A new report has revealed the top ten cheapest cars to insure in the UK, with some surprising entries making the list.
At present, the average driver across the UK is paying around £450 for their car insurance costs.
New data reveals that the Mazda MX-5 tops the list as the cheapest car to insure, costing drivers just £250 on average.
The Peugeot 206 is in second place, with an average insurance cost of £255, allowing certain motorists to save hundreds of pounds a year.
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Some surprising entrants were included on the list of the cheapest cars to insure
GETTY
While small, less powerful cars with strong safety credentials typically dominate such lists, the report highlights some unexpected entries.
The Saab 9-3, a compact executive car, appears as the ninth cheapest vehicle to insure, while the Volvo S40 places tenth, costing just £290 on average to insure.
Tom Banks, car insurance expert at Go.Compare, explains that the model of car is just one of many factors insurers consider when calculating premiums.
He said: "When an insurer offers you a quote for your car insurance, they take into account a whole range of factors - your age, the area you live in and where your car is parked can all impact the price, including which car you drive."
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The Mazda MX-5 was found to be the cheapest car to insure
MAZDA
Cars with the smaller average cost to insure
- Mazda MX-5 - £250
- Peugeot 206 - £255
- Citroen Xsara - £256
- Smart Fortwo - £260
- Toyota IQ - £265
- Fiat Panda - £279
- Peugeot RCZ - £279
- Vauxhall Agila - £290
- Saab 9-3 - £290
- Volvo S40 - £290
Banks added: "Generally speaking, more powerful, sporty cars with larger engines are more expensive to insure, while cars with smaller engines can be more affordable to insure, as well as to run."
He acknowledged that changing vehicles solely to reduce insurance costs isn't typically cost-effective.
However, the expert offers several tips for drivers looking to lower their insurance premiums without changing vehicles.
"If you aren't about to buy a new car but your premiums have risen, there are certain things you can do to try and lower the cost of insuring your vehicle," he advised.
The Volvo S40 was a surprise entrant on the list of cheapest cars to insure
VOLVO
His recommendations include paying annually rather than monthly, as insurers add interest to monthly payments, in addition to being "strategic" about job descriptions.
Banks also suggests considering comprehensive cover, which at an average of £450 is actually £138 cheaper than third-party-only policies (£588).
