The best cars to insure on a budget

Getting cheap car insurance quotes isn’t just down to your circumstances, the car you drive plays a big part too. Here, comparison site mustard.co.uk, share their thoughts on five of the best cars to insure if you’re on a budget.

How do cars affect the cost of insurance?

All cars made for the UK market belong in one of 50 insurance groups, the lower the group number, the cheaper the car is to insure.

A number of factors affect which group a car belongs to, including:

• How much it costs
• How big the engine is
• The cost and ease of getting replacement parts
• The cost of labour

Always bear in mind that insurance group comes down to each car’s specification. So, for example, a Ford Fiesta can be in groups two and 17  depending on the features it has.

If you’re in the process of buying a new or nearly used car, look for cars in groups one and two as these will help you get the cheapest car insurance deals — here are five of the best to consider.

1.  Volkswagen Polo

VW has a reputation for reliability and the Polo is a popular and solid choice if you’re looking for a car that you can rely on. Reviews note how it feels more expensive than it really is and that it has plenty of boot capacity, making it a cost effective option for anyone that needs the extra space.

2.  Volkswagen Up!

Another VW, the Up! is small, neat and perfectly designed for city roads. Reviewers have also praised the Up! hailing it as the leading car in its class (pitting it against the Toyota Aygo and the Kia Picanto).

As a city car, the engine is just 1.0L but it’s enough for urban driving and the odd motorway stint.

3.  Skoda Fabia

The Skoda Fabia has always been well-regarded, particularly by younger audiences who perhaps don’t remember Skodas of old.

The Fabia offers an overall comfortable drive but it is happiest in towns where it doesn’t have to achieve motorway speeds (which it can, it’s just slow). Inside, it provides you with everything you need — good visibility and lots of space for a small car.

4.  Nissan Micra

Like the other cars in this list, the Nissan Micra is best for driving in built up towns and cities. It’s light to handle and quick enough for urban roads but it’s short on legroom for back seat passengers and lacks capacity in the boot.

However, if it’s just you and a front passenger, cost makes up for lack of space as it’s cheap to buy, maintain, and insure.

5.  Kia Picanto

The Picanto comes with Kia’s seven year warranty so if you’re buying brand new, this can give you much needed peace of mind. That said, the Picanto typically scores very well for reliability based on owner satisfaction surveys .

In test drives, the Picanto also handles well and reviewers note its tight turning circle which makes it ideal for city driving. Overall, it’s a quality car that’s reliable, drives well and also has a decent amount of boot space.

Tips to get the cheapest car insurance quotes

If you’ve found a car you like, you can help keep your car insurance costs as low as possible by:

• Paying for your policy in one go — instalments might be convenient but you’ll also pay more overall thanks to added interest fees.
• Increasing your voluntary excess — this can reduce your overall premium but it should still be affordable as you can’t proceed with a claim until you pay it.
• Keeping your car secure — investing in an immobiliser can help you shave a little more off the cost of cover.
• Add a named driver — adding a more experienced driver to your policy can keep costs low, especially if you’re a young driver.
• Opting for a telematics policy — telematics insurance bases your premium on the way you drive, so good drivers are rewarded with lower premiums.

Of course, the quickest and easiest way to find the best car insurance deals is to compare quotes. Shopping around means you can see who’s offering what and for how much, which lets you make informed decisions about what represents value for money.  To start your search, head to mustard.co.uk where you can compare leading UK insurers in just five minutes.