Cheapest Cars to Insure: The Best Group 1 Insurance Used Cars
Want the cheapest car insurance you can get? Every car here has a version that sits in group 1, the lowest insurance group there is. We reveal exactly which years, engines and trims to look for, plus a rough idea of what you’ll pay.
The Cazoo editorial team
Published on 09 November 2026 | 11 mins read
If you’re a new driver, or you simply want to keep your motoring costs as low as possible, choosing a car in insurance group 1 is one of the easiest ways to cut the cost of your cover. Every car sold in the UK is placed in one of 50 insurance groups, and group 1 cars are the cheapest of all to insure.
There’s a catch, though. A car’s insurance group depends on the exact version, not just the make and model, so one Volkswagen up! can be in group 1 while another with a more powerful engine sits in group 17. That’s why we’ve listed the specific years, engines and trims to look for with every car below, all checked against the latest published insurance group data.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick summary. Prices are a rough guide based on cars listed on Cazoo, and they’ll vary with age, mileage and condition.
| Car | Years | Group 1 version to look for | Insurance group | Rough used price |
| Skoda Fabia | 2015–2018 | 1.0 MPI 59bhp SE or SE Drive, or 74bhp S | 1 | £4,000–£8,000 |
| Nissan Micra | 2017–2020 | 1.0 70bhp Visia, Visia+ or Acenta | 1 | £5,000–£8,000 |
| Ford Ka+ | 2016–2018 | 1.2 69bhp Studio (built before August 2018) | 1 | £4,000–£6,000 |
| Kia Rio | 2015–2017 | 1.1 CRDi diesel 1 Air | 1 | £3,000–£5,000 |
| Smart ForFour | 2017–2019 | 1.0 70bhp Pure | 1 | £4,000–£6,500 |
| Volkswagen up! (and Seat Mii, Skoda Citigo) | 2012–2019 | 1.0 59bhp Take Up or Move Up (Mii and Citigo in S or SE trim) | 1 | £3,000–£7,000 |
| Volkswagen Polo | 2017–2021 | Non-turbo 1.0 in S, SE, Beats or Match trim | 1 | £6,000–£11,000 |
| Hyundai i10 | 2014–2019 | 1.0 S, S Air or SE Blue Drive | 1 | £2,500–£7,500 |
| Kia Picanto | 2017 onwards | 1.0 Pure or 2 with automatic gearbox | 1 | £7,000–£15,000 |
Skoda Fabia (2015–2018)
The Skoda Fabia is an excellent option if you’re looking for lots of space on a budget. It is about the same size as a Ford Fiesta, but thanks to some clever design, it has more boot space and back-seat legroom than most rivals.
The Fabia is also really comfortable, thanks to its soft suspension, which easily handles road bumps. For group 1 insurance, you need the third-generation Fabia, sold from 2015 to 2021, with the non-turbo 1.0 MPI petrol engine. Look for a 59bhp SE or SE Drive, or a 74bhp S registered before September 2018, when a revised version of that engine moved up a group or two. The more powerful turbocharged TSI models are in groups 8 to 14.
The latest Fabia, on sale since 2021, is a great car, but even the cheapest version starts in group 4.
Nissan Micra (2017–2020)
The Nissan Micra is one of the most modern cars on this list, so it’s the one to have if you want to pair your group 1 insurance costs with up-to-date safety kit. Every version comes with automatic emergency braking and a system that nudges you back into your lane if you start to drift, which is reassuring for a new driver. The Micra’s sharp styling also sets it apart from most other small cars – as does its interior, which doesn’t just look good but feels light and airy, too.
The best news is that every Micra with the entry-level engine has a group 1 insurance rating, so you can choose from a range of versions and still get the least expensive insurance. That engine is a 1.0-litre petrol with 70bhp, offered from the end of 2017 in Visia, Visia+ and Acenta trims. It isn’t quick, so it’s best suited to town driving, while the turbocharged petrol and diesel engines are livelier but sit in groups 3 to 12. Browse our Nissan Micra listings to find one.
Ford Ka+ (2016–2018)
Where the Ford Ka+ succeeds is in providing simple, hassle-free motoring at a bargain price. It’s a great-value used car that costs less than most rivals and is very cost-effective to run.
Those low running costs extend to insurance. Choose the entry-level Studio, with its 69bhp 1.2-litre petrol engine, and you’ll benefit from group 1 insurance premiums – all of which make this an ideal choice if you’re intent on sticking to a budget.
Just make sure you get the right one. The Ka+ was given a mild update in August 2018, and Studio models built after that are rated group 3, while Zetec versions are in groups 2 to 5 and the diesel and the later Ka+ Active are higher still. It’s also roomier than the name suggests, with five doors and space for five, and there’s a good choice of Ford Ka+ models on Cazoo.
Kia Rio (2015–2017)
Diesel engines are very fuel-efficient, but it’s rare to find a diesel-powered car with low-cost insurance. Nevertheless, the Kia Rio is just that. Look for the 1 Air model with the 74bhp 1.1-litre CRDi diesel engine, built from January 2015 until this generation of Rio was replaced in 2017. It’s the only Rio in group 1, while other versions are in groups 2 to 9.
Low fuel consumption means it’s one of the most affordable cars to run on this list. As with all Kias, the Rio has a good reputation for reliability, but any Rio of this age will now be outside Kia’s seven-year warranty, so a full service history is a must.
It’s also worth checking the emissions standard before you buy if you drive in London or another clean air zone. Diesel cars need to meet Euro 6 to avoid the ULEZ charge, which generally means cars registered from September 2015, so some earlier Rios won’t qualify. Our guide to the Ultra Low Emissions Zone guide explains more, and you can browse Kia Rio listings on Cazoo.
Smart ForFour (2017–2019)
If you’d like to drive something stylish while paying peanuts for your insurance, then look no further – the Smart ForFour could be the car for you.
Look for the Pure model for group 1 insurance. It arrived in 2017 as the entry-level version, and it’s the only ForFour in group 1, as other trims with the same engine are in groups 2 and 3. Even so, it comes with a relatively zingy little 70bhp 1.0-litre engine that gives more than enough performance for nipping around town. You also get Smart’s unique design inside and out. The ForFour is small enough to fit into the tiniest parking spaces, yet it’s a surprisingly practical little car with four seats.
Its engine sits under the boot floor, which leaves room for the front wheels to turn unusually sharply, so U-turns and tight car parks are a doddle. Avoid the 0.9-litre turbo and Brabus models if insurance is your priority, as they’re in groups 8 to 11. The petrol ForFour was replaced by an electric-only version in 2019, and you’ll find both in our Smart ForFour listings.
Volkswagen up! (2012–2019)
Another car that combines urban-friendly dimensions with good interior space is the Volkswagen up! city car. The same goes for the SEAT Mii and Skoda Citigo, both of which are identical to the Up but for some small design tweaks.
Moreover, the high-quality materials used for the Volkswagen’s interior mean you won’t feel like you’re pinching pennies – even while you are. Good fuel efficiency, a comfortable ride and a fun driving experience add to the VW’s appeal. With lower-specification versions, insurance costs are as low as you can get. Look for a Take Up or Move Up with the 59bhp version of the 1.0-litre engine, sold until 2019, as these are group 1. Later cars with a 64bhp engine are in groups 2 and 3, the 74bhp versions are in groups 3 to 5, and the sporty up! GTI is in group 17.
The same rule applies to the Seat Mii and Skoda Citigo, which were sold with petrol engines until 2019. Entry-level S and SE models are usually group 1, but some versions are a group or two higher, so check the exact car. There’s plenty of choice among the Volkswagen up! models on Cazoo, as well as our SEAT Mii and Skoda Citigo listings.
Hyundai i10 (2014–2019)
The Hyundai i10 is a long-standing favourite with new drivers, and it’s easy to see why. It’s light and easy to drive, has a good-sized 252-litre boot for a city car, and it feels more grown-up on the motorway than many of its rivals.
Group 1 versions are found in the second-generation i10, sold between 2014 and 2019. Choose the 65bhp 1.0-litre petrol engine in S, S Air or SE Blue Drive trim. The 1.2-litre models and the all-new i10 that arrived in 2020 are in slightly higher groups, but they’re still cheap to insure. Browse our Hyundai i10 listings, and if you’re still learning, our guide to the best cars for learner drivers has more ideas.
Volkswagen Polo (2017–2021)
If you need a bit more space than a city car offers, the Volkswagen Polo is one of the biggest cars you can get in group 1. It’s roomy enough for four adults, has a 351-litre boot and feels every bit as solid and well made as you’d expect from a Volkswagen. Every version also comes with automatic emergency braking.
For group 1, look for a car built between 2017 and 2021 with the non-turbo 1.0-litre petrol engine, which came with 64bhp, 74bhp or 79bhp. It was offered in S, SE, Beats and Match trims, plus a handful of special editions, and these are all group 1. Cars from the 2021 update onwards are rated a little higher, as are the turbocharged TSI versions, so check the exact car before you buy. Take a look at the Volkswagen Polo models on Cazoo, and our guide to the best first cars has more ideas if you’re a new driver.
Kia Picanto (2017 onwards)
The Kia Picanto is one of very few cars still on sale new with a group 1 version, and it has a quirk worth knowing about. You’d usually expect an automatic to cost more to insure, but with the Picanto it’s the other way round. The 1.0-litre automatic in entry-level Pure or ‘2’ trim is group 1, while the manual versions are a few groups higher.
It’s a fun, nippy little car with a 66bhp engine, and Kia’s seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty transfers to future owners, so a car that’s only a few years old still has plenty of cover left. The Picanto was given a smart facelift in 2024, and you’ll find lots of Kia Picanto models on Cazoo. Automatics cost a little more to buy than manuals, though, so weigh up the insurance saving against the purchase price.
How to make sure you’re buying a group 1 car
Because insurance groups vary so much between versions of the same car, it pays to check before you buy. The quickest way is to get an insurance quote using the car’s registration number, as this pulls up the exact engine, trim and build date, rather than relying on the advert. Ratings are also reviewed from time to time, and an update to a car can change its group, as happened with the Ford Ka+, so don’t assume every car with the same name is rated the same.
It’s worth running a vehicle check too, to make sure the car hasn’t been written off or modified, as either can push up your premium or make the car harder to insure. You can also check its MOT history on GOV.UK for free.
Other ways to cut your car insurance costs
Choosing a group 1 car is a great start, but the car is only part of the picture. Your age, driving experience, postcode, annual mileage and where you park overnight all have a big effect on the price you pay. If you’re a young driver, a telematics or ‘black box’ policy, which rewards careful driving, can bring your premium down considerably. Adding an experienced driver to your policy can help too, as long as you’re genuinely the main driver. Putting a car in a parent’s name when you’ll be the one driving it most is known as ‘fronting’, and it can invalidate your cover.
Paying for your insurance annually rather than monthly usually works out cheaper, and shopping around at renewal, rather than letting your policy roll over, can save you money as well. Finally, remember that a car that’s cheap to insure also needs to be cheap to run, so our guide to the best fuel-efficient cars is worth a read too.
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Group 1 Car Insurance FAQs
What is group 1 car insurance?
UK insurance groups run from 1 to 50, set by the Group Rating Panel (made up of insurers from the ABI and the Lloyd’s Market Association), using research carried out by Thatcham Research. Cars are assessed on factors including their price when new, parts and repair costs, performance, safety equipment such as automatic emergency braking, and security. Group 1 is the cheapest to insure; group 50 is the most expensive.
Are group 1 cars a good choice for young drivers?
Yes. Young and newly qualified drivers usually face higher premiums, so a group 1 car can help offset some of that cost. Models like the Hyundai i10 and Volkswagen up! are popular first cars for this reason. Just remember that your age and experience still have the biggest effect on what you pay, so a group 1 car won’t make insurance cheap on its own, but it will help make it as cheap as it can be. If you haven’t passed yet, our top tips for passing your driving test will help you get there.
Does engine size affect a car’s insurance group?
Generally, yes. Smaller, less powerful engines tend to sit in lower insurance groups, which is why several cars here reach group 1 with a 1.0-litre engine. Larger engine options in the same range are often rated higher. But it’s power, rather than size alone, that matters most. Every Volkswagen up! has a 1.0-litre engine, yet versions range from group 1 to group 17, depending on power and trim.
Can I check a used car’s insurance group before buying?
Yes. Most comparison and insurance websites offer a free insurance group checker – just enter the car’s make, model and registration. It’s worth checking first, as ratings can vary between trim levels and engine sizes on the same model. Getting a quote using the registration number is the most reliable check of all, as it shows exactly what you’ll pay for that specific car.
What does the letter after an insurance group mean?
Insurance groups are often shown with a letter, such as 1E or 1A, which is a security rating. E means the car’s security exceeds the standard for its type, A means it’s acceptable and P means the rating is provisional. D means the security falls short, which pushes the group up, while U means it’s unacceptable and you may need extra security fitted before an insurer will cover the car.
Are there any new cars in insurance group 1?
Very few. New cars come with more safety technology and more expensive parts than ever, which tends to push insurance groups up. At the time of writing, the Kia Picanto automatic is one of the only new cars you can buy in group 1, which is why buying used gives you far more choice.