Cheapest Insurance Cars at Chorley Group in 2026

Before you start hunting for the “cheapest car to insure”, it helps to know what insurers are actually looking at. Every car sold in the UK is placed into an insurance group, currently numbered from 1 to 50. Lower‑numbered groups (1–10) are generally the cheapest to insure; cars in the highest groups tend to be more powerful, more expensive to repair, or more likely to be involved in high‑cost claims.

• Insurers and the group rating bodies look at things like:
• Purchase price/ parts cost (how expensive it is to repair or replace any parts on the car)
• Performance e.g. power, top speed, 0–60 time (basically, how tempting it is to drive quickly).
• Safety and security features for example: alarms, immobilisers, crash protection features.
• Repair times and complexity e.g. how long it typically sits in a garage or a bodyshop).
• Historical claims data for that specific model.

None of this means you must buy the absolute lowest group car available, but it does mean that choosing a model in a lower band can shave a noticeable amount off your annual premium, especially if you’re a younger or higher‑risk driver.

When you look at the cheapest‑to‑insure lists from major UK sites like Money Super Market or GoCompare, the same sort of car keeps appearing: small, modestly powered hatchbacks with a good safety record and inexpensive parts. They’re not always the flashiest things on the road, but they quietly get on with the job - exactly what insurers like.

Common features/traits of cars that are typically lead to cheap to insure include:

• Small engines (usually petrol), often between 1.0–1.2 litres with sensible power outputs (so no massive turbos)
• Five‑door hatchback bodies - practical and popular with new and family drivers.
• Good safety scores like NCAP 5* ratings and standard safety tech like airbags, ABS, and stability control.
• Strong reliability records, which help keep repair costs down over time. You can find this online depending on the manufacture.
• Wide availability of parts, making accident repairs faster and cheaper. This is usaully available on the big brands within the UK as the more of the cars on the road, the more parts available.

Guides from major UK car and insurance sites consistently underline that choosing the right engine and trim level within a model line‑up can be just as important as picking the model itself. Two versions of the same car can sit in very different insurance groups if one has a more powerful engine or expensive wheels and bodykit.

That’s why you so often see compact models from mainstream brands on “cheapest cars to insure” lists in the UK. They’re easy to live with, easy to fix, and not the typical choice for high‑risk driving.

You can speak to our team to learn more about the cars available at Chorley Group.

For new drivers, especially teenagers and people in their early twenties, insurance often costs more than the car itself in the first year or two (obviously depending on the car - of you get a 4lt petrol engine, your insurance for a new driver will be through the roof). Insurers price in a higher risk of accidents, and that’s where low‑insurance‑group cars are particularly valuable.

Benefits for getting a cheap to insure car for new and younger drivers include:

• More affordable first‑year premiums that make it realistic to get on the road.
• A better chance of building a no‑claims history without breaking the bank (no claims are so important to bring your insurance down year on year)
• Cars that are easier to handle, with modest power and good visibility.
• Lower running costs overall - fuel, tyres and servicing are often cheaper on these models too.

Many of the cars that appear on “cheapest cars to insure” lists across the interent are designed with exactly these drivers in mind, offering simple controls, strong safety kit and relatively low repair costs if something does go wrong. When you combine that with advice from a dealer who understands your situation, it becomes much easier to get onto the road with a manageable monthly outlay.