Small car choice - no insurance history

YBR

Has anyone any suggestions for the following quandary?
I have had a company car since April but will hand it back at the end of March. I have decided to replace it and am looking for a smaller car but not sure where to start for the most appropriate makes & models to consider.

Circumstances:
I have no insurance history in my name but have been a named driver with no points or accidents for over 25 years.
I'll probably do 100 miles a week in commuting and local journeys, plus a handful of longer trips a year.
Needs to take 2 kids with booster seats in the back OR 1 kid and a guitar.

Are there any models that are cheap on insurance and road tax?
Are there any insurance companies that may be a good deal as a mature driver with no NCB?
I'm considering a hybrid or Plug-in hybrid - anything I need to be aware of?

loskie

if your company has a fleet manager get them to write a "reference" for your insurance co you may get some NCB. I did this successfully although it was a number of years ago.
It's certainly worth an ask.

forgotmyname

Lots of cars with cheap insurance and tax. But the cars that are cheap for me may not be cheap for you.

Age, postcode and driving history will vary.

Do you want a 1.2L petrol engine 2 door car for £140 tax and £600 insurance or a 2L diesel engine large estate with £30 tax and £329 insurance?

Cisco001

https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/insurance/lowest-insurance-group/

Navigator123

With your mileage the best option would, IMHO, be a Smart EQ fourfour.

Electric car so cheap to run and currently with a dealer contribution and a free home charging point fitted.

Have a look - you may be very pleasantly surprised.

AdrianC

Even with zero NCB, I think you'll be surprised at how reasonable your insurance will be. Most importantly, you have a long-held licence and your recent history is clean. Insurers simply don't think you're the type to smear lots of people over the scenery...

But yours is a far from unusual scenario, and insurers are well used to ex-cocar drivers.

Scrapit

Put the guitar in the boot.

YBR

Scrapit wrote: »

Put the guitar in the boot.

<sigh> Not all small cars have a boot big enough for a guitar case, split back seat may be required.

Scrapit

YBR wrote: »

<sigh> Not all small cars have a boot big enough for a guitar case, split back seat may be required.

It's a guitar not a double bass.;)

AdrianC

Scrapit wrote: »

It's a guitar not a double bass.;)

Even so. Wouldn't surprise me in the slightest if a guitar was tricky to squeeze into something like this, especially if there was anything else in there, too.



...and then there's...

[Deleted User]

YBR wrote: »

<sigh> Not all small cars have a boot big enough for a guitar case, split back seat may be required.

You haven't mentioned budget at all so don't know if you're looking new or second hand but plug-in hybrids don't come cheap.

For a small car with 2 kids in the back the Suzuki Ignis with the sliding rear seats may fit the guitar in the boot.

Will you always be carrying the guitar and the 2 kids at the same time? You know it's illegal to play the guitar while driving I hope?