BIBA
GeoTrust
container image
Need help? Calling from a mobile please call 0151 647 7556
Lines open: Mon-Fri 9am-6pm | Closed Saturday & Sunday

The majority of cars do not come cheap as far as a purchase price goes these days. Many manufacturers offer smaller vehicles at cheaper prices but are also good for the value. Today here at Shortfall we are taking a look into some of the cheapest vehicles available on the road right now to ensure for a driver of the age range between 17 and 18. With the price of purchasing a car comes the price for road tax and the price to insure the vehicle. Car insurance was first introduced to the world back in 1930 as part of the Road Traffic Act here in the United Kingdom. Germany would soon follow with the idea nine years later. Large usage of vehicles began after the first world war and insurance was not introduced at that stage. Unfortunately this meant that compensation was unachievable in the case of an accident or injury caused on the roads.

 

One of the most common insurance policies bought to this day is third part fire and theft. This policy covers other drivers who are legally able to drive your vehicle and also covers against any accidental damage including fire and of course theft. Drivers must have a tax disc displayed on their vehicle windscreen which if checked proves that the car is indeed covered by insurance. Price situations for vehicle insurance differ greatly though depending on a number of circumstances. One of the main changes to insurance costs are as a result of the drivers age. For example younger drivers tend to pay more on insurance as they are considered to be not as experienced and therefore more likely to be involved in an accident or incident when behind the wheel. Another factor behind insurance costs are where you live. The reason for this is that people who live in areas where more traffic is could realistically be prone to more traffic accidents compared to that of a driver who lives in a quieter area. Other main factors thrown into the mix include your driving history,vehicle size and profession. In 2010 the prices of car insurance rose by an average of 33% and it has been proven that car insurance is at a higher rate in Northern Ireland than it is here in England.

 

Today we are taking a look at five of the cheapest vehicles to insure on the road for drivers where age range is effected. The following five vehicles have been proven to be some of the cheapest vehicles to insure in the UK for drivers aged between 17 and 18.

 

The top five cheapest vehicles to insure in the United Kingdom

 

So starting out here at the fifth cheapest car to insure in the UK we see the One come into play from British manufacturer Mini.

 

The latest addition to the Mini One line up is a small style city car that is great for the whole family and could prove to be a key vehicle for you to purchase if you have just passed your test. It contains a standard smaller engine that is great for a first time buyer but it is just enough to experience driving at it's finest. We see that Mini included the fitting of a 1.2 litre,three cylinder engine in this One model. A power development of 101 brake horse power is put out and we see that the One hits a top speed of 121 miles per hour. The vehicle shifts to the 62 miles per hour area in a fairly steady time of 9.9 seconds,comes with a six speed manual transmission system and is available only as a front wheel drive variant. There is just enough power to pick up a decent speed from the vehicle which gives young drivers a good amount of experience. As for the telling figure here as far as the insurance is concerned,the Mini One has an average premium for 17 to 18 year old drivers of £2,268.85.

 

Coming in as the fourth cheapest vehicle to insure...the former Daewoo now Chervrolet Matiz.

 

The Matiz was originally designed by the Korean brand Daewoo who's motor division was sold to General Motors back in 1999.Since then the Matiz is now under the Chevrolet brand. Surprisingly the vehicle is still produced to this day by Chevrolet but you may recognise it better under it's new name of the Chevrolet Spark. The vehicle is only made available as a five door hatchback and the vehicle is now in it's third generation. The Spark/Matiz went on to be a part of the present EV market last year when the Spark EV was released onto certain American markets. One of the latest engine versions of the car though could be an ideal purchase for young drivers starting out with its cheap insurance premium of £2,258.26. One of the latest versions of the car from 2013 was made available with a choice of two engines which include a 1.0 litre and a 1.2 litre petrol line up. There are other added pieces of equipment which are also thrown in with the trims made available for the car which could be more incentive for a young driver. Different features of the trims include alloy wheels,tweaked headlights,a dual port grille,swept back headlights and a brand new set of headlights compared to that of the previous addition to the range.

Chevrolet Matiz Shortfall

 

 

 

 

 

The third cheapest vehicle to insure here in the United Kingdom is the 107 model from French manufacturer Peugeot. The Peugeot 107 model began production in 2005 and is still being produced to this day. For a good idea of what you can expect from the 107 take a look at the Citroen C1 and the Aygo from Toyota as they are the same vehicle re-badged. All three vehicles share the same chassis and were produced together with an agreement between the three brands. Style wise the car looks quite trendy which we think instantly would be an eye catching feature for drivers. The car benefits from decent enough power for a city car and also contains some nice features. Power and performance wise, the French firm inserted a 998cc three cylinder engine. Power developed from the car comes in at 68 brake horse power which is not hugely powerful but could be just enough for a younger driver. The sprint from 0 to 62 miles per hour can be achieved in 14.2 seconds overall.

 

Now regarding some of those added features and pieces of equipment to come along with the 107, Peugeot have fitted a set of LED daytime running lights,alloy wheels,Bluetooth connectivity and electric windows which all come along with the highest spec model. Prices for a brand new Peugeot 107 start of around £8,800 with an average insurance premium costing £1,994.42.

Peugeot 107 Shortfall

 

 

Just missing out on our top spot for the five cheapest vehicles to insure in the UK is the older version of the KA from American manufacturer Ford.

The very first Ford KA model was introduced to the world back in 1996 and is now on it's third life cycle. The overall look of the older KA model was based on the Mark IV Fiesta but adapted to it's own exterior design. The model was cheap to purchase and benefited from good steady power ideal for those just starting off in the driving world. A 1.3 litre, four cylinder engine found it's way into the original version of the KA. It came in the form of a three door hatchback and was fitted with the standard five speed manual transmission system. To buy an older Ford KA right now you are looking at around £750 with an average insurance premium coming at around £1,781,25.

Ford KA Shortfall

 

 

 

 

 

The cheapest car to insure for a young driver is the Ford KA once again but this time it is the newer version of the car. The latest Ford KA range was debuted on European markets back in 2008 and is officially the cheapest vehicle for a young driver to insure on the road right now. One of the cheapest from the new generation of KA models is from 2011. It looks nice, isn't too powerful and comes with a good amount of standard kit included.

 

Only one engine range is made available for this KA model and that is the 1.2 litre petrol which develops 68 units of brake horse power. A five speed,manual gearbox also comes along with the 2011 KA as standard. The new KA model is said to be an ideal rival for that of the Fiat 500 and is slightly more expensive than the older model but cheaper to insure. Regarding some of those added pieces of equipment that come along with the latest KA variation we see all versions of the car come fully fitted with alloy wheels and MP3 connectivity. Regarding some of the added pieces of kit to come along with higher spec ranges, the likes of 50:50 folding rear seats are included along with electric front windows,remote central locking and manual air conditioning. Prices for the Ford KA hatchback brand new begin at £8,945 with prices rising up to £11,445 varying on which spec you purchase. The average insurance premium on one of these KA models comes in at £1,651.40.

Ford KA Shortfall

 

 

Will smaller cars continue to bring cheaper insurance rates?

 

The future of the car industry is looking very bright as far as the manufacturers go. The majority of the vehicles listed above all have a pattern and that is they come in the form of smaller city cars. So will smaller cars continue to carry smaller insurance rates into the future or will changes be made ?.