Experts at the website studied the average second-hand prices for popular car models, as well as insurance quotes for young drivers for each model, to determine the most affordable options for a new driver.
It found the Nissan Micra was the cheapest car for new drivers, with an average second-hand price tag of £1,990. When combined with an estimated insurance cost of £2,758 per year, this brings the total to £4,748.
The Vauxhall Corsa was in second place with an average price tag of £2,127. This model also ranked as being the second-most popular model in the UK, with almost one million registrations.
The Renault Megane was in third place. The insurance estimate for a second-hand Megane is the lowest of any model in the top 10, at £2,493. The purchase price is the same as the insurance cost for this model, bringing the total to £4,985.
The Renault Clio had the highest insurance cost for any model in the rankings, at £3,717. The lower initial cost of £2,273 puts this model in eighth place with a total of £5,990.
Tips for young car buyers
Every car belongs to an insurance group, numbered one to 50, that’ll make it more or less expensive to insure, with cars that fall into the lower groups being less expensive to insure than those in the higher groups.
So, when shopping around for a second-hand car, try to find one in a lower insurance group in order to keep the cost of your cover down.
Connor Campbell, expert at Independent Advisor Car Insurance, said: “Obtaining insurance quotes for multiple models that you’re considering is wise, in order to ensure that you can afford both the car payments and the insurance expenses for the year. Insurance is dependent on many factors including age, location, and available home parking, so be sure to check and compare your quotes via comparison websites.”
Once you have decided on the type of car you are looking for, it is important to look into the running costs that it will incur. If you’re looking to have a cost-effective and efficient car, these will often do more than 60mpg. Anything higher than 50mpg can be regarded as good fuel consumption.
Related: Car insurance premiums up a third in a year – but prices are ‘stabilising’
