Best first cars for new drivers in 2025

When choosing your first car, low running costs are important, especially as car insurance for new drivers is likely to be expensive. 

But you should also look for safe and reliable cars, with several studies showing that new drivers are more likely to crash than experienced motorists.

Below, we’ve selected new and used models that are safe and reasonably affordable at several price levels. Our scoring factors in the results from our extensive and comprehensive lab tests, along with each model’s performance in Euro NCAP crash tests.

By combining these factors, you can trust our reviews to find a first car that’s safe and easy to live with. We’ve also selected a list of the first cars that should be avoided due to their poor performances in Euro NCAP crash tests.

Get our full verdict on every car we've tested, across all fuel types, with our independent car reviews.

Best first cars under £10,000

If your budget can stretch to £10,000, you can include newer cars in your search. However, as we explain later, opting for a more powerful car can affect your insurance premium - especially if you're a new driver.

Best new first cars under £20,000

You won't find our highest-scoring new cars at this price, but stretching to £20,000 opens up the opportunity to buy a new (or nearly new) car that will benefit from the manufacturer's warranty. 

Be sure to check what safety equipment comes as standard, however, as some cars have the latest tech available only as an optional extra (check our reviews for the full picture).

First cars to avoid

Any car that scores poorly in Euro NCAP's crash tests is automatically named a Which? Don't Buy. We recommend you avoid these at all costs.

How to find cheap car insurance for new drivers

Car insurance has always been pricier for inexperienced drivers as they're considered more likely to be involved in a car accident, but there are a few ways you can lower your premiums. Our guide on learner driver insurance explains more.

• Consider taking out 'black box' car insurance. Also known as telematics, this uses technology to track your car and calculate how safe a driver you are. The insurer uses data collected on things such as steering, speed and braking to decide whether to reward you for your driving skills with bonuses such as money off your premium or retail vouchers.

• Adding a more experienced driver to your policy can reduce the premium, but you should do so only if they are genuinely going to be driving the car. Additionally, it's illegal to put someone down as the main driver if this is not the case and it can lead to an insurer refusing to pay a claim, cancelling the policy altogether, or even taking legal action against you for fraud.

• Insurance premiums tend to be higher on cars with larger engines, so bear this in mind if you're tempted by a cheap high-performance car.

For more ways to save and find the best deal, head to our guide on how to save on car insurance.

How to choose a safe first car

It’s always good to choose a safe car, but even more so if you're a new driver as statistically you're far more likely to be involved in accidents.

Most manufacturers submit new models to be crash tested by Euro NCAP, an organisation we helped to found in 1996. While the results of Euro NCAP’s tests don’t affect if a car can legally be sold, those that score poorly automatically become a Which? Don’t Buy.

We also assess the standard (and optional) safety kit that’s available on each car we test, along with the whiplash protection the seat headrests offer in an accident.

Our lab also conducts a hazard avoidance test on each car by swerving around an object and continuing in the intended direction of travel. From this, we can determine if the car will safely understeer (lose grip from the front and continue in a straight line) or oversteer (where the rear axle loses traction, potentially resulting in a spin).

What should I look for when buying a first car?

It’s always good to choose a safe car, but even more so if you're a new driver as statistically you're far more likely to be involved in accidents.

If you can, choose a car that’s reliable. Our annual car survey reveals how reliable most of the UK’s most common cars are. See our guide to the most reliable cars for more.

You may also want to consider a car that’s cheap to run (all our car reviews provide detailed running costs), but bear in mind fuel economy isn’t the only thing to consider as road tax, general maintenance and costs for any clean air zones you may drive through can all add up.

How to get the best price on a car: find out how to save money when buying

Should my first car be new or used?

This depends on a lot of factors, including your budget and concerns you may have about accident damage. But with most new cars costing more than £20,000, a used car may be a better choice. If you’re tempted by a cheap sports car or luxury SUV, keep in mind that cars like this are generally very expensive to run, maintain and insure.

What to look for when buying a used first car

If you have little-to-no car experience, knowing what to look for can be very daunting. 

Here are some tips to keep in mind when looking for a used car:

• If you know the car's registration number, check its MOT history on Gov.uk before going to view it, paying close attention to any advisories or possible recalls that the car might have in its history. 

• Check the car’s tyres for cuts, bulges or excessive wear. If they're worn, they’ll need replacing, which may not be cheap, depending on the model of car.

• Test drive any car you’re interested in. This is the only way you can objectively decide if the car drives safely, is comfortable and doesn’t make any unexpected noises.

For more tips on buying a used car, head to guides on how to buy the best used car and where to buy a car.

Is it worth getting a black box for your car?

Having black box insurance could make your insurance cheaper if you’re a careful driver that doesn’t travel very far or at night.

For more information, read our guide on black box car insurance.

What are new drivers allowed to do?

Once you've passed your test, you won't have to adhere to any additional restrictions beyond those that apply to more experienced drivers.

There’s also no legal obligation to display ‘P’ plates in Great Britain after you’ve passed your theory test. However, newly qualified drivers in Northern Ireland must display ‘R’ plates and cannot drive at more than 45 mph for a year.

We test cars more thoroughly than anyone else

Our tests are more comprehensive than those carried out by other organisations, and because Which? is independent, you can trust our reviews to give you the full, honest and impartial truth about every car we test.

To find out more, head to our how we test cars guide.

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