16
- MINI Roadster – Group 19
- Mazda MX-5 Mk3 – Group 21
- Smart Roadster – Group 22
- Mazda MX-5 MK1 – Group 23
- Mazda MX-5 Mk2 – Group 23
- Mazda MX-5 RF Mk4 – Group 24
- Fiat 124 Spider – Group 25
- Abarth 124 Spider – Group 29
- Audi TT Coupe Mk2 – Group 30
- Toyota GT86 – Group 34
Honda CR-Z – Group 16
The Honda CR-Z is a classic example of Honda doing things its own way to produce a sporty little car that gives low running costs and sensible insurance group ratings.
The CR-Z certainly looks the part, with its rakish coupe styling and pointy nose, and it's fun to drive – changing direction quickly and feeling very nimble through corners. Power comes from a combination of a 1.5-litre petrol engine and an electric motor that gives a total of 122bhp and a 0-60mph time of just under ten seconds. It's no Type R, then, but it's nippy enough and, (very) unusually for a hybrid, there's a manual gearbox that allows you to shift ratios yourself and make the most of what's on offer. Although you're unlikely to match the official mid-50s mpg figure, 40mpg+ is easily possible, even with hard driving, so the CR-Z really does make owning something sporty more affordable. Reliability should be good, too, while the interior is well-built and pleasantly driver-focused.
Honda CR-Z Review
MINI Roadster – Group 19
Given its premium bent and fashionable image, it might be a surprise to find the MINI Roadster has such low insurance premiums – but it does. It’s also great to drive, looks the part and, with BMW build quality, it should be durable.
The big surprise, though, is that the two-seat Roadster is actually slightly cheaper to buy than the four-seat MINI Convertible, – so it’s a bargain whichever way you square it. Happily, of course, it doesn’t look it.
Mazda MX-5 Mk3 – Group 21
Spoiler alert: this isn’t the only Mazda MX-5 you’ll see in this list. In fact, all four generations make the lineup, but it is the Mk3 that is undoubtedly the one to go for if you value cheap insurance.
While it’s a little heavier and less wieldy than the other MX-5s, the Mk3 makes up for this with a combination of low prices and high equipment levels, making it excellent value and a doddle to live with day to day. And while it might not be quite as agile as its forebears, this is still a fun little car to drive when you’re in the mood.
Mazda MX-5 Mk3 Review
Smart Roadster – Group 22
There are relatively few 20-year-old cars about which you can say that they look as fresh and as modern today as when they were launched. But that’s arguably true of the Smart Roadster, which is a testament to this car’s innovative styling, both inside and out.
And even though it only has 80 horsepower, the three-cylinder turbo petrol engine is rev-happy, so the Smart drives really well (though the automated manual gearbox takes a bit of getting used to).
Mazda MX-5 MK1 – Group 23
The original Mazda MX-5 is now being recognised as a bona fide modern classic. The downside to this is that it is no longer the bargain it once was – but the upside is that it also means an early MX-5 is a pretty safe place to put your money. And for many people, the original is the best – the first MX-5’s rear-wheel-drive chassis is light, nimble, agile and as involving as it gets. Just watch out for rusty examples.
Mazda MX-5 Mk1 Review
Mazda MX-5 Mk2 – Group 23
The rise in Mk1 values means the second-generation MX-5 is now the bargain of the bunch – although with numbers thinning every day, that won’t stay the case for too long. The Mk2 offers almost as much feel and excitement as the original, but boosts usability with a few nice-to-have mod cons that make it a slightly more practical proposition as a daily driver. Buy one now, before it’s too late.
Mazda MX-5 Mk2 Review
Mazda MX-5 RF Mk4 – Group 24
The latest Mazda MX-5 is a brilliant update on a familiar formula. It's gained more mod-cons and safety features over the years but, unlike most cars, the MX-5 has gained very little girth or weight. As a result it remains lithe, lightweight and thrilling to drive.
The standard, cloth-roofed roadster model is also one of the most affordable sports cars to insure, but the MX-5 RF has even lower insurance group ratings thanks to a folding metal roof that makes it that bit more secure, and which provides extra refinement with the roof up. But don't worry, you can still enjoy al fresco motoring at the touch of a button and it's still scalpel-sharp through corners.
Mazda MX-5 Mk4 Review
Fiat 124 Spider – Group 25
An Italian drop-top with Japanese build quality and durability; that's the elevator pitch for the Fiat 124 Spider. Yep, under its slinky bodywork this is essentially the same car as the Mazda MX-5 and it hails from the same Mazda factory in Hiroshima.
Sold new in the UK between 2016 and 2019, the 124 Spider is the result of a collaboration between Fiat and Mazda and most mechanical (and interior) parts are shared with the MX-5. The 124 Spider has its own turbocharged 1.4-litre petrol engine, however, as well as bespoke (longer) bodywork that gives it a slightly larger boot. It's arguably even better to drive, with welcome extra low-down torque and a slightly more controlled feel through corners. If you like the looks and are willing to pay a bit more for insurance, then, we can see why Fiat's take on the classic roadster formula might be even more appealing than the Mazda's.
Abarth 124 Spider – Group 29
The Abarth 124 Spider is a sportier version of the Fiat 124 Spider we just covered – with a range of modifications by Abarth (Fiat's sporty sub-brand) that make this a more focused, aggressive proposition. Externally there are different alloys and black detailing that give it a more purposeful look. There are mechanical changes for an even sharper drive, with stiffer suspension, upgraded brakes, a limited-slip differential and a more powerful version of the Fiat's turbocharged engine. A special exhaust system gives a more throaty soundtrack to match.
On the whole this is a satisfyingly hard-edged machine but it costs more to buy and insure than its Fiat equivalent and the ride can be rather bouncy.
Audi TT Coupe Mk2 – Group 30
The second-generation Audi TT – unlike the first one – has dynamic ability to match its athletic looks. Underneath it's essentially a Mk5 VW Golf GTI, and that's a great place to start. Nimble and reassuring on a twisty road, it's as enjoyable to drive as a good hot hatch.
At the same time, the TT plays the role of sophisticated coupe exceptionally well thanks to its top-quality interior and good high-speed refinement. You need to stick with the entry-level 1.8-litre petrol models to get the lowest insurance rates, but these are fast enough to satisfy most needs and if really want more pace there's not a big jump in group ratings to the more powerful 2.0-litre petrol. Audi TT Review
Toyota GT86 – Group 34
No list of affordable used sports cars is complete without the Toyota GT86 and it scrapes in here thanks to its reasonable group 34 rating. It might stretch the limits of your budget but we'd argue that the GT86 is worth it – if you want the purest expression of what a sports car is about you can't do much better than this.
The recipe is simple – a lightweight, low-slung coupe with a rev-happy engine, rear-wheel drive and steering that allows you to feel everything that's going on. You need to keep the revs up to maintain a good pace and you don't have to be pushing hard for the rear tyres to start edging wide through a corner. But that's all part of the fun. The cabin is boomy and rather plasticky, too, but the driving position is perfect and the noise adds to a visceral experience that many much more expensive sports cars can't match. Toyota GT86 Review