Cheapest Cars to Insure in the UK (2026)
Ranked by estimated insurance group, with MOT reliability data from 60,619,202 real tests. Find cars that are both cheap to insure and reliable.
Updated March 2026. Insurance groups are estimates based on vehicle characteristics.
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Group 1
Cheapest group
£400-£800
Typical Group 1 cost
Group 50
Most expensive
Insurance is one of the biggest costs of car ownership, especially for younger or less experienced drivers. The insurance group your car sits in makes a huge difference: a group 1 car might cost £500/year to insure, while a group 40 car could cost £3,000+ for the same driver.
We combine estimated insurance groups with real MOT reliability data so you can find cars that are both cheap to insure and unlikely to break down. Small engines, mainstream manufacturers, and widely available parts are the key to low insurance.
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Top 20 Cheapest Cars to Insure
Ranked by estimated insurance group, with MOT pass rate and running costs
| # | Car | Ins. Group | Pass Rate | Running Cost/yr | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Volkswagen Up(2020) | 1 | 95% | £1,400 | |
| 2 | Volkswagen Up(2021) | 1 | 95% | £1,400 | |
| 3 | Volkswagen Up(2019) | 1 | 93% | £1,400 | |
| 4 | Volkswagen Up Black Edition(2021) | 1 | 93% | £1,400 | |
| 5 | Volkswagen Up Gti(2021) | 1 | 92% | £1,400 | |
| 6 | Volkswagen Up Black Edition(2020) | 1 | 92% | £1,400 | |
| 7 | Volkswagen Up Gti(2020) | 1 | 91% | £1,400 | |
| 8 | Volkswagen Up(2018) | 1 | 90% | £1,400 | |
| 9 | Volkswagen Up(2017) | 1 | 88% | £1,550 | |
| 10 | Volkswagen Up(2013) | 1 | 86% | £1,390 | |
| 11 | Volkswagen Up(2014) | 1 | 86% | £1,390 | |
| 12 | Volkswagen Up(2015) | 1 | 86% | £1,390 | |
| 13 | Volkswagen Up(2016) | 1 | 86% | £1,390 | |
| 14 | Volkswagen Move Up(2014) | 1 | 85% | £1,390 | |
| 15 | Volkswagen Up(2012) | 1 | 84% | £1,390 | |
| 16 | Kia Picanto(2014) | 1 | 81% | £1,390 | |
| 17 | Volkswagen Lupo(2005) | 1 | 79% | £1,827 | |
| 18 | Kia Picanto(2013) | 1 | 77% | £1,540 | |
| 19 | Kia Picanto(2012) | 1 | 75% | £1,490 | |
| 20 | Volkswagen Lupo(2003) | 1 | 75% | £1,595 |
Most Reliable Low-Insurance Cars
These cars combine insurance groups 1 to 10 with the highest MOT pass rates. Cheap to insure and unlikely to need expensive repairs.
Top 10 Reliable Low-Insurance Cars
Insurance groups 1 to 10, ranked by MOT pass rate
| # | Car | Ins. Group | Pass Rate | Running Cost/yr | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lintex Ht12t-12 Unclassified(2015) | 8 | 100% | £1,240 | |
| 2 | Dvsa Dvsa(2018) | 8 | 99% | £1,400 | |
| 3 | Suzuki Ignis Sz3 Dualjet Mhev(2021) | 8 | 98% | £1,400 | |
| 4 | Fiat 500 Star S-a(2020) | 3 | 97% | £1,582 | |
| 5 | Honda Jazz Crosstar Ex I-mmd Cvt(2021) | 5 | 97% | £1,582 | |
| 6 | Honda Jazz Crosstar Ex I-mmd Cvt(2020) | 5 | 97% | £1,582 | |
| 7 | Suzuki Swift Sz-t Dualjet Mhev Cvt(2021) | 5 | 97% | £1,400 | |
| 8 | Toyota Yaris Cross Design Hev Auto(2021) | 6 | 97% | £1,582 | |
| 9 | Toyota Yaris Launch Edition Hev Cvt(2021) | 6 | 97% | £1,582 | |
| 10 | Toyota Yaris Cross Excel Hev Auto(2021) | 6 | 97% | £1,582 |
How Insurance Groups Work
Groups 1 to 5
The cheapest to insure. Small city cars under 1000cc, budget manufacturers. Typical cost: £400 to £1,000/year. Ideal for new drivers.
Groups 6 to 15
Affordable insurance. Small family cars, 1.0L to 1.4L engines. Typical cost: £500 to £1,400/year. Good balance of practicality and cost.
Groups 16 to 30
Mid-range. Family cars, entry-level premium models, 1.5L to 2.0L engines. Typical cost: £700 to £2,000/year.
Groups 31 to 50
Expensive. Performance cars, large SUVs, premium and luxury vehicles. Typical cost: £1,200 to £5,000+/year. Not recommended for new drivers.
For a full guide, see our Insurance Groups 1 to 50 explained.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest car to insure in the UK?
Cars in insurance group 1 are the cheapest. The Volkswagen Up, Kia Picanto, and Hyundai i10 with their sub-1000cc engines consistently sit in the lowest groups, making them the cheapest cars to insure for most drivers.
How can I lower my car insurance cost?
Choose a car in a low insurance group (under 10). Other factors that help: adding a more experienced named driver, increasing your voluntary excess, parking off-street, building up no-claims years, and taking an advanced driving course.
Does car colour affect insurance?
No. Car colour has no effect on insurance premiums or insurance groups. The group is determined by engine size, power, repair costs, security, and vehicle value.
Are automatic cars more expensive to insure?
Slightly. Automatic gearboxes cost more to repair or replace, which can push the insurance group up by 1 to 3 groups compared to the manual version. The difference in premium is usually small.
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Best First Cars
Small cars ideal for new drivers
Cheapest to Run
All cars ranked by annual running cost
Insurance Groups Guide
Groups 1 to 50 explained in detail
Methodology
Insurance groups are estimated based on engine size, manufacturer, model name, and fuel type. Actual insurance groups are set by Thatcham Research and may differ from our estimates. Running costs exclude insurance and are based on DVSA MOT data, current fuel prices, and VED rates. Only models with 500+ MOT tests are included. Data sourced under OGL v3.0.