Cheapest Cars to Run in the UK (2026)
Ranked by real annual running costs from 59,115,744 MOT tests. Fuel, road tax, MOT, and predicted repairs included.
£935
Cheapest per year
£1,741
UK average per year
£2,597
Most expensive per year
Check Any Car's Running Costs Instantly
Enter a reg plate to get a personalised cost breakdown for any specific car, not just model averages.
The difference between running the cheapest and most expensive cars in the UK is staggering: £1,662 per year. That's the difference between a small, reliable car and a thirsty older model with a poor MOT record.
Most "cheapest cars to run" guides rely on manufacturer claims. We don't. Our rankings are based on real MOT test data from the DVSA, combined with current fuel prices, road tax rates, and predicted repair costs derived from actual failure patterns. A car with a 90%+ MOT pass rate will cost you far less in repairs than one that fails every other year.
Top 20 Cheapest Cars to Run in the UK
Lowest estimated annual running costs across all fuel types and ages
| # | Car | Pass Rate | Total/yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mercedes B-class(2015) | 86% | £935 |
| 2 | Mercedes B-class(2016) | 87% | £935 |
| 3 | Kia Soul(2015) | 86% | £935 |
| 4 | Smart (mcc) Fortwo(2015) | 85% | £935 |
| 5 | Bmw I3(2016) | 88% | £935 |
| 6 | Kia Soul(2016) | 88% | £935 |
| 7 | Porsche Cayenne(2010) | 89% | £935 |
| 8 | Jaguar I-pace(2020) | 96% | £945 |
| 9 | Hyundai Kona(2020) | 92% | £945 |
| 10 | Kia Niro 4 + Ev(2021) | 93% | £945 |
| 11 | Hyundai Kona(2019) | 92% | £945 |
| 12 | Hyundai Kona(2018) | 91% | £945 |
| 13 | Hyundai Kona(2021) | 93% | £945 |
| 14 | Jaguar I-pace(2019) | 94% | £945 |
| 15 | Volkswagen Id3 Life(2021) | 92% | £945 |
| 16 | Kia Niro 4 Ev(2020) | 90% | £945 |
| 17 | Mg Zs Exclusive Ev(2020) | 92% | £945 |
| 18 | Bmw I3(2020) | 93% | £945 |
| 19 | Jaguar I-pace(2021) | 95% | £945 |
| 20 | Bmw I3(2019) | 93% | £945 |
Considering buying one of these?
Check the specific car's MOT history before you buy. Our free check gives you a health score, mileage verification, and personalised running cost estimate.
Free Car CheckWhat Makes a Car Cheap to Run?
Fuel
The biggest variable. A small petrol car doing 50 mpg costs around £970/year at average mileage. A 3.0-litre doing 30 mpg costs £1,610. That's £640/year difference on fuel alone.
Road Tax (VED)
Cars registered after April 2017 pay a flat £190/year. Older cars pay based on CO2 emissions, from £0 (sub-100 g/km) up to £695 for high emitters. Small pre-2017 cars can pay as little as £30.
Repairs
This is where reliability data matters. Cars with 90%+ MOT pass rates average around £200/year in repairs. Drop below 70% and you're looking at £700+. That's the difference between a reliable Toyota and an ageing Land Rover.
MOT
Fixed at £54.85/year for all cars. The only running cost that doesn't vary by model. But failing the MOT triggers repair costs, which is why pass rate matters so much.
Cheapest Petrol Cars to Run
Small-engine petrol cars dominate the cheapest-to-run list, especially pre-2017 models with low tax bands.
Top 10 Cheapest Petrol Cars
Petrol models only, ranked by annual running cost
| # | Car | Pass Rate | Total/yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suzuki Celerio(2016) | 91% | £1,240 |
| 2 | Mitsubishi Mirage(2016) | 90% | £1,240 |
| 3 | Toyota Iq(2014) | 91% | £1,240 |
| 4 | Ford Fiesta(2015) | 81% | £1,390 |
| 5 | Ford Fiesta(2016) | 81% | £1,390 |
| 6 | Nissan Qashqai(2016) | 83% | £1,390 |
| 7 | Volkswagen Polo(2015) | 82% | £1,390 |
| 8 | Vauxhall Astra(2016) | 85% | £1,390 |
| 9 | Volkswagen Polo(2016) | 84% | £1,390 |
| 10 | Vauxhall Astra(2015) | 80% | £1,390 |
Cheapest Diesel Cars to Run
Diesel makes sense for high-mileage drivers. The better fuel economy offsets the slightly higher fuel price if you do more than 10,000 miles a year.
Top 10 Cheapest Diesel Cars
Diesel models only, ranked by annual running cost
| # | Car | Pass Rate | Total/yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Volkswagen Golf(2016) | 90% | £1,295 |
| 2 | Audi A3(2016) | 90% | £1,295 |
| 3 | Honda Cr-v(2015) | 90% | £1,295 |
| 4 | Mini One(2016) | 90% | £1,295 |
| 5 | Seat Ateca(2016) | 91% | £1,295 |
| 6 | Mini Paceman(2016) | 91% | £1,295 |
| 7 | Volkswagen Polo(2014) | 80% | £1,340 |
| 8 | Fiat 500(2016) | 80% | £1,340 |
| 9 | Peugeot 208(2015) | 81% | £1,340 |
| 10 | Peugeot 107(2012) | 80% | £1,340 |
Cheapest Cars to Run by Age
Your budget determines your car's age. Here are the cheapest options at each age bracket.
Cheapest to Run: Under 5 Years Old
Nearly new, still affordable to run
| # | Car | Pass Rate | Total/yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jaguar I-pace(2020) | 96% | £945 |
| 2 | Hyundai Kona(2020) | 92% | £945 |
| 3 | Kia Niro 4 + Ev(2021) | 93% | £945 |
| 4 | Hyundai Kona(2019) | 92% | £945 |
| 5 | Hyundai Kona(2021) | 93% | £945 |
| 6 | Jaguar I-pace(2019) | 94% | £945 |
| 7 | Volkswagen Id3 Life(2021) | 92% | £945 |
| 8 | Kia Niro 4 Ev(2020) | 90% | £945 |
| 9 | Mg Zs Exclusive Ev(2020) | 92% | £945 |
| 10 | Bmw I3(2020) | 93% | £945 |
Cheapest to Run: 5 to 8 Years Old
The used car sweet spot: low price, reasonable reliability
| # | Car | Pass Rate | Total/yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mercedes B-class(2016) | 87% | £935 |
| 2 | Bmw I3(2016) | 88% | £935 |
| 3 | Kia Soul(2016) | 88% | £935 |
| 4 | Hyundai Kona(2018) | 91% | £945 |
| 5 | Lexus Nx(2018) | 94% | £945 |
| 6 | Bmw I3(2018) | 92% | £945 |
| 7 | Bmw I3(2017) | 90% | £945 |
| 8 | Kia Soul(2018) | 90% | £945 |
| 9 | Jaguar I-pace(2018) | 91% | £945 |
| 10 | Nissan Nv200(2016) | 77% | £1,085 |
Cheapest to Run: Over 8 Years Old
Bargain purchase prices, but reliability becomes critical
| # | Car | Pass Rate | Total/yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mercedes B-class(2015) | 86% | £935 |
| 2 | Kia Soul(2015) | 86% | £935 |
| 3 | Smart (mcc) Fortwo(2015) | 85% | £935 |
| 4 | Porsche Cayenne(2010) | 89% | £935 |
| 5 | Lexus Ct(2012) | 87% | £1,040 |
| 6 | Lexus Ct(2011) | 85% | £1,040 |
| 7 | Nissan Nv200(2015) | 74% | £1,085 |
| 8 | Nissan Nv200(2014) | 73% | £1,085 |
| 9 | Renault Zoe(2015) | 76% | £1,085 |
| 10 | Renault Zoe(2014) | 73% | £1,085 |
How Much Does Your Car Cost to Run?
These are model averages. The actual cost depends on the specific car's condition and history. Check any reg plate for a personalised breakdown.
Most Expensive Cars to Run in the UK
These are the cars to avoid if running costs matter to you. Large engines, poor reliability, and high repair bills make these the most expensive cars to keep on the road.
10 Most Expensive Cars to Run
Highest estimated annual running costs
| # | Car | Pass Rate | Total/yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kia Sorento(2004) | 65% | £2,597 |
| 2 | Mazda Bongo(2008) | 66% | £2,597 |
| 3 | Peugeot 406(2003) | 68% | £2,597 |
| 4 | Jaguar S-type(1999) | 69% | £2,597 |
| 5 | Jaguar S-type(2000) | 69% | £2,597 |
| 6 | Jaguar S-type(2001) | 68% | £2,597 |
| 7 | Ford Galaxy(2004) | 64% | £2,597 |
| 8 | Volvo V50(2004) | 69% | £2,597 |
| 9 | Kia Sorento(2005) | 66% | £2,597 |
| 10 | Mitsubishi Outlander(2007) | 69% | £2,597 |
How to Keep Your Running Costs Down
Buy a car with a high MOT pass rate
This is the single biggest factor you can control. A car with 90%+ pass rate will save you hundreds in repairs versus one with 70%. See our reliability rankings.
Check the MOT history before buying
A car's individual history matters more than the model average. Two identical cars can have wildly different maintenance records. Run a free check here.
Consider pre-2017 small cars for low tax
Cars registered before April 2017 with engines under 1400cc can pay as little as £30/year in road tax, compared to the flat £190 for newer cars.
Match fuel type to your mileage
Under 10,000 miles a year? Petrol is almost always cheaper. Over 15,000? Diesel starts to make sense. Electric is cheapest for fuel if you can charge at home.
Watch for mileage clocking
A clocked car will have hidden wear and higher repair costs than its odometer suggests. Our free check flags mileage discrepancies automatically.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest car to run in the UK?
Based on our data, the Mercedes B-class (2015) is the cheapest car to run at approximately £935/year. This covers fuel, road tax, MOT, and predicted repairs based on its 86% MOT pass rate.
How much does the average car cost to run per year?
The average car in our dataset costs approximately £1,741/year to run, excluding insurance and depreciation. The cheapest cars cost around £935, while the most expensive can exceed £2,597.
Are diesel cars cheaper to run than petrol?
It depends on your mileage. Diesel cars are more fuel-efficient, but diesel costs more per litre (148p vs 142p at current prices). For average mileage (7,400 miles/year), small petrol cars are typically cheaper overall. High-mileage drivers (15,000+ miles) may save with diesel.
Are electric cars cheap to run?
Electric cars have the lowest fuel costs (around £500/year for home charging), but they currently pay the same £190 flat-rate road tax as other post-2017 cars. They also tend to have very high MOT pass rates, keeping repair costs low. The main barrier is the higher purchase price.
How do you calculate running costs?
We estimate fuel costs from engine size, fuel type, and average UK mileage (7,400 miles/year) at current prices. Road tax is based on registration year and CO2 emissions. Repairs are predicted from the model's MOT pass rate: higher pass rates mean fewer faults and lower repair bills. MOT is the fixed £54.85 fee. Insurance is excluded as it varies too much by driver.
Can I check the running costs of a specific car?
Yes. Enter any UK reg plate into our free car check to get a personalised running cost estimate based on that specific vehicle's MOT history, engine size, and fuel type, rather than just model averages.
Check Any Car Free
Get MOT history analysis, health score, mileage verification, and running cost estimates for any UK car. Completely free, no signup required.
Reliability Rankings
The most and least reliable cars ranked by MOT pass rate
Running Costs by Model
Browse running cost estimates for every make and model
Full History Check
Stolen, finance, write-off, and ownership checks via Experian
Methodology
Running costs are estimated from DVSA MOT test data combined with current fuel prices (petrol 142p/L, diesel 148p/L), official road tax (VED) rates, the standard MOT fee (£54.85), and predicted repair costs based on model-specific MOT pass rates. Annual mileage is assumed at 7,400 miles (UK average). Only models with 1,000+ MOT tests are included for statistical reliability. Insurance and depreciation are excluded as they vary significantly by driver circumstances and purchase price. Data sourced from the DVSA under the Open Government Licence v3.0.