These are the cheapest cars to insure in the UK in 2022

Find out which vehicles fall under the lowest insurance groups

These are the cheapest cars to insure in the UK in 2022

Motor & Fleet

By Mark Rosanes

Average car insurance premiums across the UK have risen £51 year-on-year to £704 in the second quarter of 2022, reaching the highest three-month average since hitting £724 in the last quarter of 2020, a recent analysis by Compare the Market has revealed.

According to the comparison website’s latest premium drivers report, the spike can be attributed to “increased cost pressures to insurers,” which include the rise in the value of second-hand cars and higher repair costs. The research added that the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions has likewise contributed to the rate hike as this has resulted in more traffic, heightening the likelihood of accidents and subsequent claims.

The study also found that the cheapest motor premiums have jumped to £582 from April to June – a £34 year-on-year ascent.

“This widening gap between the cheapest and average premium means larger savings are available to motorists who switch insurers when their policy ends,” the report noted. “Drivers could now typically save £122 by shopping around for the cheapest deal, which could help offset the rising cost of living for some households.”

The same holds true for young and inexperienced motorists, the research added.

“The average premium for drivers aged between 17 and 24 stands at £1,247 – £135 more than in the same three months in 2021,” according to the analysis. “However, if young drivers shop around for the cheapest deal when their policies come up for renewal, they could save an average of £259. Switching to a telematics policy could also help young drivers save money on their insurance.”

What factors impact the price of car insurance premiums?

Some cars are more expensive to insure than others – and it all boils down to risk, according to consumer financial website Forbes Advisor.

“Car insurance premiums are priced according to risk,” the site explained. “That means the greater your risk of being involved in an accident, or your car being stolen, the more you’ll pay for cover.”

Auto insurance companies use a range of factors to determine the level of risk. Personal details such as age, gender, residence, occupation, and driving and claims history all help paint a picture of a motorist’s likelihood of getting involved in an accident.

The car’s make and model are also major considerations as these indicate how much the vehicle is worth, how fast it accelerates and travels, and what security and safety features are incorporated. The vehicle type also tells insurance companies how appealing it is to thieves and how well it would fare in an event of an accident.

“Expensive vehicles cost insurers more in pay-outs when they’re damaged and in need of repair or are written-off following an accident, and so they attract higher premiums,” Forbes Advisor noted. “Cars with advanced security features are harder to steal, which makes theft claims less likely – and so they benefit from lower premiums.”

What is an insurance group and how does it work?

Every vehicle on sale in the UK is categorised into an insurance group, which helps insurance providers determine how much premiums they will charge. The groups are numbered anywhere from 1 to 50. As a general rule, the lower the insurance group, the cheaper it will be to have the car insured.

A group rating panel (GRP) consisting of representatives from the insurance industry and members of the Association of British Insurers (ABI) and Lloyd’s Market Association (LMA) are tasked to determine in which category each car will fall. Research for the GRP is conducted by the Motor Insurance Repair Research Centre (Thatcham).

Several factors are considered when determining an insurance group, including the cost to repair or replace damaged parts, the value of the car, and how it performs on the road. Because of these parameters, the same car model can vary between groups, depending on the trim level and features. Once set, a vehicle’s insurance group cannot be changed.

What are the least expensive cars to insure in the UK in 2022?

Car comparison website Carwow recently released a list of the vehicles in the country with the cheapest premiums based on insurance groups. To find the exact groupings for each vehicle trim, Insurance Business referred to the car review website Parkers’ insurance group checker.

Here are the least expensive cars to insure in the UK based on these groupings. The list is arranged alphabetically.

1. Dacia Sandero Hatchback (2021 onwards)

Trim

Insurance group

1.0 SCe Access 5dr

3

1.0 SCe Essential 5dr

4

2. Fiat 500 Hatchback (2008 onwards)

Trim

Insurance group

1.2 Pop (Start Stop) 3d Auto

5

1.2 Pop 3d

5

1.2 Pop 3d Auto

5

1.2 Sport (Start Stop) 3d

6

1.0 Mild Hybrid Hey Google 3dr

3

1.2 Lounge (Start Stop) 3d Auto

6

1.2 Lounge 3d

6

1.2 Lounge 3d Auto

6

1.2 Sport (Start Stop) 3d Auto

6

1.2 Sport 3d

6

1.2 Sport 3d Auto

6

3. Fiat Panda (2012 onwards)

Trim

Insurance group

1.2 Pop 5d

3

1.2 Easy 5d

4

1.2 Lounge 5d

3

1.0 Mild Hybrid City Cross [Touchscreen] 5dr

5

City Cross Mild Hybrid 1.0 70hp 5d

5

4. Ford Fiesta Hatchback (2017 onwards)

Trim

Insurance group

Style 1.1 Ti-VCT 70PS 3d

2

Style 1.1 Ti-VCT 70PS 5d

2

Trend (Ford Navigation System with Sync 3) 1.1 Ti-VCT 75PS 3d

4

Trend (Ford Navigation System with Sync 3) 1.1 Ti-VCT 75PS 5d

4

Trend 1.1 Ti-VCT 75PS 3d

4

Trend 1.1 Ti-VCT 75PS 5d

4

5. Hyundai i10 Hatchback (2020 onwards)

Trim

Insurance group

SE 1.0 MPi 67PS 5d

4

SE Connect 1.0 MPi 67PS AMT auto 5d

3

SE Connect 1.2 MPi 84PS AMT auto 5d

4

SE Connect 1.0 MPi 67PS 5d

5

Premium (Tech Pack) 1.0 MPi 67PS AMT auto 5d

4

Premium 1.0 MPi 67PS AMT auto 5d

4

Premium (Tech Pack) 1.0 MPi 67PS 5d

5

Premium (Tech Pack) 1.2 MPi 84PS AMT auto 5d

5

Premium 1.0 MPi 67PS 5d

5

Premium 1.2 MPi 84PS AMT auto 5d

5

 

6. Kia Picanto Hatchback (2017 onwards)

Trim

Insurance group

1 1.0 66bhp (4 seat) 5d

4

1 1.0 66bhp 5d

4

1.0 2 5dr Auto [4 seats]

1

1.0 2 5dr [4 seats]

3

1.0 GT-line 5dr Auto [4 seats]

2

GT-Line 1.0 66bhp 5d

3

1.0 GT-line 5dr [4 seats]

4

1.0 Shadow 5dr [4 seats]

4

1.0 3 5dr Auto [4 seats]

2

1.0 3 5dr [4 seats]

4

7. Kia Rio Hatchback (2017 onwards)

Trim

Insurance group

2 1.4 CRDi 76bhp ISG 5d

2

1.2 DPi 2 5dr

4

1.25 2 5dr

4

2 1.25 83bhp ISG 5d

4

2 1.4 98bhp auto (07/18-) 5d

5

2 1.4 98bhp auto 5d

5

2 1.4 98bhp ISG 5d

5

3 1.4 98bhp auto (07/18-) 5d

5

3 1.4 98bhp auto 5d

5

8. MG3 (2013 onwards)

Trim

Insurance group

1.5 VTi-TECH 3Time (Start Stop) 5d

4

1.5 VTi-TECH 3Time 5d

4

1.5 VTi-TECH 3Form (Start Stop) 5d

4

1.5 VTi-TECH 3Form 5d

4

1.5 VTi-TECH 3Form Sport (Start Stop) 5d

4

1.5 VTi-TECH 3Form Sport 5d

4

1.5 VTi-TECH 90th LE 5d

4

1.5 VTi-TECH 3Style Lux (Start Stop) 5d

4

1.5 VTi-TECH 3Style Lux 5d

4

3Style+ 1.5 DOHC VTI-TECH 5d

4

9. Nissan Micra Hatchback (2017 onwards)

Trim

Insurance group

Visia 1.0 71PS 5d

1

Visia IG 71 5d

1

Visia+ 1.0 71PS 5d

1

Visia+ IG 71 5d

1

Acenta (Bose Personal Audio Pack & Exterior Pack Plus) 1.0 71PS 5d

1

Acenta (Bose Personal Audio Pack & Vision Pack) 1.0 71PS 5d

1

Acenta (Bose Personal Audio Pack and Exterior Pack Plus) IG 71 5d

1

Acenta (Bose Personal Audio Pack and Vision Pack) IG 71 5d

1

Acenta (Bose Personal Audio Pack) 1.0 71PS 5d

1

Acenta (Bose Personal Audio Pack) IG 71 5d

1

Acenta (Bose Personal Audio Pack, Exterior Pack Plus & Vision Pack) 1.0 71PS 5d

1

Acenta (Bose Personal Audio Pack, Exterior Pack Plus and Vision Pack) IG 71 5d

1

Acenta (Exterior Pack Plus & Vision Pack) 1.0 71PS 5d

1

Acenta (Exterior Pack Plus and Vision Pack) IG 71 5d

1

Acenta (Exterior Pack Plus) 1.0 71PS 5d

1

Acenta (Exterior Pack Plus) IG 71 5d

1

Acenta (Vision Pack) 1.0 71PS 5d

1

Acenta (Vision Pack) IG 71 5d

1

Acenta 1.0 71PS 5d

1

Acenta IG 71 5d

1

Acenta Limited Edition 1.0 Petrol 71PS 5d

1

Acenta Limited Edition IG 71 5d

1

10. Renault Clio Hatchback (2019 onwards)

Trim

Insurance group

1.0 SCe 65 Play 5d

3

Play SCe 75 5d

3

1.0 SCe 65 Iconic 5d

3

Iconic (Bose premium speaker system) SCe 75 5d

3

Iconic SCe 75 5d

3

11. SEAT Ibiza Hatchback (2017 onwards)

Trim

Insurance group

S 1.0 MPI 75PS 5d

2

SE Design 1.0 MPI 75PS 5d

3

SE 1.0 MPI 75PS 5d

2

1.0 MPI SE 5dr

3

SE 1.0 MPI 80PS (07/2018 on) 5d

3

SE Technology 1.0 MPI 75PS 5d

2

1.0 MPI SE Technology 5dr

3

SE Technology 1.0 MPI 80PS (07/2018 on) 5d

3

Xcellence 1.0 MPI 75PS 5d

3

12. Škoda Fabia Hatchback (2021 onwards)

Trim

Insurance group

1.0 MPI S 5dr

2

1.0 MPI 80 Colour Edition 5dr

4

1.0 MPI 80 SE Comfort 5dr

4

13. Toyota Aygo X (2021 onwards)

Trim

Insurance group

1.0 VVT-i Edge 5dr

6

1.0 VVT-i Edge 5dr [Canvas/Parking]

6

1.0 VVT-i Edge 5dr [Canvas]

6

1.0 VVT-i Edge 5dr [Parking]

6

1.0 VVT-i Edge 5dr Auto

6

1.0 VVT-i Edge 5dr Auto [Canvas/Parking]

6

1.0 VVT-i Edge 5dr Auto [Canvas]

6

1.0 VVT-i Edge 5dr Auto [Parking]

6

1.0 VVT-i Pure 5dr

5

1.0 VVT-i Pure 5dr Auto

6

14. Volkswagen Polo Hatchback (2017 onwards)

Trim

Insurance group

S 1.0 65PS 5d

1

S 1.0 Evo 65PS 5d

1

S 1.0 Evo 80PS 5d

1

SE 1.0 65PS 5d

1

SE 1.0 75PS 5d

1

SE 1.0 80PS 5d

1

SE 1.0 Evo 65PS 5d

1

Beats 1.0 65PS 5d

1

Beats 1.0 80PS 5d

1

Beats 1.0 Evo 65PS 5d

1

Beats 1.0 75PS 5d

2

Match 1.0 Evo 80PS 5d

1

1.0 EVO 80 SE Tech Edition 5d

1

1.0 EVO SE Tech Edition 5d

1

1.0 EVO 80 United 5d

1

1.0 EVO 80 Active 5dr

1

1.0 Life 5dr

3

15. Volkswagen Up (2012 onwards)

Trim

Insurance group

1.0 Take Up 3d

1

1.0 Take Up 5d

1

Take Up 1.0 BMT 60PS 3d

1

Take Up 1.0 BMT 60PS 5d

1

Take Up 1.0 S/S 60PS 3d

1

Take Up 1.0 S/S 60PS 5d

1

1.0 BlueMotion Tech Move Up 3d

1

1.0 BlueMotion Tech Move Up 5d

1

1.0 Move Up 3d

1

1.0 Move Up 3d ASG

1

1.0 Move Up 5d

1

1.0 Move Up 5d ASG

1

Move Up 1.0 60PS ASG auto 3d

1

Move Up 1.0 60PS ASG auto 5d

1

Move Up 1.0 BMT 60PS 3d

1

Move Up 1.0 BMT 60PS 5d

1

Move Up 1.0 S/S 60PS 3d

1

Move Up 1.0 S/S 60PS 5d

1

High Up 1.0 60PS S/S 3d

1

High Up 1.0 60PS S/S 5d

1

Up Beats 1.0 60PS ASG auto 3d

1

Up Beats 1.0 60PS ASG auto 5d

1

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