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Which are the best cars for new drivers? If you thought learning to drive was expensive, then you’ll soon discover that car ownership is no different. From fuel costs to vehicle excise duty, parking charges to car insurance, the costs can quickly add up – which is why your choice of vehicle is so important. When choosing a new car, most drivers consider the retail price and the vehicle’s fuel consumption figures as part of their budget. However, it is also wise to get an idea of your car insurance premiums before you buy. Why new drivers should consider car insurance costs Figures from the AA show that one in every five young drivers suffers an accident within their first year of driving and young drivers are 10 times as likely to be involved in a serious collision as more experienced motorists. This poor driving record is reflected in insurance premiums – the AA suggests that some premiums can even be twice what a first car is worth. So doing all they can to lower their perceived risk to an insurer is important to help new drivers keep money in their pocket. Choosing the right car is one step to lower premiums – generally insurers offer lower premiums to drivers of cars with smaller engines and no modifications because these vehicles are less likely to be driven at fast speeds or be targeted by thieves and vandals. So which cars earn the lowest car insurance premiums? Cars are split into insurance groups ranging from 1-20 (this will be expanded to 1-50 in December, 2009). Cars in the highest groups are those that cost insurers the most in the event of a claim. This is based on damage and parts costs; repair costs and times; values; performance; and security. To check the insurance group of a car, new drivers should visit the Association of British Insurers (ABI) database. Clearly, the lower the insurance group, the cheaper the premiums – here are some examples of vehicles that fit into insurance group one based on the 1-20 ratings (details correct as of September 24, 2009): - Chevrolet Matiz 0.8S 5dr - Citroen C1 1.0i VT 3dr - Citroen C2 1.1i VT 3dr - Fiat Panda 1.1 Active ECO 5dr - Ford Fiesta Studio 1.25 3dr - Ford Ka Studio 1.2 3dr - Nissan Pixo 1.0 Visia 5dr - Peugeot 107 1.0 Urban 3dr - Skoda Fabia 1 1.2 6v - Suzuki Alto 1.0 SZ3 5dr - Toyota Aygo Plus 1.0 VVT-I 5dr - Toyota Yaris T2 1.0 VVT-I 3dr - Vauxhall Corsa Life 1.0i 12v 5dr - Volkswagen Fox 1.2 3dr Note that there are other variations of these models that fit into insurance group one. The rule of thumb for new drivers Before buying a car, new drivers are advised to search the ABI database to find out which insurance group the vehicle fits into. As a rule of thumb, vehicles with smaller engines and low specifications will qualify for lower premiums so keep your car choice conventional, don’t modify the vehicle and avoid cars with letters after their name such as ‘GTI’. To further keep costs in check, new drivers should ensure they’re getting the best available deal on their car insurance by using a comparison website to compare the rates available.
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