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Choosing cars by what they really cost to own
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Can a Cheap Car Be Expensive to Insure?

Yes. A low purchase price tells you almost nothing about the insurance premium. An older £3,000 hatchback can cost a particular driver more to insure than a newer, more valuable car.

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Yes. A low purchase price tells you almost nothing about the insurance premium. An older £3,000 hatchback can cost a particular driver more to insure than a newer, more valuable car.

Why the price of the car is only part of the risk

Insurers are pricing the chance and likely cost of a claim, not simply the amount you paid for the vehicle. the exact version plus version, repair costs, performance, theft record, safety and the type of drivers who commonly claim in it can all matter.

This is why choosing a first car by browsing the cheapest adverts can backfire. Two two similarly priced cars asking price may lead to quite different quotations for the same person.

get a quote for the exact car before paying a deposit

avoid depending on phrases such as “low insurance group” in an advert. Get quotes using the actual version you are considering. Engine, trim, gearbox and factory equipment level can change the rating or the insurer's view of the risk.

A useful buying order is: shortlist the car, check its history and condition, obtain realistic insurance quotations, and only then decide whether the total cost works.

The practical takeaway

If the insurance premium changes the affordability of the car, find that out while you can still walk away. The cheapest car to buy need not be the cheapest car to own.

Before you buy a bargain-priced car, run a premium on that exact vehicle so you know whether it is genuinely cheap to own.
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