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The Irish Sun
13 hours ago
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
I'm a car expert – here's the BEST used electric cars you can buy for under £10,000 on Sun Motors
A CAR expert has revealed the best used electric cars that you can buy for under £10,000. 6 A car expert has revealed the best used electric cars that you can buy for under £10,000 These are the electric cars that won't break the bank, and are all available on Sun Motors. What is Sun Motors? The marketplace links reputable and trusted dealerships to deliver a smooth and hassle-free car-buying journey from beginning to end. Featuring cutting-edge tools and services such as an AI chat bot on hand to answer any queries about specific cars, the platform simplifies the process of discovering and buying your perfect car. Start your search for your next used vehicle Find Your Next Car by What You Can Actually Afford Sun Motors has created the UK's First Finance-First Marketplace * Finance Powered by DSG Finance who are a Credit Broker Not A Lender. Representative 12.9%. Your rate may differ depending on individual circumstances You can check in less than 60 seconds if you are eligible for financing, and then search for your dream used car within your monthly budget. Here's how... Soft credit check , with no impact on your score 60-second decision , get a real finance decision in less than a minute Instant match , only see cars that fit your real budget AI-powered help , get tailored advice, suggestions, and instant answers from an AI advisor called Theo Find out what you can afford in just 60 seconds Renault Zoe (2012-present) 6 According to Renault, the Zoe has a battery range of 239 miles Credit: Renault Model: Renault Zoe Parkers say: "The Renault Zoe has long been a popular choice for those wanting an affordable and capable small electric car." "The Zoe is also practical, pleasant to drive, and sensibly equipped." According to Renault, the model has a battery range of 239 miles, which should be fine most people's everyday needs. Kia Soul EV (2014-2019) 6 The Soul comes with plenty of kit, including climate control, heated seats and cruise control Credit: KIA Model: Kia Soul EV Parkers commented: "The distinctive Kia Soul is often overlooked in the used electric car marketplace. "It's a good buy if you can find one, though, offering a range of up to 132 miles." And it comes with plenty of kit, including climate control, heated seats, cruise control, solar glass, a heat pump, and an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Find models starting from £136 per month Volkswagen e-Golf (2014-2020) 6 The Volkswagen e-Golf can travel up to 115 miles on a full charge Credit: Volkswagen Model: Volkswagen e-Golf The car experts claim that a Volkswagen Golf is always a pretty good shout when it comes to car recommendations, and similarly so if you're looking at used electric cars. They say: "The VW e-Golf is just like the conventional Golf, but it's electric – so as well as being smooth and quiet, it's also familiar, straightforward, and easy to live with." The battery of the Volkswagen e-Golf has a total capacity of 35.8 kWh - and a range of about 115 miles is achievable on a fully charged battery. Find models starting from £172 per month READ MORE BUYING A USED CAR Nissan Leaf (2011-2018) 6 The battery of the Nissan Leaf has a total capacity of 40kWh and an estimated range of about 145 miles Credit: nissan Model: Nissan Leaf Nissan is already on its second generation of bespoke electric cars when many other carmakers have only just launched their first, so you should be able to find one for less than £10k. The battery of the Nissan Find models starting from £78 per month BMW i3 6 BMW claims a range depending on options and equipment, of between 177 and 193 miles Credit: BMW Model: BMW i3 When it was launched in 2013, the The experts say: "The inside is a particular delight, but performance is great too, especially from the 2017-onwards i3S model. "Range varies, with the earliest cars managing only 120 miles per charge on their best day. But it still looks ultra-modern now, and as long as it's been treated well, the electric version should prove reliable." BMW claims a range depending on options and equipment, of between 177 and 193 miles for both i3 versions. This comes Plus, Find electric BMWs from £161 Buying a used car? Check out
Scottish Sun
13 hours ago
- Automotive
- Scottish Sun
I'm a car expert – here's the BEST used electric cars you can buy for under £10,000 on Sun Motors
LEAN AND GREEN I'm a car expert – here's the BEST used electric cars you can buy for under £10,000 on Sun Motors Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A CAR expert has revealed the best used electric cars that you can buy for under £10,000. Battery electric vehicles are often more expensive than petrol or diesel cars, but buying a used EV can help you save thousands of pounds. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 6 A car expert has revealed the best used electric cars that you can buy for under £10,000 These are the electric cars that won't break the bank, and are all available on Sun Motors. What is Sun Motors? Sun Motors is a pioneering platform transforming how people purchase used cars across the UK, crafted with customer ease and safety at the core. The marketplace links reputable and trusted dealerships to deliver a smooth and hassle-free car-buying journey from beginning to end. Featuring cutting-edge tools and services such as an AI chat bot on hand to answer any queries about specific cars, the platform simplifies the process of discovering and buying your perfect car. Start your search for your next used vehicle here. Find Your Next Car by What You Can Actually Afford Sun Motors has created the UK's First Finance-First Marketplace *Finance Powered by DSG Finance who are a Credit Broker Not A Lender. Representative 12.9%. Your rate may differ depending on individual circumstances You can check in less than 60 seconds if you are eligible for financing, and then search for your dream used car within your monthly budget. Here's how... Soft credit check , with no impact on your score , with no impact on your score 60-second decision , get a real finance decision in less than a minute , get a real finance decision in less than a minute Instant match , only see cars that fit your real budget , only see cars that fit your real budget AI-powered help, get tailored advice, suggestions, and instant answers from an AI advisor called Theo Find out what you can afford in just 60 seconds here. Renault Zoe (2012-present) 6 According to Renault, the Zoe has a battery range of 239 miles Credit: Renault Model: Renault Zoe Parkers say: "The Renault Zoe has long been a popular choice for those wanting an affordable and capable small electric car." "The Zoe is also practical, pleasant to drive, and sensibly equipped." According to Renault, the model has a battery range of 239 miles, which should be fine most people's everyday needs. Kia Soul EV (2014-2019) 6 The Soul comes with plenty of kit, including climate control, heated seats and cruise control Credit: KIA Model: Kia Soul EV Parkers commented: "The distinctive Kia Soul is often overlooked in the used electric car marketplace. "It's a good buy if you can find one, though, offering a range of up to 132 miles." And it comes with plenty of kit, including climate control, heated seats, cruise control, solar glass, a heat pump, and an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Find models starting from £136 per month here Volkswagen e-Golf (2014-2020) 6 The Volkswagen e-Golf can travel up to 115 miles on a full charge Credit: Volkswagen Model: Volkswagen e-Golf The car experts claim that a Volkswagen Golf is always a pretty good shout when it comes to car recommendations, and similarly so if you're looking at used electric cars. They say: "The VW e-Golf is just like the conventional Golf, but it's electric – so as well as being smooth and quiet, it's also familiar, straightforward, and easy to live with." The battery of the Volkswagen e-Golf has a total capacity of 35.8 kWh - and a range of about 115 miles is achievable on a fully charged battery. Find models starting from £172 per month here Nissan Leaf (2011-2018) 6 The battery of the Nissan Leaf has a total capacity of 40kWh and an estimated range of about 145 miles Credit: nissan Model: Nissan Leaf Nissan is already on its second generation of bespoke electric cars when many other carmakers have only just launched their first, so you should be able to find one for less than £10k. The battery of the Nissan Leaf has a total capacity of 40 kWh, and an estimated range of about 145 miles is achievable on a fully charged battery. Find models starting from £78 per month here BMW i3 6 BMW claims a range depending on options and equipment, of between 177 and 193 miles Credit: BMW Model: BMW i3 When it was launched in 2013, the BMW i3 was an innovative breath of fresh air in the electric car industry. The experts say: "The inside is a particular delight, but performance is great too, especially from the 2017-onwards i3S model. "Range varies, with the earliest cars managing only 120 miles per charge on their best day. But it still looks ultra-modern now, and as long as it's been treated well, the electric version should prove reliable." BMW claims a range depending on options and equipment, of between 177 and 193 miles for both i3 versions. This comes after a car expert revealed how to repair a touchscreen covered in scratches for free using products you have at home. Plus, a legendary Ford Sierra RS Cosworth with super low mileage is set to fetch an eye-watering price at auction. Find electric BMWs from £161 here Buying a used car? Check out Sun Motors and find your next vehicle today. Whether you're looking for automatic, manual or electric, use Sun Motors to decide on your next model.
Telegraph
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Telegraph
‘My electric car costs have surged now my son is learning to drive'
I've been through a lot with my electric and hybrid cars. Making the switch to an electric vehicle (EV) and installing a charge point at home for my second-hand electric Renault Zoe took months, and I've recently battled to find any insurer to cover my battered hybrid Toyota Auris. We opted for these cars because we were keen to reduce our environmental impact, while reducing our fuel costs at the same time. What I hadn't considered was what would happen when my children wanted to learn to drive – something that, it turns out, could cost us thousands because of the pricier driving lessons and expensive insurance required to get them behind the wheel of these vehicles. We live in Hadleigh, Suffolk – my husband, Josh, a charity fundraiser, and I, a personal finance journalist, along with 17-year-old Finn, and 15-year-old George. Public transport is limited, so we're keen for them to pass their driving tests – but I had no idea how much more expensive we'd made it by opting for two automatic, environmentally friendly cars. Pricier driving lessons Manual cars are rapidly disappearing from our roads. In 2024, only 22pc of new car registrations were manual, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, and more young people are taking their practical driving test in an automatic as a result. Already, almost 21pc of all passes in 2023-24 were in automatic vehicles, according to data from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), compared with 17pc the previous year and just 5pc a decade earlier. Much of this is being fuelled by the switch to EVs, according to the AA Driving School, which predicts that one in four driving test passes will be in automatic cars by 2026. Seb Goldin, of Red Driver Training, said there had been a 16pc increase in automatic driving lesson hours at his firm between 2023 and 2024. 'This is likely accelerated by the accessibility when it comes to learning and the advent of electric cars,' he said. This trend is set to pick up pace over the next few years, due to the planned 2030 ban on sales of new petrol and diesel cars – but, as we've discovered, it's adding extra costs for learner drivers. More expensive driving lessons are the first thing you'll notice. While specific prices vary depending on the area and the individual instructor, the AA Driving School quoted typical prices per hour for driving lessons as £40 for a manual car and £42 for an automatic in London, with respective prices at £38 and £40 in Edinburgh, and £35 and £36.50 in Cardiff. Just a couple of pounds difference may not sound like much, but given it takes an average of 45 hours of driving lessons (if you can access an additional 22 hours of private practice) to pass your test, learning in an automatic could add around £100 before you can even ditch the L-plates. Higher insurance costs Once you're on the road as a new driver, the real costs kick in – particularly if you're driving an EV. The average annual premium for 17 to 24-year-olds driving manual vehicles was £1,260 in April 2025, according to data from comparison website Compare the Market, but it was £1,642 for electric vehicles – a chunky 30pc more. Insurance premiums take into account the risk based on both the driver and the car they are driving, so younger drivers of EVs get clobbered both ways. Julie Daniels, motor insurance expert at Compare the Market, said: 'Younger drivers face higher premiums because they are statistically more likely to be involved in a claim – and the expense of repairing EVs can amplify that risk'. One in five new drivers crash within the first 12 months after passing their test, according to research by Ocean Finance, while around 37pc of 18 to 24-year-olds had at least one near miss in 2024. Automatic and electric cars also tend to cost more to purchase and repair, which again increases insurance costs. EVs are generally newer cars, with fewer second-hand models on the market compared to internal combustion engine cars. Newer cars of whatever engine type tend to have more technical functionality than older vehicles, which affects their value and repair costs. The type of driving licence you have can also push up insurance premiums. Craig Codell, electric vehicle product manager at Admiral, one of the UK's largest motor insurers, said this is because drivers with an automatic licence are more likely to make a claim than a driver with a manual one. Given the continued shift towards EVs, I worry that younger people are being priced out of learning to drive, particularly if they only have access to an EV, and their parents can't spare the extra cash. Finn has been looking for a summer job to help fund his driving, but if we weren't willing to cover the insurance and lessons he couldn't just magic up hundreds of pounds out of nowhere. 'Our car insurance leapt from £406 to £2,019' Back at home, it appears I am stuck between a rock and a hard place. Either way, it seems we'll have to fork out more. We face higher costs of car insurance, and for each driving lesson if Finn goes for an automatic-only driving licence. Or, we'll potentially need to stump up for extra driving lessons if Finn learns in a manual car, but doesn't have access to a manual for practice. It's frustrating that opting for more environmentally friendly vehicles should also land us with higher costs. Plus, with our car insurance up for renewal, it became apparent that our current insurers were not exactly keen to add a 17-year-old with a provisional licence to our policies. The renewal quote for our electric car with LV car insurance leapt from £392 a year to £1,134. Meanwhile, Churchill, the insurer for our hybrid car, pushed the annual premium up from £406 to £2,019. If we'd stuck with a manual Volkswagen Polo, of the same age and mileage as our electric car, the quotes after adding Finn started from £587 for a standard policy. The price rises seemed huge and made me think twice about whether we could afford to add Finn to our insurance. There's certainly no question of being able to cover him on both cars. Both companies suggested using their temporary insurance policies to cut costs – where, for example, you can insure an additional driver for up to 90 days in the policy year, split across up to five separate occasions. But this didn't sound ideal for weekend driving practice. Tech to bring prices down Thankfully, plugging our details into comparison websites revealed some less eye-watering prices. The cheapest option for both cars were telematics policies with Hastings Direct, often know as 'black box' insurance. Hastings Direct YouDrive came in at £569 for the electric car, and £490 for the hybrid. With a telematics policy, the insurer monitors your driving, either by fitting an electronic monitoring device, providing a monitoring device to plug in yourself or using an app on your smartphone. The device or app then tracks aspects of your driving, such as when, where, how far and how fast you drive, and how aggressively you brake, corner and accelerate. Drive safely, and your insurer could potentially cut your premiums. For the pleasure of driving without an insurer looking over our shoulders, I was quoted £610 for a stripped-down essentials policy for the hybrid, or £626 for a higher-rated policy with a lower excess. Premiums for the electric car rose to £749 and £802 for the same policies, but there were cheaper options elsewhere from around £650. Based on the insurance costs, I've added Finn to the hybrid policy rather than the electric. It's a shame, because the electric car is smaller, and therefore easier for a learner to park – and it has lower running costs.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Yahoo
Wife's tribute to 'best husband' killed in crash
The family of a man killed when two vehicles collided at a junction have described him as "the most loyal and loving person". Jay Newby-Gallagher, 34, died when his Suzuki motorbike collided with a blue Renault Zoe car outside an Aldi store on Northway, at the junction of Dover Road in Maghull, in Sefton, on Wednesday at about 08:30 BST. Merseyside Police said a 34-year-old woman from South Tyneside, who was arrested on suspicion of causing death by careless driving, has since been released on conditional bail. His family paid tribute to Mr Newby-Gallagher as "the best" husband, son, brother, son-in-law and brother-in-law that anyone could wish for. "He was the kindest, most loyal, loving, and funny person you could ever meet," his family said, in a statement. "He would always light up any room with his smile and sense of humour, and he loved his family and our dog Bodie more than anything." His wife said: "It was truly an honour to be your wife, and life will never be the same without you. "You've taken a piece of me with you that I will never get back." "I've loved every second I got to spend with you, but it will never be enough time. I will love you forever, you will always be my home. "All your family and friends are so proud of the person you are, and we will all miss you forever." Det Sgt Kurt Timpson said police were continuing to appeal for information, and urged anyone who witnessed the incident, or events leading up to it, to contact the force. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer. Merseyside Police
The Sun
04-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
I'm a first-time driver & chose an EV as my first car – it's easy, convenient & cheap to run but there's a huge drawback
A FIRST-time driver has revealed how she's learning to pass her test in an electric car – thanks to the numerous upsides. However, she also admits there's one big drawback that might put off other young drivers from choosing an EV over a petrol or diesel motor. 2 2 Evie O'Flaherty, 17, from Hertfordshire, is learning to drive in her parents' Nissan Leaf and sees nothing but advantages – despite numerous teens opting to get their licence in a manual, petrol-powered set of wheels. Speaking to MoneySuperMarket, Evie said: 'Compared to a petrol vehicle, the Nissan Leaf is much easier to drive. It sounds nicer, there is less start-up, and it feels like a cleaner journey. 'It is really easy and convenient to charge up, and far cheaper to run – it only costs about 75p for 100 miles, compared to a tank of petrol. 'I've also been quite focused on sustainability and the environment from a young age, and I feel like an EV suits me much better for that reason.' Since a young age, Evie has been an advocate for electric vehicles – despite not growing up around them. She added: 'I've been encouraging my parents to drive EVs since I was about eight years old – they were thinking about it anyway, but I kept nudging them. 'Every time my dad mentioned a new car, I would say: 'Is it electric?' and finally his answer was 'yes'. We used to have two Saabs, and now we have the Leaf and a Tesla.' However, she does admit there is a major stumbling block when it comes to youngsters buying an electric car. 'EVs are obviously more expensive to buy, but I am happy to hold off until I can afford one rather than get on the road more quickly,' Evie said. 'I'm saving money to pay for my car by working as a tutor in my spare time. Dogs prefer EVs to fuel-powered cars with heart rates revealing exactly how your pet feels on drive, study shows_1 'So far, I've looked at the Nissan Leaf and electric Renault Zoe, which would cost around £4,000 to £6,000 if I bought one second-hand. 'My sister recently bought a Ford C-Max for £1,500, but she had to spend more than £3,000 on repairs, so it won't be much more expensive than that. 'Electric cars also seem to be getting more affordable all the time. 'The main attraction of a petrol car for me would be that they are more convenient for driving long distances, and there's a better infrastructure. 'But I've not really had any problems finding charging stations so far, and I don't need to drive long distances – I don't plan on taking a car to university. 'So it still feels like an EV would be the best fit for me.' Indeed, the Leaf and Zoe are among the cheapest ways to access EV ownership on the second-hand car market. What's more, the BMW i3 and often-forgotten Volkswagen e-Golf are becoming highly affordable – both costing, on average, under £7,000 at used car dealerships. Top Gear even recently suggested the Tesla Model 3 – one of the UK's most popular EVs – can now be found for around £10,000, with even the oldest iterations offering drivers around 250 miles of range. Sara Newell, Director of Insurance at MoneySuperMarket, said: 'The cost of getting an EV on the road is a topic of much debate. 'As our Household Money Index shows, young drivers are keen to drive electric cars, but it is still much more expensive for a first-time driver to get on the road with an electric car compared to a petrol equivalent. 'However, we can see light at the end of the tunnel as more electric cars come onto the market, and insurance premiums become more competitive – and in some cases, it can even be cheaper than insurance for a young driver with a petrol vehicle – especially if you shop around. 'We have developed an online tool to compare which EV is right for you.' The latest MoneySuperMarket Household Money Index (HMI) reveals the average cost of getting on the road with an electric vehicle (EV) is over £16,139. However, they also found that a third (32%) of youngsters plan to delay driving until they can afford an EV.
