Best first cars for new drivers
How to choose your first car
Congratulations! You’ve passed your driving test, received your certificate, and now you’re ready to hit the road.
But first, you need to buy your first car.
The best first cars are easy to drive, reliable, cheap to run, and cheap to insure. And there are hundreds of options to choose from, whether you’re looking for a stylish supermini or a family-friendly hatchback.
So, what do you need to consider when choosing your first car?
First up, let’s talk money. Your budget is one of the biggest factors that can influence your choice of car. If you’re looking for car finance, work out how much you can afford to pay each month and whether you have a deposit available to put down upfront. Don’t forget about running costs either; you’ll need to be able to afford insurance, tax, fuel, your annual MOT and service, and any ad-hoc repairs. These can add up over time.
Should I buy a new or used car?
Choosing a used car could help you make the most of your budget. All cars depreciate - lose value - over time, but new cars depreciate at speed, losing up to 30% of their value in the first year. That means a used car that’s only two or three years old could be a significantly cheaper first car than a brand-new model. And a car that’s worth less will probably also cost less to insure.
Even so, used cars will have more miles on the clock than a new model, and might have wear-and-tear that could increase your maintenance costs if something does go wrong. It’s also likely that you won’t benefit from the warranty cover offered with many brand-new vehicles.
What type of car should I buy - a hatchback, supermini, or SUV?
While the car category you choose needs to fit your needs and lifestyle, you might want to opt for a smaller model when buying your first car. A chic supermini that’s designed for short commutes might be easier to handle and manoeuvre into small parking spaces than a long estate or bulky SUV.
If you do need more space, consider a hot hatchback. Hatchbacks are great all-rounders; they aren’t too big but still usually feature five seats and a generous boot. They’re also powerful enough to handle motorway driving without being too wide to navigate narrow one-way streets. Plus, they’re often packed with safety features to provide that extra reassurance.
But, if you’ve been dreaming about splashing out on an SUV or high-performance sports car, there’s nothing stopping you. Just make sure that you can afford any finance repayments and your insurance premiums.
Should I buy a used car from a dealership or private seller?
When looking for a cheap first car, you might be able to get the best deal buying from a private seller. But it can also come with more risks. When you buy from a dealership, you’re protected by the Consumer Rights Act 2015, which gives you the right to a repair if a fault emerges within the first six months of ownership. Unfortunately, private sellers aren’t covered by the act so, if something does go wrong, you’ll be responsible for any repairs the car needs.
No matter whether you choose to buy a car from a dealership or private seller, be sure to carry out thorough checks. Look over the exterior and interior of the vehicle, check all the paperwork, and take it on a test drive to find out how the car performs on different road conditions.
What are the safest cars for young drivers?
It’s a fact of life that young drivers get into more accidents than more experienced drivers. These can range from small scratches and scrapes to more serious incidents. So, it makes sense that the best cars for new drivers are also some of the safest. If a particular make or model catches your eye, be sure to check out its Euro NCAP rating. Every car gets an official safety rating from this independent organisation based on how well it performs in crash tests and the safety equipment included.
You should also think about the car’s features and whether they can help or hinder a new driver. Look out for large windows that could provide good visibility, an easy-to-navigate dashboard with intuitive controls, and driver assist tech like a reverse parking camera or lane-keep assist.
Of course, even buying the safest car on the market can’t guarantee you won’t end up in an accident. The best way to prevent a crash is to be the safest driver you can be, follow the rules of the road, and stay alert behind the wheel.
The best first cars for new drivers
Ready to buy your first car but still looking for inspiration? Check out our round-up of the best first cars to buy:
Vauxhall Corsa
The Vauxhall Corsa is one of the cheapest first cars to buy and insure. It’s reliable too, with surprisingly light steering and smooth handling that’ll make it an easy to control for drivers who have just passed their test. The first Corsa was produced over 20 years ago and it has only got better with age. Affordable to buy and run, it’s easy to see why the Vauxhall is so popular with new drivers. It might not be the most striking car on our list but it’ll have no problem going the distance.
Ford Fiesta
The Ford Fiesta is a great first car; it’s a solidly-built supermini that’s well-balanced and agile enough to make any driver feel comfortable behind the wheel. Available with three or five doors, the Fiesta offers a smooth drive, strong suspension, and enough power to hit decent speeds on faster roads. The boot has enough room for all your weekend bags and the driving position gives good visibility. Running costs are impressively low and its tech features include a heated windscreen and smartphone compatibility.
Hyundai i10
Fast becoming one of the most popular first cars on the market, the Hyundai i10 is a small car that offers a surprising amount of space. If you need a boot that has space for a suitcase and plenty of legroom for all your passengers, then the i10 could be a great choice for you. Its engine isn’t the most powerful, but it’s perfect for city driving, can make tight turns, fit into small spots, and take on narrow roads.
Fiat 500
If you’re looking to turn heads, the Fiat 500 is one of the most recognisable cars on the road thanks to its distinctive, vintage-inspired design. It’s compact, so won’t cause any issues on smaller city streets, while its accurate steering and suite of safety features will reassure even the most nervous of new drivers. The Fiat could also be friendly on your wallet thanks to its low running costs and fuel efficiency.
Volkswagen Golf
It’s easy to see why the Volkswagen Golf is a firm favourite among new and younger drivers. With solid German engineering, it’s durable and reliable, even on cold winter mornings when you need it to get to work or uni. The Golf offers a generous boot too, and it’s economical when it comes to fuel. Its range of safety features is sure to put you at ease and include curtain airbags, driver fatigue alerts, and smart lane assist technology that can recognise road edges and signs.
Toyota Yaris
When you’re looking to invest in your first hatchback, you can’t go wrong with a Toyota Yaris. It’s reliable but fun to drive too, with styling and engineering inspired by rally cars. With a 1.6 litre engine, the Yaris can hold its own on the motorway while remaining lightweight and easy to handle. Inside, you can take control through the 8-inch multimedia system that can connect with your phone, play music or your favourite podcast through its six speakers, and maximise your boot space by retracting the rear seats.
Seat Leon
Often described as the cheaper cousin of the Volkswagen Golf, the Seat Leon is one of the most affordable used cars on the market. It’s popular with families thanks to its practical styling and buffet of safety equipment but that doesn’t mean it’ll bore younger drivers when they get behind the wheel. If you’re new to driving, you can make the most of additional features like lane-keep assist, cruise control, and tyre pressure monitoring, There’s enough space in the backseats for your tallest friends to fit comfortably and the boot has more than enough room for your gym kit and shopping bags.
Nissan Leaf
If you’re looking for an eco-friendly first car, look no further than the Nissan Leaf. An affordable EV option, the Leaf is almost silent on the road, has a range of up to 168 miles, and can seat four adults comfortably. Its design is less controversial than some other electric vehicles on the market while its interior is stripped back and minimalist despite the impressive range of tech on offer. New drivers can find their way wherever they go thanks to the built-in Satnav and crank up the volume on their favourite playlist with smartphone mirroring.
Renault Clio
With a curvy exterior and sleek interior design, the Renault Clio has a refined sense of style. Newer models have a minimal dashboard that’s easy to navigate, while the seating is plush and comfortable, even on longer journeys. Its windows aren’t as large as other cars on this list but the light steering and small size overall means you’ll still be able to practice your parallel parking without too much difficulty. You won’t have to dive too deep into your savings account to keep it running either; the Clio is fuel efficient, reliable, and quiet on the road.
Kia Picanto
The Kia Picanto was designed for the city, but no matter where you drive, if you encounter your fair share of potholes, its firm suspension will make all the difference. Its steering is agile and responsive but doesn’t feel flimsy. In fact, the Picanto is reassuringly solid all-round with a clear dashboard that’s easy to use and understand. The engine might put up a fight if you try to push past 70mph but if you’re a new driver looking for a car to get to school or visit friends nearby then it’s a great value option.
Young driver car finance
If you don’t have the savings available to buy your first car outright, you’ll probably be looking for car finance. Unfortunately finding car finance for young drivers isn’t always easy. But it’s not impossible! Here at CarFinance 247, we work with a panel of lenders, which means we’re able to look to find finance for drivers with a variety of different circumstances.
You must be over 18 to sign a car finance agreement, but if you think you might struggle to secure a loan due to your credit score, there are steps you can take to improve your chances:
- Start building a credit score
As soon as you’ve turned 18, it’s never too early to start working on your credit score. While you should never take on debt that you can’t afford, a limited credit history is one of the things that can stand in the way of you securing young driver car finance. If you’ve never borrowed money before then lenders can’t be sure how you’ll act if they offer you a loan and that makes you a riskier prospect for them.
Proactively taking steps to build a good credit profile could help. Consider getting on the electoral roll, keep up with any bills you might already have like a mobile phone contract, and try to avoid making too many applications for credit at the same time.
- Consider joint car finance
Applying for joint car finance with someone who has a strong credit score could make it easier for you to secure a loan. At CarFinance 247, we work with lenders that offer joint car finance - just let your account manager know that you’re looking for this type of car loan when you apply.
- Reduce the amount you need to borrow
Choosing a cheaper car or putting more money down as a deposit could decrease the amount you need to borrow and increase your likelihood of finding a loan. It’s all about the risk involved. The less you borrow, the lower the risk for a lender.
Car insurance for young drivers
Car insurance is one of the biggest costs young drivers face after buying their first car. Average premiums for 17 - 19 year olds are over £1000 annually. Unfortunately, new and young drivers are a higher risk group - it’s estimated that 1 in 10 will have a crash within six months of passing their driving test.
The good news is that there are things you can do to get cheaper car insurance for young drivers:
- Reduce your mileage - the lower your mileage, the cheaper your premium
- Add named drivers to your policy - having an experienced driver on your policy too could provide reassurance to the insurer
- Shop around - don’t be afraid to look for the best price using comparison and cashback sites
- Keep your car secure - leave your car parked in a locked garage or private carpark overnight
- Avoid modifications - adding extras like expensive stereo systems and spoilers can make your car more tempting to opportunistic thieves
- Pay annually - if you can afford to, paying the full premium in one go is usually cheaper than splitting the payment