Cheapest cars to insure for 17-year olds in 2025

Passing your driving test as a 17-year old gives you a real sense of achievement, and also for many young people their first proper taste of freedom as an adult.

However, the excitement of removing your L-plates and setting out for your first solo drive is often tempered by the high – often prohibitive – cost of car insurance for new, young drivers.

According to the latest RAC Report on Motoring, 44% of drivers between the ages of 17 and 25 report the high cost of insurance as their number one concern.

Government statistics show that young drivers are at a much higher risk of crashing and causing injury on the road. Being able to take to the open road in your own car opens up many opportunities, but it also introduces a new level of responsibility that young drivers can take time to grasp – and the cost of insurance reflects that.

That’s why the RAC Insurance team have put together a list of the cheapest cars to insure for 17-year olds.  Rather than relying on insurance groups, which are only useful as a rough guide, we’ve analysed real-world insurance data to come up with a list of the cars most likely to return you a cheap quote.

We’ll update this top 10 list of the cheapest cars to insure when new data comes in, ensuring it’s always relevant to young drivers.

Top 10 cheapest cars to insure for 17-year olds: the shortlist

• Fiat 500
• Peugeot 108
• Hyundai i20
• Ford Fiesta
• Vauxhall Corsa
• Renault Clio
• Peugeot 208
• Toyota Aygo
• Skoda Fabia
• Citroen C1

The cheapest cars to insure for 17-year olds (from RAC insurance data)

1: Fiat 500

The Fiat 500 is a small car icon, both in classic and modern form. The original model launched in 1957 as a compact, affordable mode of transport for Italy’s vast working-class population. Today’s 500 takes the original’s funky design into the modern age, but has proven immensely popular as a cheap-to-run style icon for young drivers.

Despite there being small cars in lower insurance groups than the little Fiat, data from RAC Insurance shows it’s the car that receives the lowest quotes on average for 17-year old drivers.

2: Peugeot 108

Those in the know will remember the Peugeot 108 being one of a trio of cars built in the same factory with most of the same components: the other two are the Citroen C1 and the Toyota Aygo. Despite being nearly identical under-the-skin, our data shows the 108 has the cheapest insurance quotes for 17-year olds of the three.

With its stylish design, light weight and peppy, Toyota-designed three-cylinder petrol engine, the 108 is an excellent choice for those starting out their driving career. And, unlike the Fiat, it even comes with five doors.

3: Hyundai i20

Interestingly, while the i10 is Hyundai’s smallest, most affordable model with the lowest insurance groups, it’s actually the bigger i20 that averages out with the lowest quotes for new 17-year old drivers.

While it might not have the most kerb appeal here, the i20 has size, comfort and reliability on its side. It’ll be more suitable for carrying occupants and tackling motorway trips than some cars here, while if you can afford to get a newer model you’ll have the benefit of Hyundai’s excellent five-year warranty, too.

4: Ford Fiesta

For many years the default small car choice in the UK, the Fiesta topped sales charts for decades until Ford’s controversial decision to end production in 2023. That left a 47-year legacy, though, with huge numbers of used examples to choose from.

The Fiesta places strongly in our list, with cheap insurance among its many virtues that include how affordable it is to buy and run. The Fiesta’s ace up its sleeve is its fun driving experience, with willing engines, keen handling and a comfortable ride.

5: Vauxhall Corsa

If you were in the market for a small car and didn’t want a Fiesta, you probably bought a Vauxhall Corsa instead. Both cars were locked in a battle for sales supremacy for decades, and the plentiful supply of used examples means the Corsa is very affordable too.

While the Vauxhall can’t match the Ford for outright driver appeal, its easy driving experience makes it popular with driving schools. It can also look quite sporty, with lots of special edition Corsas featuring sharp bodykits but low-powered engines specifically for young drivers.

6: Renault Clio

Ever since Nicole and her Papa fronted its iconic adverts in the early nineties, the Renault Clio has been a chic small car choice – and a popular car for new drivers.

The Clio’s elegant design, comfortable ride and high level of standard equipment appealed to young motorists almost as much as its low running costs. Hot hatch flagships like the Renaultsport-tuned Clio 182 and 197 injected some sporty appeal to the Clio name – but 17-year olds would have to make do with a 1.2.

7: Peugeot 208

One French small car follows another. The Peugeot 208 followed the equally successful 207 and 206 as a favourite of young drivers – and our insurance data proves its still a go-to choice for 17 year olds looking for affordable motoring.

Granted, the 1.1-litre engine they’ll be saddled with isn’t exactly fast, but your early years of driving aren’t about setting speed records. Better to enjoy the 208’s funky interior, smooth ride and low running costs.

8: Toyota Aygo

It’s interesting that the Toyota Aygo is so much lower down this list than the near-identical Peugeot 108, but our data shows premiums can be over £100 less – on average – for the latter. Still, the Aygo is well worth a look if you’re after cheap, reliable first-time motoring.

With the same peppy petrol engine and low weight, you’ll enjoy zipping about town in the Aygo – although it’s not the most relaxing car in this list for motorway drives.

9: Skoda Fabia

The days of Skoda being the butt of car-based jokes are long gone – not only is the brand highly respected these days, but our data shows the Fabia is cheaper to insure than the Volkswagen Polo on which it’s based.

Being a Polo in different clothes is no bad thing: you get a spacious, solidly built and comfortable small car that’s also safe and cheap to maintain. Skodas tend to do well in satisfaction surveys, too – and the Fabia is an excellent choice overall.

10:  Citroen C1

Just £2 separates the Aygo and its sister car, the Citroen C1, in our list of the average insurance quotes for 17-year olds. Both are pretty much identically cheap-to-run, then, but it was the Citroen that was cheapest to buy new.

Nowadays, though, the differences aren’t as obvious – you’ll probably buy the one you like the look of most. But both are top-notch choices for new drivers who’ve just passed their test and want something that’ll keep costs as low as possible.