Best first cars under £5,000: 5 top picks for new drivers

Research by online banking company Monzo found that 17 to 21-year-olds spend an average of £4,867 on their first car. With that in mind, Carwow is a great place to find used car deals within this budget – or for even less.

To help narrow your search, here are five used cars you can buy for under £5,000, all of which are ideal for first-time drivers. We’ve also included each car’s insurance group, as the lower the group, the cheaper it is to insure – an important consideration for new drivers.

Remember, you can buy a used car right here on Carwow. We’re here to help you through every step of your car-changing journey.

1. Ford Fiesta

First up is the Ford Fiesta. This little hatchback is an ideal first car if you’re looking for something that’s fun to drive, comfortable and well equipped. Some alternatives have more rear passenger space and larger boots, though.

We found a used example from 2013 which comes with a 82hp 1.25-litre petrol engine and 55,500 miles on the clock, all for just £3,200. This Fiesta also falls under a low insurance group: 7E.

With this, you get:

• A five-star safety safety rating
• 3 spoke leather steering wheel
• Steering wheel mounted controls
• Bluetooth connection with voice control
• Six speakers

2. Renault Clio

Next up is the Renault Clio, which is a stylish small hatchback that is easy to drive. However, don’t expect much rear space and you’ll find bigger boots in some other alternatives.

If you’re not entirely fussed about space, we found a used example from 2015 which comes with a 75hp 1.2-litre petrol engine and 62,549 miles on the clock, all for £4,495, for you to look at. This car also falls under a low insurance group of 8E.

It also comes with the following features:

• Five-star safety rating
• Bluetooth + USB
• Cruise control + speed limiter
• Fingertip controls for audio system
• 16-inch alloy wheels

3. Dacia Sandero

Good news! You can also find deals from under £5,000 on the Dacia Sandero. This little car is incredibly value for money, has a practical and spacious interior, and is comfortable to drive. However, don’t expect much in the way of equipment.

Are you interested? We found a used example from 2013 which comes with a 75hp 1.2-litre petrol engine and 78,000 miles on the clock, all for just £2,495. This car also falls under an insanely low insurance group of 2E.

You also get the following features:

• 320-litre boot
• Bluetooth system
• Tinted windows
• Heating/ventilation unit with 4 speed fan
• Electronic Stability Control + traction control

4. Vauxhall Corsa

This little hatchback has a smart exterior design, is comfortable to drive, and comes with a generous amount of equipment. We do find the rear seats are a bit cramped, though.

That said, here’s a used example from 2013 which comes with a 85hp 1.2-litre petrol engine and 67,000 miles on the clock, all for £3,495. The insurance group for this car is 6E.

It also comes with the following features:

• Steering wheel mounted audio controls
• Reach + rake adjustable steering column
• 285-litres of boot space
• Air conditioning

5. Volkswagen Up!

Last up, we have the Volkswagen Up! This is a cracking little car for new drivers as it’s got a smart interior, is comfortable to drive, and has impressive build quality. That said, it does only come with four seats and the interior is fairly basic.

If that doesn’t put you off, however, we found a used example from 2015 which comes with a 90hp 1.0-litre petrol engine and 43,935 miles on the clock, all for £4,995. This car also falls under 1E, the lowest insurance group in this list.

In this car, you also get:

• A five-star safety rating
• DAB digital radio module
• 12V accessory power point in centre console
• Air conditioning

Car change? Carwow!

Looking for a new set of wheels? With Carwow you can sell your car quickly and for a fair price – as well as find great offers on your next one. Whether you’re looking to buy a car brand new, are after something used or you want to explore car leasing options, Carwow is your one stop shop for new car deals.

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*Savings are made up of the maximum dealer discount off RRP – subject to dealership, location and trim. Prices correct at the time of writing.