To help understand how you might save money on insuring your sports car, we’ve scoured the data tables to point out the best cars that combine sporty handling and stylish looks with the lowest car insurance groups. These are the groups that help insurance providers decide how much your sports car insurance rates are going to be – the lower the number, the lower your insurance quotes.
When reading this guide, keep in mind that there are also other factors that affect the cost of car insurance, including your driving experience, where you live, where the car is kept, your annual mileage, and how you intend to use the car. So, once you've chosen your perfect new car, be sure to shop around to find the best price for you insurance premium. Note, insurance groups correct at time of publication, but are subject to change.
The Most Afforable New Sports Cars to Insure 2024
1. Mazda MX-5
2. BMW 2 Series Coupe
3. BMW Z4
4. Toyota GR Supra
5. Toyota GR Yaris
6. Ford Mustang
7. Toyota GR86
8. Jaguar F-Type
9.= Porsche 718 Cayman
9.= BMW M4 Competition Coupe
1. Mazda MX-5
Insurance group: 25
The MX-5 is a bit of a legend in the motoring world. It single-handedly reinvented the concept of the rear-wheel drive, two-seater roadster in 1989, spawning hundreds of imitators, and it was so good that it saw off all the competition. Now, it’s effectively one of a kind – a light, affordable sports car that prioritises handling over and above outright performance, and adds reliability, good fuel economy, usability, and arguably the sweetest manual gearbox in motoring history to sweeten the deal. We love it, as do many others. With the 1.5-litre version sitting in insurance group 25, the MX-5’s premiums should be low enough for most people to afford — even relatively young drivers, and even if they pay a little more to protect their no-claims bonus. And that helps make the MX-5’s overall running costs very keen indeed. It’s still available as a new car, but because it’s been around for so long, you can get many of the same attributes by buying an older example on the used car market.
Mazda MX-5 Review
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2. BMW 2 Series Coupe
Insurance group: 28
BMW’s sweet little 2 Series is a brilliant all rounder. On the outside, pumped-up styling sets the tone, while inside, an interior nicked from the bigger 3 Series exudes quality. There’s loads of space, too – far more than you’d expect in a small coupe – making this a sports car that’s genuinely usable for a small family. Even the entry-level 220i, which sits in insurance group 28, is lithe, zippy, and fun to drive, so you can have your cake and eat it.
BMW 2 Series Review
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3. BMW Z4
Insurance group: 30
The Z4 shares a lot with the 2 Series Coupe under the skin, but it is an entirely different beast on the surface, with a flowing two-seat convertible body that allows you to take maximum advantage of our fleeting summers. You do, however, get the same 2.0-litre turbo engine, which we like, and in its least powerful form, the Z4 feels at its most balanced, which is great news for those seeking cheap insurance. A premium interior completes the picture, making this the perfect choice for those looking for a two-seater convertible that won’t cost the earth at renewal time.
BMW Z4 Review
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4. Toyota GR Supra
Insurance group: 34
The Toyota GR Supra is another relative of the Z4. In fact, BMW and Toyota worked closely on the development of these two cars, to the extent that the Toyota even uses the same engines and switchgear. The cheapest model to insure therefore uses the same 2.0-litre engine, and boasts a similar lightness of touch that makes it a compelling alternative to the full-fat 3.0-litre version. You also get the added benefit of Toyota’s warranty, which runs for up to 10 years if you have the car serviced at a Toyota dealer annually.
Toyota GR Supra Review
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5. Toyota GR Yaris
Insurance group: 36
The GR Yaris may not look like a sports car, and its inclusion here may seem a little unfair when we’ve intentionally kept hot hatch offerings such as the Volkswagen Golf GTI, Mini Cooper S JCW and Hyundai i30 N off this list, however fast and fun they may be. However, we’d argue that the GR Yaris is a bit different to the rest, because despite its mundane hatchback shape, it’s engineered as a true-blue rally car underneath, even more so than the mighty Subaru Impreza WRX was back in the day. In our eyes, that makes it as much of a sports car as anything here. And happily, it’s also among the cheapest sports cars to insure, as insurance companies rate it in group 35. And despite its motorsport pedigree, it’s covered by the same Kia-beating warranty as all other Toyotas.
Toyota GR Yaris Review
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6. Ford Mustang
Insurance group: 39
It’s hard to believe that a bona fide American muscle car is among the cheaper new sports cars to insure in the UK, but it is. OK, so you have to choose the less potent 2.3-litre model instead of the faster, noisier Mustang GT, but the 2.3 is still a fun car to drive, and it comes with all the style – inside and out – that has made the Mustang so popular. It also happens to be relatively affordable to buy, not to mention well equipped, and you get four reasonably spacious seats and a good-sized boot.
Ford Mustang Review
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7. Toyota GR86
Insurance group: 39
The GR86 makes it on to this list, but relatively speaking, it’s not actually that cheap to insure. This is a car with performance similar to that of the 2.0-litre BMW Z4, mentioned above, and it’s less valuable than its bigger sibling, the Toyota GR Supra – yet its insurance group is higher (it’s also worth mentioning that only the automatic version is in group 39 – the manual is group 40). Still, whichever way you square it, the GR86 is a tremendous little car, with brilliant handling, a punchy naturally aspirated engine, a relatively affordable price, and that excellent Toyota warranty.
Toyota GR86 Review
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8. Jaguar F-Type
Insurance group: 41
Another sports car that’s been around the block a few times, the Jaguar F-Type is in its twilight years, but in accessible 2.0-litre form it undercuts its rival, the Porsche 718 Cayman, in both price and insurance cost – while also being larger and more spacious inside. Granted, it isn’t quite as sharp to drive as the Porsche, but what it lacks in driver appeal it more than makes up for in style – and, given it’s just that little bit cheaper to insure, that might tip the balance in its favour.
Jaguar F-Type Review
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9=. Porsche 718 Cayman
Insurance group: 42
The 718 Cayman, coupe sibling to the Porsche Boxster, is undeniably one of the finest performance cars on the market today – even in relatively lowly 2.0-litre form, which puts it in insurance group 42. It might sit at the bottom of the 718 line-up, but this is still a car that can hit 62mph from rest in 5.1 seconds and top out at 170mph, so it’s no slouch, and with the Cayman’s fabulous chassis, that makes an exhilarating driving experience. All that, and one of the most desirable automotive badges this side of a Ferrari.
Porsche 718 Cayman Review
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9=. BMW M4 Competition Coupe
Insurance group: 42
If it’s high performance you’re after, look to the BMW M4. Group 42 insurance might sound high, but for a car that kicks out 503 horsepower – the sort of performance that will worry a few supercars – it’s remarkably low. By comparison with its rivals, some of which fall into the highest group 50, the M4 Competition looks like a surprisingly cheap car to insure. Into the bargain, you get a spacious, high-quality interior, a comfortable ride, and crisp handling – though the M4 isn’t quite as agile as the Porsche 718 Cayman.
BMW M4 Review
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