Her First Car

[anaxcrosswords]

My daughter will, I’m sure, pass her driving test next year, but her age will inevitably mean a high insurance premium. I’ll be looking to buy a car for about £5000, but I need something that will be cheap to run, reliable, low insurance group, low tax… but not boring! Any suggestions?

[ToraToraTora]

5K! my first car was £30!

[snags]

If I was in your situation I'd by her a cheap car to start for around 2K and spend the 3K saved on her own insurance/getting her own NCB.

[fenman123]

Insurance has dropped dramatically over the last year or so. We have 5 children, so have a bit of experience, 8 years ago it only cost around £250 for my daughters insurance, 5 years ago it was going to cost my son £2,000+ at 18 so he waited a few months and was able to get insurance for £1,000. My middle daughter was so put off she has decided to wait until after University before she learns to drive. My youngest son is now learning and has had quotes of less than £600 at 17 years old. The companies that fit boxes are generally MORE expensive, so we have avoided them. By going to price comparasin sites and trying various permutations I have found the cheapest and LEGALLY best way is for my son as the MAIN driver and my wife as a NAMED driver gives the cheapest option. This price is based on a Suzuki Alto. As far as which car to buy I would always look at Japanese small cars, they are amongst the most reliable cars on the road, and can come with lots of NON-BORING equipment. Avoid Vauxhall Corsas, the petrol ones sound like diesels after just a few thousand miles, and your daughter will struggle to tell which gear she is in, as the gear levers can be stirred round like a spoon!!

[bednobs]

get her a smart car - really low insurance group, plusshe can't take loads of her friends out showing off!

[tonyav]

Here is Auto Express's list of cars that are the cheapest to insure for the younger driver.
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/best-cars/insurance-policy/85261/cheapest-cars-insure

[EDDIE51]

Methyl, the only problem about your otherwise good idea about a van, is that she may allow others to pile into the back of the van and sit on the floor. Many years ago one of my mates had a van with a mattress in the back, amazing how many people you could get in the back! There was a case in the news a month or two back, the police stopped a van and found 6 people in the back sitting on the floor.

[tonyav]

methyl
The "Auto Express" list is quite interesting (and at times surprising) if you are buying new.

Doesn't have to be new, I think you could buy any of those on the Auto Express list second hand.

[=rizla=]

As has been said, avoid the temptation to 'front' even if your daughter is the second driver you may find it hard to prove. I can remember 20 years ago getting quotes for a 1.0L allegro at £700!!!!

Your best bet is to play around with online quotes, you may be surprised, 1.0L ka's are a lower insurance group than 1.3L ka's but in real terms may not be much higher or even lower to insure (insurance claims may be higher in the 1.0L's as more new drivers have had and crashed them and the 1.3L's have been driven by older people who haven't crashed them, remembering (I think) insurance groups are given as the cars are released)

A few years ago 1.6L beetles were amongst the lowest to insure.

As a bit of comedy, for £1576 fully comp (according to confused.com £1580 if you add a £200 ex?? go figure) . A 17y/o student in the midlands with no no-claims but putting housewife mum on the policy she could have a 2.5L Volvo V70, not cheap to run petrol-wise, very reliable, less than £5k, 2.5L 5 cylinder definitely not boring BUT being a Volvo plenty of safety. Interestingly it only dropped £20 going third party fire and theft.

Your best bet is to find an online quote system that is easy to go back and change the car without starting from scratch and trying a few different cars, think outside the box!!!

[EDDIE51]

^^ yes, strangely Fully comp insurance is often cheaper than 3rd party fire and theft

[jno]

heavens, go for "boring". Trying to encourage young people to drive excitingly is a mistake.