- For a new driver, insurance usually costs more than anything else. Get quotes before you choose the car.
- Look for a low insurance group (roughly 1 to 15), a small engine and a good safety rating.
- A black box policy can cut the price a lot. Read the rules on night driving first.
- For your first two years, 6 penalty points means losing your licence and taking your test again.
The island is a good place to be a new driver: short distances, plenty of quiet roads to build confidence on, and everything within half an hour. It also has its challenges, like steep hills, narrow lanes with passing places, and summer traffic. The right first car makes all of that easier, and keeps the cost down.
Start with insurance, not the car
For a 17 to 25 year old, a year's insurance can cost as much as the car. The same driver can get very different prices on two cars that look similar, so the order matters:
- Shortlist three or four modelsSmall hatchbacks and city cars are the usual starting point.
- Get quotes on eachUse a comparison site and try one or two insurers directly. Use a real registration from an advert if the site asks.
- Then look for the carNow you know what you can afford in total, not just the price on the screen.
Insurance groups
Every car model is put into a group from 1 (cheapest to insure) to 50. The group depends on things like the car's value, performance, repair costs and security. It's one of the biggest things you can control.
What makes a good first car
- A small engine, roughly 1.0 to 1.4 litresEnough for island hills, cheap to insure and run. Small turbo petrols can be lively; check the group.
- A good safety ratingLook the model up on Euro NCAP. Remember that older ratings were tested to older, easier rules.
- Easy to see out of and parkNarrow lanes and tight seafront spaces are easier in a small car. Parking sensors are a bonus.
- Cheap, common partsPopular small cars are cheaper to service and repair, and island garages know them well.
- A full MOT and some historyA first car with a fresh MOT and receipts is worth paying a little more for. See how to read an MOT history.
Black box insurance
A black box (telematics) policy uses a small device in the car, or an app on your phone, to score how you drive: speed, braking, cornering and what time of day you're out. Drive well and the price can come down, sometimes a lot.
Good for
- Lower prices for new drivers
- Rewards careful, steady driving
- Some insurers lower the price at renewal for a good score
Watch out for
- Limits or penalties for driving late at night on some policies
- Extra charges or cancellation for poor scores
- Every harsh brake is recorded, including on steep island hills
Your first year, added up
Put in your own numbers to see what the car will really cost in its first year.
First-year cost
Petrol at 175p a litre (UK average, early October 2026). Includes £400 for an MOT, a service and a set of tyres or brakes. Car pages on this site estimate tax for each car.
The two-year rule
For two years after you pass your test, reaching 6 penalty points means your licence is cancelled, and you have to apply for a provisional licence and pass both tests again. A single offence can do it: using a hand-held phone while driving carries 6 points on its own. Speeding usually carries 3.
In England this applies whatever kind of car you drive, and points from before you passed can count too. Check the details on GOV.UK.
Buying it
A dealer gives you far stronger legal rights than a private seller, which matters when you don't yet know much about cars. Take someone experienced with you, go in daylight, and work through our buying checklist and test drive checklist. If you passed in an automatic, your licence only covers automatics. See automatic or manual?
206 small-engined cars for £8,000 or less, from island dealers.
