As a younger, inexperienced driver your motor trade insurance is going to be high, it may even work out more expensive than the cost of the car itself. If you are a courier or spend many hours on the road for work, here are some of the best cars to buy to keep your insurance costs to a minimum.

For a driver under the age 25, the amount you pay for your motor trade insurance is likely to be over £1,000 a year but being careful about the model of car you invest in can help to reduce the overall premium. Also, keep in mind that your job, location and where the car is kept when not in use will all be considered when applying for your under 25s insurance.

Choosing the Right Model

If you want to find the lowest motor trade or courier insurance quotes, you need to drive a sensible car. That is, a car with a smaller engine, though trim level and type are also taken into account when preparing the quote. For insurance purposes, cars are divided into groups from 1 to 50, the former being the cheapest to insure.

Here are some of the most popular cars in the lower Group 1 and Group 2 insurance categories. Depending on your motor trade or courier business, you may need something a little more spacious and many of these vehicles are also available in slightly higher insurance groups too.

Ford Ka+

Great for city driving, the Ka+ is an entry-level car that’s reasonably spacious inside. It compares well to other five-door hatchbacks according to reviews, with a good build quality and low running costs. It’s also very different from the Ford Ka in that it is modelled on the Ford Fiesta and has five seats and a 270-litre boot.

There are two trim levels – Studio and Zetec, with the 1.2 TiVCT 70hp Studio version falling into the Group 1 insurance bracket, making it one of the cheapest cars to cover on the market.

Nissan Micra

The Japanese carmaker’s Micra is well-known for its safety equipment and comes with plenty of customisation options. However, only the more recent 1.0-litre petrol Micra is in insurance Group 1 but is still larger and more stylish than older version.

Both the 1.0-litre, 71hp petrol engine Visia and 1.0-litre 73hp Acenta are in Group 1 and have a range of trim levels.

Volkswagen Polo

The Volkswagen Polo is a popular younger person’s car for price and quality. The Polo hatchback is smaller than its larger Golf cousin, but the back seats are almost as roomy, easily accommodating four adults. The 351-litre boot is also near to the size of the Golf and good if you are transporting goods. The 1.0-litre 65hp EVO engine falls into insurance Group 1 and comes in S, SE or Beats trim.

Volkswagen Up!

The Volkswagen Up! is a relative newcomer but has won a string of awards including Auto Express’s City Car of the Year for two years in a row. It belongs to insurance Groups 1-10 depending on the model.

If you specify the 1.0-litre, 60hp engine, you can choose a three-door or five-door model in Move Up! or Take Up! trims, both remaining within the Group 1 insurance. You can also upgrade to turbo-charged, but this will push up your insurance.

You may also want to check out Volkswagen Fox for a reliable alternative but only the 1.2 litre falls in Group 1.

Skoda Fabia

Skoda has an enviable reputation of being both reasonable, economical and reliable. In addition, the Fabia is surprisingly spacious, able to easily transport four six-foot-tall adults. It performs well and an entry-level 1.0-litre, 60hp engine will be covered under Group 1 insurance.

Skoda Citigo is worth investigating too. A compact city car that is surprisingly spacious, it offers a good source of interior compartments, cupholders and even a bag hook, so great for life on the road. The 59hp 1.0-litre petrol engine in S, SE and Monte Carlo trim qualify for group 1,

Citroen C1

This low-emission city car is cheap to buy and even cheaper to run, offering 62.8 miles to the gallon. It’s low-emission, eco-friendly and available in a variety of pretty and funky colours, suited to the younger driver. The Vibe and Airplay models come within Group 1 insurance.

SEAT Ibiza

If you are searching for something a little larger or more powerful but still within the budget range, take a look at a SEAT Ibiza. The Ibiza in SE trim with a 1.0-litre engine and it falls into the inexpensive car insurance Group 3.

Toyota Yaris

For reliability and a cheap price, you can’t go far wrong than a Toyota Yaris. Also available in an economical hybrid option, the Yaris is capable of up to 59 miles to the gallon. The cheapest car insurance option is the entry-level 1.0-litre petrol engine, which has 72hp and falls within insurance Group 2.