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Running costs

What a first car really costs each month once fuel, servicing, tax and insurance group are in.

A teenager leaning on a white Volkswagen Polo, beside a First Car Scout ranking of the first cars teens are actually choosing, with insurance group and monthly cost.
Running costs

Cheapest Cars to Insure for New Drivers in the UK, 2026

The car you pick does more to your premium than any deal you find. A ranked guide to the lowest-insurance-group first cars in the UK, with real group numbers and monthly running cost data.
A young man leaning against a grey hatchback on a residential street, looking at his phone, beside the First Car Scout headline 'Cheap to buy, expensive to run' and a comparison showing a sensible choice at about £6,830 a year against a same-price wrong car at about £8,330.
Running costs

The First-Car Trap: Cheap to Buy, Expensive to Run

A car that is cheap to buy can quietly cost more than its sticker price in the first year alone. Here is how two £4,500 cars end up £1,500 apart, and how to spot the trap before you commit.
Two Ford Fiestas with a similar purchase price compared on yearly running cost: the 2014 1.25 Zetec in insurance group 7 at about £2,010 a year (manageable), versus the 2013 1.6T ST in group 30 at about £4,680 a year (danger zone). Around £2,670 more a year to run.
Running costs

Affordable to Buy, Expensive to Run

A first car can look affordable to buy and still be the expensive choice once running costs, fuel, servicing and reliability are in. Here's how to spot the trap before you commit.