Buying a vehicle
The best cars for learner drivers | Tempcover
The safest and most affordable learner cars
Ryan Barham
Last updated: 16/10/2025
Ryan Barham
Last updated: 16/10/2025
Everyone wants the best chance of success when it comes to passing their driving test and the car you learn to drive in can play a big part in boosting your confidence.
We’ve reviewed the top recommendations from Auto Express and What Car to present our ultimate guide to the best learner driver cars. We considered factors like safety ratings, MPG, vehicle size, brand reliability and insurance groups.
A smaller car is often easier to handle, which can come in especially handy when driving during peak traffic. As learner drivers get to grips with handling a new car, the size of it – which can also be reflected by insurance premiums – is something that may appeal.
Our data shows that the Kia Picanto, SEAT Mii and the Renault Twingo are top choices when it comes to their size. They are the smallest width cars featured in Auto Express and What Car’s lists, offering the potential for easier handling.
Many learner drivers may be younger and counting the financial cost of their driving lessons. When learning to drive privately, they may want to consider the efficiency of the car.
We looked at each car’s MPG (miles per gallon) and brand reliability to see which cars would offer value when it comes to driving out and about.
Our data found the following three learner cars coming out top for efficiency:
How safe is the car someone is learning to drive in? Are all the essential safety features in full working order?
The European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) examines the safety of cars using a five-star system. This involves a series of simplified vehicle tests that represent important real-life accidents that result in injuries or fatalities.
The safest cars for learner drivers in our list, according to Euro NCAP ratings, are:
When learning to drive or buying a car for the first time, it’s worth considering how long you are planning on keeping the vehicle. Is it going to be a run-around that can get you from A to B while you get used to life on the roads, or are you hoping to keep it for a good few years?
Would you prefer a new car or a used car? New cars often come with warranty deals and up-to-date tech features, while older ones will be cheaper to buy upfront and may have a few dents and scratches if you’re not as concerned by the aesthetics.
The vehicle risk rating system evaluates the performance, damageability, repairability, safety and security of the vehicle on a scale of 1 (low risk) to 99 (high risk).
Many older vehicles will be ranked in the previous car insurance groups system, which had low-risk vehicles ranked by lower numbers – which would often be cheaper to insure.
The cars in the lowest insurance groups in our list are:
The government’s Ready to Pass campaign suggests it takes an average of 45 hours of lessons with an instructor and 22 hours of private practice to pass a driving test.
If you want to take advantage of extra hours learning with a friend or family member, you’re going to need learner driver insurance. Available from 12 hours to 28 days, this policy helps you get in extra practice while reducing the cost of learning and protecting the supervisor’s no claims discount.
Once you’ve passed your test, you may be interested in taking out a potential new car for a spin. If you’re buying privately, don’t forget your test drive insurance. Driving any car without insurance is illegal so you’ll need at least third party cover (please note Tempcover’s UK policies are comprehensive).
Potential penalties for driving without insurance include:
Once you have made your decision and decided to buy your car, you could look into driveaway insurance. This temporary car insurance allows you to get your new car home safely, giving you more time to look into annual insurance policies.
There are many learner-friendly cars for you to take your private lessons in. These cars are also often suitable for first-time independent drivers due to their size, safety features and affordability. Just take your time to find the right first car for you.
Tempcover used Auto Express and What Car guides to gather an existing list of the best learner cars to drive in.
Electric cars were removed due to one of our indicators being MPG.
We then took these recommended cars for learner drivers and ranked them by reliability, safety, size, MPG and insurance costs.
Each metric was scored out of 10 and then averaged to determine the overall ranking.
Related tags:
Temporary Car InsuranceCar AccidentLearner Driver InsuranceThree main options exist for insuring a learner driver's car. Firstly, add the learner to an existing policy, usually a parent's. Secondly, consider an annual learner policy customised to their needs. Lastly, temporary learner driver insurance offers flexible cover for a set period. Compare these alternatives to find the best fit for your circumstances.
As a learner driver, a compact, easy-to-handle, and affordable-to-insure first car like the Ford Fiesta, Vauxhall Corsa, Renault Clio, Peugeot 208, or SEAT Ibiza could be a good choice. Consider good visibility, simple controls, reliability, fuel efficiency, and strong safety rating. Other suitable options include the Hyundai i10, Skoda Fabia, or Kia Picanto, known for their maneuverability, affordable insurance, and user-friendly features.
As a learner driver, you can accumulate a No Claims Discount (NCD) with an annual learner insurance policy, held for a full year without claims. This policy safeguards the car owner's NCD. Short-term learner policies, however, don't qualify for NCD as they're not year-long. Earning an NCD as a learner can result in reduced insurance premiums post-test.
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Temporary Car InsuranceCar AccidentLearner Driver InsuranceAs often as you like. This is your trip and will depend on your mood. Just bear in mind that The Highway Code recommends taking a 15-minute break for every two hours that you drive. It’s also important to stay hydrated. If you start to feel tired or drowsy, take a break.
If you feel safe, confident and comfortable, a long journey in a car should be safe. Just bear in mind the rules of the road and ensure you tell your loved ones what you are up to and where you are going. Prepare an emergency breakdown kit and make sure your phone is fully charged in case you need to contact someone for help or assistance.
Solo drivers have highlighted benefits from their experiences on Quora, including having the chance to unwind and relax, make their own decisions and be in control of their own destiny. Much of this will be down to individual preference but the freedom offered is considered a major benefit.
Plan your route (but feel free to change it as it’s your journey), prepare the vehicle ahead of the drive and get your playlist sorted. Plan rest stops along the way and pack food, drinks and an emergency breakdown kit. Tell some loved ones where you are going and check in with them once you have arrived at your destination.
Related tags:
Temporary Car InsuranceCar AccidentLearner Driver Insurance
