Low insurance group cars for young drivers
Quick answer
This is the full list: every car in our dataset whose entry trim sits in insurance groups 1–10, ranked lowest first. 39 models qualify. Each row shows the model's typical range across all trims, because the version you buy matters as much as the badge.
How to read this list
The entry group is what the cheapest trim of that model is rated. The range shows how far the model climbs once you move up through engines and trim levels — and that gap is the thing most buyers miss. A car listed here at group 2 can be a group 20 car in the wrong specification.
The cost column is an estimate for a 17–20 year old driver, so it is deliberately the toughest case. Older new drivers will see lower figures across the board — see cheapest cars for new drivers for how age changes the maths.
All 39 low-group models, ranked
| Car | Entry group | Full range | Band | Typical at 17–20* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suzuki Alto | 1 | 1–6 | Very low | £475–£745 |
| Suzuki Celerio | 1 | 1–7 | Very low | £475–£745 |
| Fiat Panda | 1 | 1–9 | Very low | £475–£745 |
| Hyundai i10 | 1 | 1–9 | Very low | £475–£745 |
| Kia Picanto | 1 | 1–10 | Very low | £475–£745 |
| Volkswagen Up | 1 | 1–12 | Very low | £475–£745 |
| Fiat 500 | 1 | 1–12 | Very low | £475–£745 |
| Dacia Sandero | 2 | 2–11 | Very low | £525–£815 |
| Skoda Fabia | 2 | 2–14 | Very low | £525–£815 |
| Vauxhall Corsa | 2 | 2–17 | Very low | £525–£815 |
| Ford Fiesta | 2 | 2–20 | Very low | £525–£815 |
| Mitsubishi Colt | 3 | 3–10 | Very low | £570–£890 |
| Smart ForFour | 3 | 3–11 | Very low | £570–£890 |
| MG 3 | 4 | 4–11 | Very low | £615–£960 |
| Toyota Yaris | 4 | 4–15 | Very low | £615–£960 |
| Seat Ibiza | 4 | 4–17 | Very low | £615–£960 |
| Volkswagen Polo | 4 | 4–19 | Very low | £615–£960 |
| Mazda 2 | 5 | 5–14 | Very low | £660–£1035 |
| Toyota Aygo | 6 | 6–13 | Very low | £710–£1105 |
| Ford Fusion | 7 | 7–14 | Very low | £755–£1180 |
| Peugeot 307 | 7 | 7–15 | Very low | £755–£1180 |
| Vauxhall Adam | 8 | 8–15 | Very low | £800–£1250 |
| Nissan Note | 8 | 8–15 | Very low | £800–£1250 |
| Peugeot 208 | 8 | 8–20 | Very low | £800–£1250 |
| Suzuki Swift | 8 | 8–24 | Very low | £800–£1250 |
| Ford B-Max | 9 | 9–17 | Very low | £845–£1325 |
| Vauxhall Vectra | 9 | 9–19 | Very low | £845–£1325 |
| DS Automobiles DS3 | 9 | 9–19 | Very low | £845–£1325 |
| MG ZS | 9 | 9–22 | Very low | £845–£1325 |
| Ford Focus | 9 | 9–33 | Very low | £845–£1325 |
| Vauxhall Crossland | 10 | 10–18 | Very low | £895–£1395 |
| Renault Captur | 10 | 10–18 | Very low | £895–£1395 |
| Seat Arona | 10 | 10–19 | Very low | £895–£1395 |
| Toyota Auris | 10 | 10–19 | Very low | £895–£1395 |
| Audi A1 | 10 | 10–20 | Very low | £895–£1395 |
| Vauxhall Astra | 10 | 10–24 | Very low | £895–£1395 |
| Kia Ceed | 10 | 10–26 | Very low | £895–£1395 |
| Honda Civic | 10 | 10–32 | Very low | £895–£1395 |
| Volkswagen Golf | 10 | 10–37 | Very low | £895–£1395 |
*Estimate only, not a quote — 17–20 age band, 8-year-old car, medium-risk postcode, comprehensive cover, based on the entry trim. How we calculate this.
Browse by entry group
Insurance group 1 — 7 models
Suzuki Alto, Suzuki Celerio, Fiat Panda, Hyundai i10, Kia Picanto, Volkswagen Up, Fiat 500
Insurance group 2 — 4 models
Insurance group 3 — 2 models
Insurance group 4 — 4 models
Insurance group 5 — 1 model
Insurance group 6 — 1 model
Insurance group 7 — 2 models
Insurance group 8 — 4 models
Insurance group 9 — 5 models
Ford B-Max, Vauxhall Vectra, DS Automobiles DS3, MG ZS, Ford Focus
Not seeing the car you're looking at?
Our dataset covers popular UK models and is growing, but it isn't exhaustive. The reg checker will resolve a specific vehicle from its registration even when there's no dedicated page for it, and you can browse everything we do cover on the groups and models index.
Frequently asked questions
What are the lowest insurance group cars for young drivers?
Small city cars with entry trims in groups 1–3 sit lowest. The full ranked table on this page lists every model in our dataset with an entry trim at or below group 10.
Why does each car show a range rather than one group?
Because insurance groups are assigned per derivative, not per model. A single model can span twenty groups or more between its base engine and its performance version, so we show the honest range and link to a variant-by-variant breakdown on each model's page.
Does the lowest group car always give the cheapest quote?
Not necessarily. The group is the vehicle half of the calculation; your age, postcode, mileage and claims history are the other half. Two cars three groups apart can quote almost identically for one driver and differently for another.
Is group 10 low enough for a young driver?
For most, yes — groups 1–10 is the usual target range. At 17 specifically, the lower end of that band is noticeably cheaper, so it's worth comparing a group 3 car against a group 9 one before deciding.
How often does this list change?
The underlying dataset is reviewed whenever manufacturers facelift models or we add new ones. Every figure here is a typical range sourced the same way as the rest of the site — see our methodology.
Related guides in this series
Which group should a young driver target?
The explainer: why groups 1–10 is the advice, and what each band actually costs at 17–24.
Cheapest cars for 17-year-olds
Age-specific: first policy at 17, telematics, named drivers and what it realistically costs.
Cheapest cars for new drivers
For anyone newly qualified at any age — why passing late changes the maths.
Best first cars (not just cheapest)
Holistic picks: safety, reliability and running costs weighed alongside the group.
First-car insurance tips
The policy side only — excess, mileage, telematics and the fronting rules.
Check your car's insurance group free
Enter your registration and we'll look up the DVLA record and match it to an insurance group in seconds. No signup, no cost, and we don't store your reg.
Check my insurance group →Sources & further reading
- Thatcham Research — The motor insurers' automotive research centre. Co-runs the Group Rating Panel that sets UK insurance groups, and publishes the Vehicle Risk Rating (VRR) framework.
- Association of British Insurers (ABI) — The trade body for UK insurers. Co-runs the Group Rating Panel behind the 1–50 insurance group scale.
- DVLA — Get vehicle information — The official GOV.UK service for vehicle details by registration. Our checker uses the DVLA's Vehicle Enquiry Service API, the same underlying record.