Cheapest Car for a 17yr old to insure

[NikJak]

My son is taking driving lessons and will be looking for a car soon. Rather than him choosing a car and then getting quotes that we can't afford, I wondered if we can find out what the optimum 2nd hand car is for him to look for to get the cheapest ins possible. I checked for my friends skoda and quote was �2300! Sadly even though I could do with a runaround car (my only vehicle is a van for my business) because I've had 2 claims and 3 points in the last 2 years it's cheaper for him to insure it himself anyway.

[R1Geezer]

any of the group 1 cars I guess:

http://www.carpages.co.uk/car-insurance/car-in surance-group-1-1.asp

[Naomicorlett]

I think I remember fiat punto being mentioned. http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/faq/faq.htm?id=107 looks a good link I know it's about new cars but gives you some idea. Be prepared to be very frightened by the quotes tho'.. We bought ours a cheap low powered runaround and let them build up their own NCB.

[woozer]

Look for something with a very small engine that is about 5 years old or more. Make sure it has never been a write off and is absolutely standard i.e. no changed wheels, engine modifications,go faster stripes etc. But you really do need to get a specific car in mind and then get quotes on it because whilst engine size etc are important there are other factors that matter which you have no way of knowing. e.g. cost and availability of spare parts, is that particular model one that seems to "attract" a lot of claims ? only the insurer will have that info.
It will still be expensive because it is the cost of the damage that your son can do to other people and their property that is the main concern. Unfortunately, statistics show that young men have more expensive claims and at higher speed than the general populace.
Good luck

[Ethel]

Being an older car won't keep the insurance costs down - an 'old banger' does as much damage to a Porsche, a Rolls Royce or a pedestrian as a new one.

[baileybird]

when we got our lad insure through quinn direct which were brilliant for 1st time insured drivers it was 25% cheaper to have a car 8 years old than one 5 years old. That was on peugeot 106 1.0L

[Ethel]

If you can afford to,have a very high excess - as much as you can afford. My excess is �500, on the basis that I probably won't have to claim but I definitely have to have insurance.

It cuts the costs down a lot.

[NikJak]

Thanks for all those answers - it's definitely helped.
cheers
Nik