Budget the purchase price plus at least £2,500–£4,000 for the first year of running costs — insurance, road tax, fuel, MOT, and servicing. Use our calculator above for a personalised estimate.

Every car in the UK is rated Group 1 (cheapest) to Group 50 (most expensive) to insure. A Group 1 car can cost half the insurance of a Group 10 — so always check this before choosing a car.

For most young drivers, yes. Black box policies track your driving and reward good habits with lower premiums. They can significantly undercut standard policies — especially if you avoid late-night driving.

Dealers offer more legal protection under the Consumer Rights Act and may include short warranties. Private sellers can be cheaper but you have fewer rights. For a first car, a reputable dealer can give more peace of mind — but always still do an HPI check.

An HPI check reveals if a car has outstanding finance (meaning you could legally lose it even after paying for it), has been written off, reported stolen, or has a mileage discrepancy. It costs ~£20 and is absolutely non-negotiable on any used car purchase.

Yes. Car tax (VED) and insurance are completely separate. You must tax the car via GOV.UK before driving it. You'll need a valid MOT and insurance in place first. It only takes a few minutes online.