The cars you’re most likely to have an accident in that could see your insurance premiums surge
Owners of these vehicles are most likely to be involved in a crash, meaning they could see their insurance premiums rise if they are forced to make a claim
THE UK's most accident prone cars have been revealed, and a popular hybrid tops the list.
The Toyota Prius has been found to be the car most likely to be involved in an accident, according to Government figures.
Government road traffic data analysed by GoCompare found the Prius was involved in the highest number of crashes of any vehicle type in the UK, with 111 accidents per 10,000 models registered in 2016 (the most recent available figures).
There were 787 collisions involving the Japanese hybrid throughout the year.
The older Citroen Saxo came in a close second with 106 collisions for every 10,000 vehicles registered, followed by the BMW 330D with 102 per 10,000.
And while accident prone figures might not be the direct cause for higher insurance premiums, owners of these models will also be most likely to make a claim, leading to a potential price increase when you renew your policy if you do have a crash.
Top 5 car models most likely to be involved in an accident
These vehicles had the highest accident rate of all models on British roads in 2016, according to Government figures:
- Toyota Prius - 111 accidents per 10,000 cars
- Citroen Saxo - 106 accidents per 10,000 cars
- BMW 330D - 102 accidents per 10,000 cars
- BMW 530D - 85 accidents per 10,000 cars
- Peugeot 106 - 84 accidents per 10,000 cars
Even drivers who don't make a claim after an accident can see their insurance costs rise, as insurers may see them as more likely to have an accident in the future.
The BMW 530D was the fourth most accident prone vehicle, followed by the Peugeot 106 with 85 and 84 collisions per 10,000 cars respectively.
For manufacturers overall, Vauxhall cars were involved in the most collisions on UK roads in 2016, with 62 crashes for every 10,000 motors made by the British brand.
Daewoo, Seat, Mitsubishi and Renault drivers were also at a higher risk of crashing, according to the figures.
Lee Griffin, founding member of , said: "While a no-fault claim won’t see your premium rise as much as an at-fault claim, making any claim will almost always lead to an increase in your premium.
"If you don’t make a claim after an accident, some insurers will still increase your premium, due to them seeing you as more likely to be involved in another accident later on.
";That’s why it’s crucial you’re shopping around for the best deal.
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"Cars with smaller engines (under 1000cc) generally fall into lower insurance groups, meaning lower premiums.
"Cars with larger engines will fall in to a higher insurance group, as they’re more powerful and therefore seen as riskier on the road.
"It’s also worth noting that even if you purchase a high group rated vehicle for very little money, it’s still deemed a high risk and potentially not as safe on the road due to its age, therefore carrying a higher premium."