Co-op Insurance, in partnership with Thatcham Research, has announced its Top 5 Safest Used First Cars for young drivers.
To be considered for the list, cars had to be in the Supermini category, have a five-star Euro NCAP rating, CO2 emissions of 120g/km or less, available to purchase on the second-hand market for £5,000 or less, and have a low insurance group rating score.
Co-op Insurance’s Top 5 Safest Used First Cars 2017:
- Skoda Citigo
- VW Up!
- Seat Mii
- Toyota Yaris
- Kia Rio
To coincide with the publication of the list, Co-op Insurance has also published findings of a study into young driver behaviour. The study reveals that 41% of young drivers – those aged 17-24 – have been involved in a road traffic incident in which they were the driver. Almost a third (29%) say their incident happened in the first six months of passing their test.
The study also reveals that 76% of young drivers own a second hand car, yet just one in ten (11%) ask questions about safety when choosing their first car. The top three selling points when buying a first car are revealed as price (75%), the cost of insurance (63%) and whether a car is cheap to run (43%).
“The fact that almost a third of young drivers have been involved in a road traffic incident in the first six months of driving highlights just how important it is to have a safe vehicle,” said James Hillon, Director of Products at Co-op Insurance.
“The research gives us real insight into what young people are looking for when it comes to choosing their first car and it’s concerning to find that so few prioritise safety.
“Whilst we recognise that cost is an important factor for many, you cannot put a price on safety. We want to intercept and engage young drivers on the importance of putting safety over price when purchasing a first car. Later this year we’ll be hosting a road safety live stream to engage hundreds of 17- to 24-year-olds on the importance of safety, when choosing a first car.”
