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Small economial car to add my teenage son to the insurance

samphe
samphe Posts: 140 Forumite
Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
I'm looking for a small economical car that will be cheap to insure as my son will be 17 this year and I will be adding him to my insurance while learning and when he's eventually passed his test.

My budget is up to £5k.

I'm interested in the Peugot 107, Citreon C1, Toyota Aygo or Ford KA. For my budget, they tend to be around 2010-2012 plates. I know that the first three are essentially the same car.

Does anyone have any advice on which may be better as far as the insurance goes? Any advice on what to look out for on any of these cars? Any particular problems with these cars in general etc.

Also, are any of these cars likely to be more expensive or cheaper to insure once I add my son?

Any guidance gratefully received!
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Comments

  • bigjl
    bigjl Posts: 6,457 Forumite
    I saw a 61reg 107 5dr go through BCA today, under 30k miles direct from Lease Co.

    Went for £2750 plus fees, for a private buyer around £400.

    Not bad value for money.

    And built in same factory as the Aygo.

    Cargiant lists the Insurance Group in every vehicle advert. A worthwhile website to surf for research purposes.
  • samphe wrote: »
    I will be adding him to my insurance while learning and when he's eventually passed his test.

    That's fronting isn't it?
  • samphe
    samphe Posts: 140 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    Thanks bigjl. That's worth considering. I'm nervous about car auctions though as I have no idea about cars other than how to drive one!

    jack_pott - fronting? Presume this is some dodgy way of getting cheaper insurance? It will mainly be my car, but my son will use it when I'm teaching him to drive, once he's passed he'll use it on some evenings and a bit on weekends, when I can go out with my husband in his car. So my son will just be a named driver on my insurance. How is this wrong? Or have you just assumed the worst?
  • tberry6686
    tberry6686 Posts: 1,135 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 13 March 2015 at 4:57PM
    That would be okay but the price will likely still be very high. Also be aware that if he has an accident the insurance co will look closely at the situation to determine whether or not fronting has taken place.
  • samphe
    samphe Posts: 140 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    tberey6686 - I know it'll still be expensive, that's why I'm changing my car for something more economical!

    It'll be my car which I'll use every day for work. He'll only use it when I'm not! Still going to cost a fortune to insure it though! Bearing in mind that I paid (after cash back) £96 for my current insurance this year!
  • albionrovers
    albionrovers Posts: 2,028 Forumite
    Is that not how we all began 35 years ago? Have things changed or was it always fronting. Or was fronting not invented yet, a bit like stress?
  • samphe
    samphe Posts: 140 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    albionrovers - I suspect it's a new thing that insurance companies have invented in an attempt not to pay out!
  • fatbelly
    fatbelly Posts: 23,139 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Cashback Cashier
    I think the best small car (and cheap to insure) is the Citigo/Mii/Up. But you are going to struggle to get one for 5k. If you can find one, go for it.

    Next choice would be the i10 - and you should be able to find a 2012 model at that price.

    You can check insurance groups here

    http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/insurance/car-insurance-groups/
  • samphe wrote: »
    jack_pott - fronting? Presume this is some dodgy way of getting cheaper insurance? It will mainly be my car, but my son will use it when I'm teaching him to drive, once he's passed he'll use it on some evenings and a bit on weekends, when I can go out with my husband in his car. So my son will just be a named driver on my insurance. How is this wrong? Or have you just assumed the worst?

    If you're buying an additional car for your son to use, and then saving money by putting it on your insurance with him as a named driver that's fronting. It's insurance fraud and a criminal offence. If you need to claim you'll be left with the job of having to convince the insurance company that your son is not the main driver, which probably won't be easy unless you can produce some form of evidence.
  • tberry6686
    tberry6686 Posts: 1,135 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    When it comes to young drivers insurance groups are becoming less important, what counts most is how many claims and how much insurers have paid out for that car type, hence why Corsa's are a low group but can be very expensive to insure.

    Fronting has been around for a long time but has only really become common in the last 10 years or so due to the cost of young, inexperienced drivers insurance.
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