Choosing the right car as a new driver is essential for both safety and affordability. New drivers need to pay particular attention to their safety, with 1 in 5 crashing within a year of passing the practical test.
In 2025, there are several cars that offer the ideal balance of low running costs, good safety ratings, and cheap insurance premiums. Whether you’re after a compact city car or something slightly roomier, there are excellent options that balance style and practicality. Here’s what to think about while you’re choosing.
- Fuel efficiency and running costs
Try to choose a car that won’t cost you a fortune to run. If you live in London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone or travel through it regularly, it could be worth considering an electric or hybrid vehicle. However, many efficient petrol vehicles are also ULEZ compliant.
If you expect to be driving plenty of motorway miles, we’d recommend choosing a car with a fuel economy of at least 50 miles per gallon.
- Insurance group and affordability
Cars in lower insurance groups are ideal for new drivers. This means they’ll not only be cheaper to get covered but should be deemed lower risk by brokers, making them easier to secure insurance for.
Don’t forget that young driver insurance could help lower the cost of finding the right car. With a tailored quote that factors in your experience levels, you’ll able to find out which vehicles are cheaper to insure.
- Safety ratings and driver assistance
Keeping yourself, your passengers and other road users safe should be a top priority. While you’re still browsing for a new car, you should search with safety in mind and prioritise the right features.
If you’re buying a modern vehicle, you can check the latest safety ratings online with Euro NCAP. Older models are still ranked but may not offer a competitive level of safety. Just a few of the modern safety essentials include:
- Lane assist
- Automatic braking
- Crash or impact detection
- Parking cameras, front and rear
- Anti-lock brakes
- Practicality and ease of driving
Your first car should give you confidence to explore the roads and build your skills at your own pace. Try to make a shortlist of the models that you think could offer the best balance between comfort, practicality and simplicity.
Most cars work in the same (or a very similar) way but feel very different to drive. It could be worth arranging a viewing and test drive with a garage if you’ve seen a car that you like.
Generally, small cars with light yet responsive steering make learning and driving easier – especially if you live in the city or commute regularly.
Ready to start window shopping for a new car? Don’t forget to try a few different cars before you make up your mind!
