Best used cars for learner drivers

The Toyota Aygo X is one of the cheapest cars you can currently insure in the UK, and, with used prices beginning to look more attractive as the car gets older, it's a bit of a second-hand bargain, too. 

It is arguably the perfect car for a learner driver living through a cost-of-living crisis. It's smart, for starters. However, the Aygo X – pronounced Aygo Cross – is much more urban runaround than it is a wilderness explorer. Sure, it sits 11mm higher off the ground than the previous Aygo, for increased ground clearance and visibility, but its 4x4-inspired exterior is more for show than go.

The most affordable used Toyota Aygo Xs – 2022 in Pure trim – will set you back around £10,000. Oh, and in our latest What Car? Reliability Survey, the Aygo X finished in first place in the small car class with a perfect score of 100%.

"A really impressive small car, this Aygo X, and very easy to drive and park. There's the potential for a 10-year warranty, too, if you have it serviced every year at a main dealer." - Mark Pearson, used cars editor

We found 2022 Toyota Aygo  1.0 Pure, 24,000 miles, £9995

Read our full used Toyota Aygo X review

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The Hyundai i10 offers big-car luxury in a pint-sized package.

It's smart, good to drive and comfortable. Its refinement is what separates it from the crowd; the i10 is quiet on all types of roads and at motorway speeds.

It’s also decently spacious, with plenty of room to stretch out up front, and more leg room than most city cars in the back.

It's great value for money too, with all versions coming with air con, cruise control, and bluetooth connectivity. The entry-level version is also in insurance group one, and that should save you plenty of cash in the long run.

If you're after civilised motoring on a learner-level budget, this is it. Prices start at around £8000 for an early one. This kind of cash will get you a 2020 model in SE Connect trim, sporting the 66bhp 1.0-litre petrol engine. For similar cars from 2021 or 2022, expect to pay upwards of £10,000. 

"The battle between the i10 and the Picanto swings this way, that way, forwards, backwards like a ship in a gale. Both cars are delightful, but I think this latest version of the i10 is one of the nicest small cars full stop. If you can't stretch to this one, the previous 2014-2020 version is almost as good." - Mark Pearson, used cars editor

We found 2021 Hyundai i10 1.0 SE, 30,000 miles, £8495

Read our full used Hyundai i10 review

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The Kia Picanto is proof that good things come in small packages.

Despite the Picanto’s very low cost, you still get a posh, well-equipped interior that feels a cut above most city cars. It’s also sharper to drive than the older version of the Hyundai i10, with direct steering and limited body lean – although the latter point also means the Picanto has a fairly firm ride that won’t suit everyone’s tastes.

Perhaps best of all is the fact that most Picantos will still be covered by the residue of Kia’s seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty, so it’s a great choice if you don’t anticipate having much money for emergency repairs.

Not that you’re likely to need it in the first place, because the Picanto has proven largely reliable over the past few years.

Picanto prices start at a little over £5000 for an early '1' example. Better yet, spend between £6000 and £8000 for a '2' with a bit more equipment and a respectable mileage from 2018, maybe even 2019. Spend between £8000 and £10,000 on good 2022 cars.

"A little peach of a car. The Picanto has been around a good few years now which means there are plenty of them available to buy used, and all at really strong prices. Any learner driver with one of these can consider themselves very lucky." - Mark Pearson, used cars editor

We found 2021 Kia Picanto 1.0 2, 45,000 miles, £7995

Read our full used Kia Picanto review

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Yes, you really can have the luxurious Volkswagen Polo as your first car.

Although it’s easily the most expensive option on this list, it’s well worth the investment, even if you have to stray over £10,000. What you get for that money is one of the most comfortable small cars available, with a ride that remains remarkably composed over even the nastiest craters.

Furthermore, the Polo is exceptionally refined, with little vibration from the engine or much wind or road noise at motorway speeds. If you need to drive lots of miles, the Polo is as good as it gets for learners.

Prices for a used Volkswagen Polo start at around £6000 for a 2018 version with high mileage. If you increase your budget to £9000, you'll be able to find plenty of 1.0 TSI SE cars with a relatively low mileage, and they're in insurance group three. 

"So much sophistication for the money. I think this is one of the most competent all-rounders here and only its slightly higher used prices age-for-age stop it from stealing the top spot. A class act." - Mark Pearson, used cars editor

We found 2019 Volkswagen Polo 1.0 95 SE, 55,000 miles, £7995

Read our full used Volkswagen Polo review

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You can’t really go wrong buying a Volkswagen Up. Its best attribute is that it feels like a much larger, more expensive car than it is; it rides very comfortably and its interior is as classy as you’ll find in a city car.

The Up is a great confidence booster too, with well-balanced steering and plenty of grip on faster country roads. Just beware of the fact that it's only a four-seater – if you need a fifth perch, look elsewhere.

Basic Take Up models from 2012 can be found for £2500. Better-equipped Move Ups are £3000, rising to £4000 for the poshest High Up variants. Spend between £4000 and £5000 on 2015 cars. If you can stretch to it, the facelifted car from July 2016 with a TSI turbocharged engine is available from £5000 upwards. Between £5000 and £7000 should net you a nice 2017 car, and between £7000 and £9000 for a 2018-2019 one. Look to spend between £9000 and £10,000 on a 2020 or 2021 car.

"Possibly the most stylish small car and in my eyes certainly one of the most handsome on our list here. The Up was on sale for years, so there are plenty to choose from. It's fun to drive, too, and I love the thrum from its three-cylinder engine." - George Hill, used cars writer

We found 2021 Volkswagen Up 1.0 Move Up, 35,000 miles, £8495

Read our full used Volkswagen Up review

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The Nissan Micra is in insurance group one, and that means low insurance premiums. Parents should also take heed because the Micra comes with lots of accident-preventing technologies as standard, including lane departure warning and automatic emergency braking (AEB).

Beyond its great value and impressive safety credentials, the Micra’s also worth considering for its ease of use; the steering is light, the clutch is smooth, and the brakes are progressive.

However, rearward visibility is fairly limited, so we’d advise that you look for one fitted with the optional reversing camera.

The Micra is a generally reliable car. It didn't appear in our latest What Car? Reliability Survey, but it finished mid-table in the small car class in the last survey it appeared in.

For a 2020 model, have at least £7000 to spend – that's if you don't want high miles or previous damage. Examples from the Micra's final two model years go for around £10,000.

"A much nicer car than you might at first think, this generation of Micra was larger than previous ones, but it's still very easy for a new driver to get to grips with. I found it really easy to see out of." - George Hill, used cars writer

We found 2019 Nissan Micra 1.0 Acenta, 48,000 miles, £6495

Read our full used Nissan Micra review

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For many years a winner of our Used Small Car of the Year award, the Skoda Fabia is one of the most well-rounded small cars money can buy, trading blows with much newer, more expensive machines.

Practicality is its biggest asset; it offers plenty of room for four adults, as well as a relatively large boot. It’s also easy to drive and well-suited to motorway driving.

So, if the Fabia’s so good, why is it not top on this list? Simply put, it’s in too high an insurance group. It was a group one car in years past, but that’s since changed, which significantly limits its appeal.

However, older novices who might get slightly discounted insurance quotes should still consider buying one.

"It might look unexciting but this previous-generation Fabia is a really good car and a great first buy for a novice driver. It's easy to drive and really smooth in its actions and responses. And you'll be surprised how easily four people fit comfortably inside it, too." - George Hill, used cars writer

We found 2020 Skoda Fabia 1.0 95 SE, 48,000 miles, £4895

Read our full used Skoda Fabia review

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If we were gambling folks, we’d happily put money on you or somebody you know who has taken their driving lessons behind the wheel of a Vauxhall Corsa. It’s no surprise that it’s so popular, given that it’s incredibly easy to drive and offers lots of interior space. 

In fact, the abundance of Corsas is in itself a selling point because it keeps second-hand prices down. Just beware of its patchy reliability – we’d recommend buying one with a full service history, and bringing somebody older than 25 to test drive one.

"It's easy to be sniffy about the Vauxhall Corsa but it's popular for a reason, and that reason is it is good to drive. I know, I drove one when I was learning. Because there are loads of them out there, it's easy to find a good one." - Oliver Young, reporter

We found 2017 Vauxhall Corsa 1.4 74 SRi, 54,000 miles, £5495

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The UK’s cheapest car after the Citroen Ami (which is a quadricycle), the Sandero’s sales pitch is simple: provide everything you need for modern motoring and not much else.

It's a cut-price, small-car hero (rather than a bargain-bin disappointment), and this latest version is even better than its predecessor, the 2013-2020 Dacia Sandero. A facelift in 2022 gave the Sandero a refreshed front grille.

It has a simple 1.0-litre engine, lots of space for people and things, and enough technology to aid (and not overwhelm) your journeys. Insurance groups are low, and for our cut-off budget of £10,000, you won't get a newer car. 

Inevitably, there are some flaws in making it so affordable: a poor two-star Euro NCAP safety rating, lots of outside noise leaks in at speeds, and an underwhelming 12.2sec sprint to 62mph.

"I actually enjoyed driving this Sandero, much more than the first-generation version. Add in its practicality and price, and it's a great little car." - George Hill, used cars writer

We found 2021 Dacia Sandero 1.0 TCe 100 bi-fuel Comfort, 24,000 miles, £9995

Read our full used Renault Twingo review

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Take all the pros of the Skoda Fabia that's also in this top 10 and add a hint of improvement, and what you get is the Seat Ibiza. It’s immensely practical, generously equipped – particularly in this SE Technology trim level – and great to drive.

Moreover, the Ibiza is cheaper to insure than the Fabia, although these savings will likely be eaten up by the small additional outlay required to purchase one. If you like your small cars classy enough to impress your young friends, then the Ibiza is probably worth the extra. 

The Ibiza didn't feature in our 2025 What Car? Reliability Survey. However, in the last survey it appeared in, it finished in last place, 18th out of 18 cars, in the small car class in our 2023 What Car? Reliability Survey, with a score of 87.3%, which is not very encouraging.

Prices for this Ibiza start at around £7000. That will buy you a 2017 car. Spend between £8500 and £10,000 to get a good 2018 1.0 95 petrol.

"If you're after a driver's car in this list, try the Ibiza. Its steering is quick and its handling is eager. It makes a nice sound and the driving position suggests a sporty drive. Sharp looks, too. My brother had one as his first car and loved it'"- George Hill, used cars writer

We found 2018 Seat Ibiza 1.0 95 SE, 58,000 miles, £6495

Read our full used Seat Ibiza review

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