Top 10 Cheapest Cars to Insure in the UK (2026)

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Choosing a low-insurance car can reduce how much you pay each year for cover. Cars in a lower insurance group usually cost less to repair, have strong safety features and are seen as lower risk by insurers. Below are the top 10 cheapest cars to insure in the UK, based on insurance group ratings, typical insurance costs and ownership data. If you plan to compare car insurance before buying, choosing the right car can help keep premiums lower from day one.

The prices and insurance figures shown are indicative UK averages, based on market data and Free Price Compare analysis. Estimates are rounded to reflect typical costs rather than exact insurance quotes.

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How insurers decide which cars are cheap to insure

UK insurance companies use an insurance group rating system created by the Association of British Insurers. Cars are placed into groups from 1 to 50. A lower insurance group rating usually reflects:

  • Lower repair costs
  • Strong Euro NCAP safety ratings
  • Smaller or less powerful petrol engines
  • Good security features
  • Reduced risk of high-value insurance claims

Cars that meet these criteria often qualify for lower premiums, making them a great option for young drivers, new drivers and anyone looking for cheap car insurance.

Top 10 Cheapest Cars to Insure in the UK – Cost Overview

Car model Typical used price Typical new price Est. annual insurance cost* Insurance group
Hyundai i10 £6,000–£9,000 £15,000+ £330–£520 1–4
Kia Picanto £5,500–£8,500 £14,500+ £340–£530 2–4
Toyota Aygo X £7,000–£10,500 £16,000+ £360–£560 5–6
Dacia Sandero £6,000–£9,500 £13,500+ £350–£540 2–6
Skoda Fabia £6,500–£10,500 £17,000+ £380–£600 4–8
Fiat 500 £6,000–£10,000 £15,500+ £390–£620 5–9
Volkswagen Polo (1.0) £7,000–£11,500 £19,000+ £420–£680 8–12
SEAT Ibiza £6,500–£11,000 £18,000+ £430–£700 8–13
Renault Clio (1.0) £6,500–£11,500 £18,000+ £440–£720 9–14
MG3 £5,500–£8,500 £14,000+ £410–£650 8–11

*Estimated insurance costs based on Free Price Compare analysis of UK insurance rates. Actual quotes vary by driver and location.

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1. Hyundai i10

  • Cost to buy: from around £6,000 used
  • Estimated insurance cost: £330–£520 per year
  • Insurance group: 1–4

The Hyundai i10 is widely regarded as the cheapest car to insure in the UK. Its compact city-car design, strong safety features and low repair costs make it a great option for drivers looking to keep insurance premiums low.

Why it’s cheap to insure:

  • Low repair costs and inexpensive parts
  • Strong Euro NCAP safety features for a city car
  • Very low insurance group rating
Hyundai i10
Kia Picanto

2. Kia Picanto

  • Cost to buy: from around £5,500 used
  • Estimated insurance cost: £340–£530 per year
  • Insurance group: 2–4

The Kia Picanto combines low running costs with solid safety credentials. Insurance providers favour it because repairs are affordable and claims tend to be lower in value.

Why it’s cheap to insure:

  • Simple mechanical design keeps repair costs down
  • Good safety equipment as standard
  • Sits in a lower insurance group

3. Toyota Aygo X

  • Cost to buy: from around £7,000 used
  • Estimated insurance cost: £360–£560 per year
  • Insurance group: 5–6

The Toyota Aygo X offers modern styling while retaining the low insurance costs associated with the original Aygo. Reliability and safety features help keep car insurance costs competitive.

Why it’s cheap to insure:

  • Excellent reliability reduces insurance claims
  • Strong safety ratings for its class
  • Low insurance group compared to rivals
Toyota Aygo X
Dacia Sandero

4. Dacia Sandero

  • Cost to buy: from around £6,000 used
  • Estimated insurance cost: £350–£540 per year
  • Insurance group: 2–6

The Dacia Sandero is one of the cheapest cars to buy new in the UK, and its low value helps keep insurance rates down. Affordable parts and simple engines appeal to insurers.

Why it’s cheap to insure:

  • Affordable repair and replacement costs
  • Modest petrol engines reduce risk
  • Lower insurance group rating

5. Skoda Fabia

  • Cost to buy: from around £6,500 used
  • Estimated insurance cost: £380–£600 per year
  • Insurance group: 4–8

The Skoda Fabia offers more boot space than many small cars without pushing insurance costs too high. It benefits from strong safety features and shared VW Group parts.

Why it’s cheap to insure:

  • Shared VW Group parts help control repair costs
  • Strong safety features and crash ratings
  • Sensible engine options keep insurance groups down
Skoda Fabia

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Fiat 500

6. Fiat 500

  • Cost to buy: from around £6,000 used
  • Estimated insurance cost: £390–£620 per year
  • Insurance group: 5–9

The Fiat 500 remains a popular city car. Its compact size and affordable repair costs help reduce insurance premiums, especially on entry-level petrol models.

Why it’s cheap to insure:

  • Compact size lowers damage risk
  • Simple engines and affordable repairs
  • Lower insurance group on entry trims

7. Volkswagen Polo (lower-power trims)

  • Cost to buy: from around £7,000 used
  • Estimated insurance cost: £420–£680 per year
  • Insurance group: 8–12

The VW Polo costs slightly more to insure than city cars but remains competitive thanks to strong safety technology and predictable repair costs.

Why it’s cheap to insure:

  • Advanced safety technology reduces claim severity
  • Predictable repair costs
  • Lower insurance group on 1.0 petrol engines
Volkswagen Polo
SEAT Ibiza

8. SEAT Ibiza

  • Cost to buy: from around £6,500 used
  • Estimated insurance cost: £430–£700 per year
  • Insurance group: 8–13

The SEAT Ibiza offers a sporty look while remaining insurance-friendly. Entry-level petrol models are seen as lower risk by insurers.

Why it’s cheap to insure:

  • Strong safety ratings across the range
  • Affordable parts and repairs
  • Entry models sit in lower insurance groups

9. Renault Clio

  • Cost to buy: from around £6,500 used
  • Estimated insurance cost: £440–£720 per year
  • Insurance group: 9–14

The Renault Clio benefits from modern safety features and efficient engines. Lower-powered trims help keep insurance premiums under control.

Why it’s cheap to insure:

  • Advanced safety features as standard
  • Efficient, low-power petrol engines
  • Competitive insurance group rating
Renault Clio
MG3

10. MG3

  • Cost to buy: from around £5,500 used
  • Estimated insurance cost: £410–£650 per year
  • Insurance group: 8–11

The MG3 is often overlooked but offers excellent value. Low repair costs and simple engineering help keep insurance premiums affordable.

Why it’s cheap to insure:

  • Low repair costs and simple engineering
  • Budget pricing reduces insurer exposure
  • Lower insurance group than many rivals

How to reduce your insurance costs further

Even with a cheap-to-insure car, you can reduce premiums by:

  • Choosing a car in a lower insurance group
  • Parking in a secure car park or driveway
  • Limiting annual mileage
  • Using black box insurance for new drivers
  • Taking time to compare car insurance prices across providers

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FAQs: Cheapest Cars to Insure in the UK

The Hyundai i10 is often the cheapest insurance car in the UK. It sits in a very low insurance group, has low repair costs and strong safety features, which keeps car insurance rates down.

Small cars are usually cheaper, but not always. Engine size, insurance group rating, safety features and repair costs all affect the final cost of car insurance. A small car with a powerful engine or higher insurance group can still attract higher premiums.

Cars in insurance groups 1–10 usually offer the cheapest insurance. These cars are seen as lower risk by motor insurance providers and are often recommended for younger drivers and learner driver insurance.

Cars with an automatic gearbox can sometimes cost more to insure due to higher repair costs. However, small automatic cars with modest engines can still be a great choice for affordable coverage.

Yes. Black box insurance can significantly reduce car insurance rates, especially for younger drivers and those taking out their first insurance policy.

In many cases, petrol cars are cheaper to insure. Diesel engines can be more expensive to repair, which can increase car insurance premiums.

Yes. Cars with strong Euro NCAP safety ratings, advanced safety features and good security systems are often placed in a lower insurance group, helping reduce insurance costs.

Often, yes. Cars with good fuel economy and strong fuel efficiency usually have lower emissions, which can reduce vehicle tax as well as insurance costs. This can make them a solid choice for keeping overall running costs down.

Yes. Always compare car insurance before buying a car. Insurance costs can vary widely between insurance companies, even for the same model.

Yes. Choosing a lower-risk car in the right insurance group can reduce premiums year after year and help secure the cheapest car insurance available for your circumstances.

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Page last updated on: 24/12/2025

Page reviewed by: Shay Ramani

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