Best Used First Cars

The Ford Fiesta is a well-known first-car option. Small, lightweight and relatively cheap to maintain, it’s a great car for those just starting out on the roads. Its compact engines are efficient and, most importantly, help to make this car cheap to insure. There’s a good range of colours to choose from, too, while the Fiesta gets a good range of standard equipment on the latest models. Expect to pay around £10,000 for a clean example of the most recent generation of Fiesta.

With its ultra-compact size, the i10 is ideal for new drivers. However, its compact exterior dimensions don’t actually make for a compact cabin, with the i10’s interior bringing more room than you might expect. Because of its boxy design, there’s quite a bit of headroom, too. There is an i10 to fit most budgets; early models can be found for under £2,000, though we’d recommend aiming in the region of £6,000 to find a clean example.

Skoda makes reliable, trustworthy cars and the Fabia is a great example of this. It’s a little more practical than others on this list, too, with a relatively large boot and an interior which gets loads of handy storage features. We appreciate the Skoda’s solid build quality, too, and the great level of fit-and-finish that this model offers, regardless of which age you go for. Around £11,000 is enough to get you a 2021 model with around 21,000 miles on the clock or, if you want to spend less, then you can find a previous-generation car for around £7,000.

Reassuringly solid, the Polo is seen as a go-to first-time car by many people. It’s not hard to see why either, as with its user-friendly controls, compact size and light steering, it feels as though it has been designed specifically for people who are getting out on to the roads for the first time. It’s also accompanied by a great range of engines which are compact, cheap to run and easy to maintain. However, because of this popularity the Polo has always commanded a premium over rivals. That said, you should be able to find a version that’ll meet your budget; versions from 2021 come in at around £13,845, while very early examples can now be found for under £2,000 - though these will have higher mileage and will likely need more maintenance in the long run.

With its excellent track record for reliability, the Kia Picanto is a safe and solid choice for new drivers. Over the last few years the Picanto has become a lot more premium, too, though it’s even these later models can still be found for a very agreeable price. The latest versions of the Picanto come in at around £19,000 for an essentially brand-new car, though we’d say that £10,000 is a very solid budget that’ll get you a 2023 car with around 40,000 miles. The Pinanto’s reliability means that you shouldn’t be put off higher-mileage cars, either, providing that they’ve been looked after well.

The original Aygo was a real hit among new drivers. It shared its platform with the Citroen C1 and the Peugeot 108, and this trio, with its small-capacity engines and easy-to-repair design was a shoe-in for drivers who were just starting out on the roads. Toyota redesigned the Aygo in its transformation to Aygo X (pronounced ‘Cross’), introducing a little more in-car technology than before while keeping the same compact dimensions and low running costs that had made the original so popular. Introduced in 2022, these versions cost in the region of £14,000. However, if you’re looking for something a little cheaper, then the previous-generation Aygo can be found for under £5,000 with average mileage.

The Clio is one of those cars that has been loved by first-time drivers for decades. There are plenty of drivers who gained experience of motoring behind the wheel of one of these Renaults and they’re a very common sight as driving instructor vehicles, too. Relatively simple and inexpensive to maintain, the Clio is a great first-car choice and one which, over time, has only become better looking and more refined. Around £7,000 is enough to get a 2019 model with around 60,000 miles on the clock, while £6,000 is about right for a 2015 car with around 40,000 miles on it.

It’s not your stereotypical first car, but the Dacia Duster could be a good option for new drivers looking for something a little different. Unashamedly value-focused, the Duster has a far higher driving position than others on this list, giving a little extra visibility, which often helps boost confidence behind the wheel. You’ll need to go for smaller-engined Dusters in order to keep insurance premiums down, but all versions of the Duster bring the same rugged design that’ll stand the test of time. Look to spend around £12,000 for a 2022 version, though very early, high-mileage examples can be found for under £4,000.

The Fiat 500 is another car which is now well-known as a car which is ideal for first-time drivers. With its light steering, it’s very intuitive, and this is matched by a light clutch and simple-to-use manual gearbox, which can help new drivers gain confidence. We also appreciate the 500’s compact dimension,s which make it easy to park and position even in the tightest of spaces. The ‘new’ 500 has been a hit ever since it first arrived in 2007, so there are plenty to choose from on the used market. They can be found for as little as £1,000, though we’d recommend spending around £5,000 for a cleaner example.

The Up! was the car to show that small cars could be premium, too. With its boxy design and clever interior, the Up! is remarkably practical inside - fold the rear seats down and there’s lots of space for even larger items. Plus, despite its compact size, the Up! is refined on the motorway and is far better at those long-distance drives than you might expect. Thanks to its small-capacity engines, it’s also ideal for first-time drivers. Its popularity has meant that used prices have remained strong, though around £5,000 is enough to get a very clean example.