Automatic Car Insurance
Compare Automatic Car Insurance Quotes
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Compare insurance quotes from the UK’s leading automatic car insurers including:
What Is Automatic Car Insurance?
Automatic car insurance is a standard motor policy that covers vehicles fitted with an automatic gearbox, including traditional torque-converter, CVT, dual-clutch, and automated-manual transmissions.
Under the Road Traffic Act 1988, every vehicle driven or kept on a public road must carry insurance. Whether your car is manual or automatic, you need at least third-party cover to drive legally in the UK.
Automatic cars often cost more to insure than manuals because their gearboxes are more complex, parts are pricier, and repair bills tend to be higher. Comparing quotes through car insurance comparison helps you find a competitive rate without overpaying for the transmission type.
How To Compare Automatic Car Insurance Quotes At SimplyQuote.co.uk
You can compare automatic car insurance quotes via SimplyQuote.co.uk in under 5 minutes by entering your vehicle details & reviewing tailored quotes.
Enter your details
Start with your registration number, then confirm your age, address, occupation, driving history, and how the car is used. Declare any modifications, even small cosmetic changes.
Compare your quotes
The comparison returns quotes from insurers who cover automatics, each showing the premium, excess, and cover level. Filter by price, features, or insurer name.
Check policy details
Read the policy wording before you buy. Check the voluntary and compulsory excess, whether breakdown cover is included, and what exclusions apply.
Buy online
Once you’ve chosen a policy, click through to the insurer’s site to complete your purchase. There are no middlemen and no cold calls.
What Does Automatic Car Insurance Cover?
Automatic car insurance offers three cover levels, each providing a different balance of protection and cost.
Third party only
Third party only covers damage you cause to other people, vehicles, and property. It won’t pay to repair your own car, but it meets the minimum legal requirement.
Third party, fire and theft
Third party, fire and theft adds protection if your car is stolen or damaged by fire. This is worth considering for mid-value automatics that would be expensive to replace out of pocket.
Comprehensive
Comprehensive cover includes everything above plus damage to your own vehicle, even when the accident is your fault. For newer automatics, comprehensive is often cheaper than TPFT because insurers see comprehensive policyholders as lower risk.
| Cover Level | What It Includes | Best For |
| Third party only | Damage to other vehicles and property | Older, low-value automatics |
| Third party, fire and theft | TPO + fire damage and theft protection | Mid-value cars in high-theft areas |
| Comprehensive | All of the above + own damage, windscreen, courtesy car | Newer or higher-value automatics |
Which Automatic Cars Are Cheapest To Insure?
The cheapest automatic cars to insure sit in lower insurance groups, typically between 1 and 15.
Insurance groups are set by the Group Rating Panel based on repair costs, performance, safety ratings, and security features. A lower group means a cheaper premium.
How are insurance groups decided?
Vehicles with smaller engines, lower top speeds, cheaper replacement parts, and better crash-test results are placed in lower groups. The scale runs from 1 to 50, though a new Vehicle Risk Rating system is gradually replacing it.
Which models sit in the lowest groups?
If keeping premiums low is a priority, these popular automatics are worth considering.
| Vehicle | Insurance Group | Typical Annual Premium | Engine |
| Hyundai i10 | 1-7 | £250-£420 | 1.0-1.2L |
| Toyota Aygo X | 6-7 | £300-£450 | 1.0L |
| Toyota Yaris | 6-16 | £350-£550 | 1.0-1.5L |
| Vauxhall Corsa | 6-23 | £350-£700 | 1.2-1.5L |
| Volkswagen Polo | 8-17 | £380-£600 | 1.0-1.5L |
| Ford Puma | 11-18 | £400-£650 | 1.0-1.5L |
| Kia Sportage | 13-27 | £450-£850 | 1.6L |
| Nissan Qashqai | 15-30 | £500-£900 | 1.3-1.5L |
Premiums assume a 30-to-40-year-old driver with a clean record, 5 years’ no-claims, and personal use only. Actual quotes vary by postcode, mileage, and modifications.
How Much Does Automatic Car Insurance Cost?
Automatic car insurance typically costs 10% to 25% more than the equivalent manual policy, mainly because automatic gearboxes are more expensive to repair.
What affects the price?
Your insurance group is the biggest factor, but age, postcode, claims history, annual mileage, and no-claims bonus all play a part. Declaring low annual mileage and parking off-street can help reduce the quote.
Young drivers face steeper premiums because insurers combine age-based risk with the vehicle’s higher repair costs.
How do automatic premiums compare to manual?
According to the ABI, repair costs are a key driver of premium differences between transmission types. Automatic gearboxes have more moving parts and require specialist labour, which pushes average repair bills higher.
The gap narrows for smaller cars like the Aygo X and i10, where the automatic variant sits in a similar insurance group to the manual.
Related: How Much Does Car Insurance Cost In The UK?
*51% of consumers could save £535.17 on their Car Insurance. The saving was calculated by comparing the cheapest price found with the average of the next four cheapest prices quoted by insurance providers on Seopa Ltd’s insurance comparison website. This is based on representative cost savings from May 2026 data. The savings you could achieve are dependent on your individual circumstances and how you selected your current insurance supplier.
Does Your Licence Type Affect Your Premium?
Yes. Drivers who hold an automatic-only licence typically pay more for car insurance than those with a full manual licence, because insurers view limited driving experience as a higher risk.
Why does licence type matter?
An automatic-only licence restricts you to vehicles without a manual clutch. Insurers factor in the smaller pool of vehicles you can drive and the perception that auto-only licence holders may have less overall driving experience.
Some insurer data shows automatic-only licence holders have a higher average claim frequency, which feeds into the pricing model.
Should you upgrade to a full manual licence?
If you plan to keep driving automatics, upgrading your licence may still lower your premium. A full manual licence signals broader experience to insurers, even if you never drive a manual car.
What Isn’t Covered By Automatic Car Insurance?
Most automatic car insurance policies exclude undeclared modifications, business use without the correct cover, mechanical breakdowns, and driving under the influence.
Undeclared modifications
Any change from factory specification must be declared, including alloy wheels, tinted windows, and performance upgrades. If your car has multiple modifications, a modified car insurance provider is usually more flexible than a mainstream insurer.
Business use without correct cover
Using your car for work beyond commuting counts as business use. Without business car insurance, your policy could be void if you claim during a work-related journey.
Mechanical breakdowns
Insurance covers sudden, accidental damage. It won’t pay for gearbox wear, clutch pack failure, or other mechanical issues caused by normal use.
Driving under the influence
If you’re caught driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, your insurer can refuse to pay any claim. A conviction also pushes future premiums up sharply.
How To Save Money On Automatic Car Insurance
You can cut the cost of automatic car insurance by choosing a lower insurance group, building your no-claims bonus, and comparing quotes every year.
Choose a lower insurance group
A Hyundai i10 in group 1 will always be cheaper to insure than a Nissan Qashqai in group 30. If insurance cost matters, check the group before you buy.
Build your no-claims bonus
Five or more claim-free years can cut your premium by up to 65%. Protecting your no-claims bonus costs a small amount extra but keeps the discount safe even after a fault claim.
Increase your voluntary excess
Agreeing to pay a higher excess in the event of a claim reduces your annual premium. This works best if you have a clean record and rarely claim.
Consider a telematics policy
A black box policy monitors your driving and rewards safe behaviour with lower premiums. This is particularly useful for younger or newer drivers who face higher costs.
Pay annually instead of monthly
Monthly instalments include interest that can add 10% to 30% to your total cost. Paying annually removes this charge entirely.
Compare quotes every year
Auto-renewing without shopping around almost always costs more. A five-minute comparison at renewal can save hundreds, especially if your mileage or circumstances have changed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Usually, yes, because automatic gearboxes cost more to repair and often place the vehicle in a higher insurance group. The difference is typically 10% to 25% on the annual premium.
No. If you hold an automatic-only driving licence, you cannot legally drive a manual car and your insurance would be invalid if you did.
No, automatic cars are covered under standard car insurance policies. Insurers may charge more for them, but you don’t need a separate product.
They can be, due to higher battery repair costs and specialist parts. However, some electric car insurers and hybrid car insurers offer competitive rates as the market grows.
Every modification, from alloy wheels and tinted windows to engine remaps and exhaust upgrades. Failing to declare any change can void your policy.
Yes, but it takes planning, and new drivers can save by choosing a low-group car, adding an experienced named driver, or taking out a telematics policy. See our first car insurance page for more options.
Yes, lower annual mileage means less time on the road and fewer opportunities for accidents. Drivers who cover under 7,500 miles per year often qualify for lower rates.
Some insurers offer a small discount for dashcam users because the footage can speed up claim settlements and reduce fraud. Check with your insurer before assuming a discount applies.
Usually, yes. Parking off-street or in a garage reduces theft and weather-damage risk, which many insurers reward with a lower quote.
At least once a year, ideally three to four weeks before your renewal date. Insurers adjust pricing constantly, so last year’s best deal may not be this year’s.
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