The best car leasing deals for young people have one thing in common. The cars are affordable. As a new driver, you probably won’t have the money for a BMW M or a Mercedes-AMG car – and, even if you did, the insurance premiums would bankrupt you. Economical, small cars have lower running costs, cheaper insurance premiums and, crucially, reasonable monthly payments.
A lease deal is a serious financial obligation so, before you enter an agreement, it’s worth swotting up on what leasing is. We’ll provide an abridged version here for those new to the scene. Leasing, sometimes referred to as Personal Car Leasing or Personal Contract Hire (PCH) is basically a form of long-term renting, similar to the rental agreement you might enter for your home.
You stump up an initial payment, pay a series of monthly instalments and, once you reach the end of your contract, you hand the car back and look for another one. If you’re a newly qualified driver fresh out of secondary school, just bear in mind that leasing deals are often unavailable to drivers under 18 years old – and even then, lots of leasing companies have a minimum age limit of 25.
The best cars to lease for young drivers:
Recent updates make this great supermini even better
The update has also boosted the car's power. Now, the cheapest engine available is a 90hp 1.0-litre petrol unit, replacing the 75hp unit fitted to the pre-facelift car. It offers a reasonable amount of performance and official fuel economy figures of 54mpg on the WLTP combined cycle. Leasing rates are rock-bottom for the Clio; it's the cheapest car on this list per month. An insurance group 3 rating also helps make it our top pick.**
To find out more, read our full Renault Clio review
Pros
- Very stylish
- Low running costs
- Fun to drive
Cons
- Cramped in the rear
- Not that refined
Everyone, even insurance companies, see this as sensible
It scores so highly on this list because it's one of only a handful of new cars that qualify for the coveted group 1 insurance rate. That means it's deemed to be as low risk as cars come. It's a stamp of approval for reliability, security, and safety features, all crucial considerations for a first or second car.**
To find out more, read our full Volkswagen Polo review.
Pros
- Impressive interior technology
- Efficient engine range
- Spacious for a supermini
Cons
- Engines aren't exactly sparkling
- Dull driving experience
Sensible with a dash of sportiness
That extra gusto comes at the expense of two insurance groups; it lands in insurance group 3. It'll be slightly more to insure, but when groups go as high as 50, it's not going to be ruinously expensive. Leasing rates for the two cars hover around the same ballpark, skewing ever-so-slightly in favour of the Polo at the time of writing.**
To find out more, read our full SEAT Ibiza review
Pros
- Good value for money
- Easy and fun to drive
- Spacious insides
Cons
- Entry-level cars feel quite basic
- Some interior plastics are very hard
One of the most well-rounded hatchbacks on sale
There are plenty of engines and trim levels to choose from, but those starting out should go for the 1.0-litre non-turbo MPI engine. It’s not fast, but it puts the Fabia in insurance group 2, which is handy for younger drivers who haven’t built up a no-claims bonus. Less attractive leasing rates prevent the otherwise likeable Fabia from scoring the top position.**
To find out more, read our full Skoda Fabia review
Pros
- Spacious interior
- Competitively priced
- Plenty of choice
Cons
- No hybrid technology
- Not as engaging as the Clio
The best city car on sale
Then there's the class-leading safety technology and surprising refinement at motorway speeds. The caveat? It's one of the slowest-accelerating cars on sale today, and it feels it. Also, avoid the automatic gearbox like the plague.**
To find out more, read our full Hyundai i10 review
Pros
- Exceptional interior space
- Classy, easy-to-use dashboard
- Lots of safety equipment
Cons
- Optional automatic gearbox is atrocious
- Higher trim levels are pricey
Simple, honest and cheap transport
In the past, Dacia thrust itself into this price range by building its cars on Renault’s outmoded technology. These days, though, the Sandero is based on the same platform as the current Clio – and Dacia makes its cars affordable through careful section of trim, equipment and engines. If you’re sold on the idea, just ensure you get a model with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and rear parking sensors.**
To find out more, read our full Dacia Sandero review
Pros
- Great value for money
- Well-judged interior quality
- Impressive road manners
Cons
- Not especially refined
- Worryingly low Euro NCAP score
A great option in the small family SUV class
Think of it as a Volkswagen Polo that's been bulking. It has enough space in the cabin to seat a small family, a maximum boot capacity of 455 litres, a five-star Euro NCAP safety score and a range of efficient petrol engines, including Volkswagen’s excellent 1.5-litre TSI unit. It won’t break the bank to lease and insure, either. You can secure a deal for less than £230.**
To find out more, read our full Volkswagen T-Cross review
Pros
- Nippy and frugal engines
- Lots of personlisation options
- Flexible interior
Cons
- Cheap-feeling cabin
- Rough ride on large alloys
It's Britain's best-selling supermini for a reason
It neither excels nor falters in any area – but we reckon this consistent approach has contributed to its roaring success on the UK’s forecourts. If you’re concerned about your carbon footprint, you can even have one with a pure-electric powertrain. Just bear in mind that the EV versions sit in a bigger insurance group.**
To find out more, read our full Vauxhall Corsa review
Pros
- Good fuel economy
- Excellent petrol engines
- Plenty of standard kit
Cons
- Interior feels a little cheap
- Jerky automatic gear box
City-sized SUV is best reserved for those without families
It isn’t perfect, though. Legroom in the back is only suitable for children and its 1.0-litre engine is utterly breathless on the open road. It produces a measly 93Nm of torque, which means you need to beat the engine like it owes you money when merging on motorways or A-roads. Leasing rates are pants too. High deposits and leasing rates comparable to larger cars do not help its case.**
To find out more, read our full Toyota Aygo X review
Pros
- Rides better than old Aygo
- Stylish and functional cabin
- Handy around town
Cons
- Puny engine struggles on fast raods
- Appalling rear legroom
It's a charming little city car - but it's showing its age
Despite this, the Fiat 500 is an endearing motor. It’s cheeky, it oozes style and it’s even quite fun to drive. Buy the mild hybrid one and you’ll save on fuel, too. Plus, they’re cheap as chips with a leasing deal. You could have one on your driveway for less than £190 per month!**
To find out more, read our full Fiat 500 review
Pros
- Retro styling
- Dinky dimensions
- Efficient mild hybrid model
Cons
- Uncomfortable driving position
- Noisy at motorway speeds
** These deals are indicative examples of some packages available as of 28 January 2025 but are subject to change without prior notice. Everyone’s financial circumstances are different and the availability of credit is subject to status. Terms, conditions and exclusions apply. Parkers cannot recommend a deal for you specifically.
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