- What are the best first cars to choose?
- Why insurance groups are so important
- Find out how safe it is
Having a first car is a memorable moment for all young drivers. It’s a big step on the road to independence. But what are the best first cars?
For a start, they no longer need to be an old banger that’s more fit for the scrapyard than the street. A first car should be safe, reliable and cheap to run. That means it has to sip fuel rather than gulp it, and be as cheap as possible to insure.
We’ll look at the features you should watch out for that make the best first time cars, and give you our 10 best picks.
How cheap is it to insure?
The cost of insurance is likely to be the deal breaker for most young drivers. It’s vital to get quotes for your cover before buying any car. For new drivers, these can vary dramatically, from anywhere between £1000 to £4500 for a year’s premium.
Insurance for young drivers will always be expensive because of their lack of experience. But the more accident-free time at the wheel they accrue, the cheaper premiums will become. And some cars cost less to insure than others.
Insurance is calculated using complex computer algorithms. But there are two main factors that determine the cost of premiums: risk and cost of repair. The smaller and slower a car is, the less risk a young driver has of being involved in a crash. That will help to cut premiums. And the cheaper a car is to repair, the less an insurer will have to spend if the car does get damaged.
Cars are rated in insurance groups. These go from one to 50, with one being the cheapest. Always check which insurance group any prospective new car purchase falls into.
How old is it?
Your first car ideas probably involve buying an old banger. Of course, the older a car is, the less expensive it will be to buy and maintain. But you might be surprised to learn that you can buy a relatively decent new small car for not too much money.
While an older car might be cheaper to buy, it’s likely to be less reliable. And no parent wants their child breaking down on a dark road miles away from home.
An older car won’t be as well equipped either. For safety’s sake, the best first time cars will have anti-lock brakes (ABS), electronic stability control (ESC) and airbags. The newer a car is, the more likely it is to have these features as standard.
How big is it?
Among other things, good first used cars need to be small. The smaller the car, the cheaper insurance is likely to be. Plus, smaller cars have less equipment and many of their components tend to be cheaper to replace.
In addition, small cars are easier to park and manoeuvre as young drivers get used to the ins and outs of real-world driving.
What engine does it have?
The best first car to buy won’t be too powerful. As well as being cheaper to insure, cars with smaller engines are usually more economical. This makes them cheaper to fill with fuel and usually less costly to maintain too.
Although small cars are available with diesel engines, you won’t see any major benefits unless long distances are being covered, which is often unlikely for a new driver. Petrol engines are better for short trips and driving around town.
Find out how safe the car is
Just because a car is cheap doesn’t mean it has to be unsafe. Even the smallest cars now have airbags for the driver and passengers and can be strong enough to withstand a serious collision.
More than 20 years ago, the European New Car Assessment Program began. Abbreviated simply to Euro NCAP, it is an independent organisation that gives star rating for how safe cars are on a scale of one to five. The more stars, the safer the car.
Euro NCAP crashes cars under controlled conditions and investigates their safety equipment. Their website is now a brilliant resource that reveals how safe hundreds of used cars are. It’s well worth checking out while researching the cars you want to buy. But tests are constantly evolving, so five-star small cars from 2013 won’t be as safe as five-star cars from 2018.
How reliable is it?
As we’ve seen, the best cars for first-time drivers should be reliable. Unless a first driver has support from family, their first car is unlikely to be new. And a car’s reliability going forwards can hinge on how it’s been treated. The ideal first car will have a full service history to demonstrate how well it’s been maintained. There are also resources such as the Reliability Index that give a general overview of how reliable each make and model is.
What’s it like to drive?
The best used cars for first time drivers are those that enable them to build their confidence. To do this a car needs a blend of attributes. It should be easy to see out of, so that young drivers can spot hazards. It must be simple to drive and buttons and switches should be clearly laid out and user friendly. Controls such as the steering and clutch should feel robust and sturdy, but shouldn’t be heavy to use.
See also:
Our customers say
