Young drivers often bear the brunt of high motoring costs as age and inexperience are big factors in determining how much of a risk you are.
We asked our Pricing team to find out which cars were the cheapest for 17–25-year-olds to insure with Admiral over the past year.
We’ve used data between July 2023 and July 2024.
1. Volkswagen T-Roc – average annual premium: £974.53
The cheapest car to insure with us for 17–25-year-olds was the Volkswagen T-Roc.
As an SUV, the T-Roc is on the smaller side, making it a solid choice for younger drivers who don’t need too much space. The T-Roc's sleek dashboard has an eight-inch touchscreen display and Bluetooth connectivity, which makes it a great option for younger drivers who want more modern features in their car.
It's worth noting that the T-Roc has an automatic gearbox, so you may need to get used to it if you’re used to driving manual cars.
2. Ford Puma – average annual premium: £975.60
The second cheapest car to insure for young drivers between July 2023 and July 2024 was the Ford Puma.
It has made a splash in the crossover market, and lately, has outsold the ever-popular Fiesta and Focus.
The Ford Puma has a range of innovative features designed to improve your driving pleasure. Some key features include the 80 litres of storage space, waterproof lining, a speedy drive and a few engine options, which makes it a great pick for drivers aged 17-25.
3. Seat MII – average annual premium: £986.93
The Seat Mii is a stylish city car that’s fun to drive, feels solid inside and can fit into the tightest of parking spaces. The Mii has a smaller engine, with a choice of 59bhp or 74bhp 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engines, making it slower than the average car but perfect for 17 to 25-year-olds.
A Seat MII is also more affordable, as you can find an early three-door Mii for around £3,000. If you want a more practical five-door model, expect to pay a few hundred pounds more.
It’s low cost, cheap to run and easy to drive, which ticks all the boxes for a young driver.
4. Skoda Citigo – average annual premium: £987.63
This award-winning city car is now a familiar sight on our roads. Just like its Volkswagen Group cousins, the SEAT Mii and VW up!, the Škoda Citigo is cute, fun to drive and surprisingly spacious. The boot’s a decent size with 251 litres of luggage capacity (959 litres if you fold the rear seats down), and there's even space for two adults to sit in the back.
No longer available to buy as new, the Citigo makes a wise second-hand choice car and there are plenty of them on the market in good condition and with low mileage.
5. Volkswagen Up! – average annual premium: £987.63
Originally launched in 2012 and updated in 2016 and 2020, the petite Volkswagen Up! has been a huge sales success for Volkswagen and is now a great used car to buy.
It has an average top speed of 102.5mph and a 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine in two states of tune: 59bhp and 74bhp. All Volkswagen Ups are economical, especially the ones with Bluemotion Technology, making them a cost-effective option for young drivers.
Although the car appears small on the outside, the interior is surprisingly roomy. There’s lots of leg room for tall adults and plenty of head room.
6. Renault Captur – average annual premium: £1,028.02
The Renault Captur is well priced, comfortable, has a great infotainment system and is one of few small SUVs with sliding rear seats.
One area where the Captur impresses is boot space, as it has a lot more load capacity than some of the alternatives. There’s also plenty of space up front to get comfortable behind the wheel, and there’s a decent amount of legroom in the back, making it a suitable choice for young drivers who are looking for a spacious car.
7. Peugeot 108 – average annual premium: £1,050.28
The Peugeot 108 is a good-value city car that’s easy to park, cheap to run and can connect to your smartphone. However, the 1.0 litre engine can feel quite slow and struggles on steep hills.
But fear not - the car doesn’t cost much to run as the 1.0-litre engine has a combined average of 68.9mpg, according to previous NEDC testing.
8. Fiat 500 – average annual premium: £1,067.84
The Fiat 500 is one of the most recognisable cars on the road, famous for its quirky style and retro look. Originally launched in Italy in 1957, the Fiat 500 is charming and stylish, with a distinctive exterior and interior.
The Fiat 500 is affordable to buy and run, with used car prices starting at £2,000.
Overall, the Fiat 500's combination of compact size, safety features, affordability, fuel efficiency and reasonable insurance rates make it an attractive option for young drivers.
9. SEAT Arona – average annual premium: £1,073.12
A SEAT Arona is a great all-rounder; refined, practical and an objectively excellent SUV crossover. It’s one of the best small SUVs thanks to its roomy interior, comfortable ride and punchy petrol engines. The Arona is sort of a bigger version of the popular SEAT Ibiza, but with a competitive price and lower running costs.
Drivers can choose from five engine types, delivering between 44.8-53mpg. As well as being economical, its engine achieves decent power, with its entry-level 1.0-litre petrol returning 94bhp.
Overall, the Arona strikes a balance between practicality, style and affordability, making it an ideal cheap car for young drivers.
10. MG Motor UK, MG3 – average annual premium: £1,085.53
Finally, we have the MG Motor UK MG3 that’s spacious but small, and easy to drive. . A 1.5-litre petrol is the only engine on offer and used prices start from £3,000, making it affordable for young drivers hoping to save a bit of money.
It has a fun, sporty design and is easy to handle, which is ideal for city driving.
The MG3 is spacious inside and has plenty of head and leg room.
According to a 2023 reliability survey by ‘What Car?’, the MG 3 proves itself mechanically sound, with only a few major repairs needed to the car model in recent years.
The MG3 is affordable, stylish and functional, making it a great car for younger car buyers.
