8 Used Cars You Should Consider After Passing Your Test

"You've passed, congratulations!" Yes, those are the words you've worked hard to hear - if not, take a look at our top tips for passing your test - instantly giving you the freedom to get started on your own automotive journey.

When you pass your driving test, the first thing to do is to get your own car (obviously). But an awesome first car needs to tick a number of boxes. It needs to be cheap to buy, cheap to run, cheap to insure, reliable, good looking and roomy enough for all your mates. With this in mind, here are the best cars for under £3000.

1. Renault Clio Campus Sport

The key word here is "Sport". That will really impress your mates. What won't is the word before it, "Campus." This was the name of the fourth generation Clio II that debuted in 2006 with a re-profiled rear-end and better specification models. The most important thing is that it is small, cheap to run but looks good too and fits three of your mates with ease.

This three door model is a 2007-reg and is at the top of our 3k price cap - £3,000 exactly actually. Mileage may be a bit high, but its 1.1 litre engine - giving the Campus a top speed of 106mph - makes it a car that's cheap to insure and run. It also comes with plenty of kit including alloys, CD player, sports seats and electric windows.

2. Suzuki Swift

We're big fans of the Suzuki Swift. It's a good looking, great-handling car that's cheap to run and buy. The first generation Swift was introduced in 2000 as a replacement to the Suzuki Cultus and was both ugly and poorly built. However the 2004 second generation burst onto the scene with character and heavily improved quality that make it a fantastic car for first time buyers.

This handsome 2006 model has a fair few miles on it but comes with six months tax and plenty of equipment including a CD player, leather steering wheel, electric front windows and heated electric door mirrors. The 1.3-litre petrol unit is pokey and frugal, too.

3. Peugeot 107

The Peugeot 107 is another strong contender. It's cheap in all respects, meaning it costs peanuts to run. Launched in 2005 in a joint venture with Citroen and Toyota - who sell the C1 and Aygo respectively - the car proved to be a huge success, tempting over 750,000 people worldwide to buy the car.

This 2006 Urban-spec 107 comes in the practical five door form and is powered by a 68bhp 1.0-litre petrol engine. This makes it one of the cheapest cars on the market to run as it sits in lowest insurance and road tax groups. While mileage is high and equipment is lower in comparison to competitors, it comes with all the basics you need.

4. Ford Fiesta

The trusty Ford Fiesta is the best-selling supermini today. Through every facelift, generation and change, the Fiesta has remained one of the class leaders with its charm, quality and reliability. The fifth generation gave the car more space, better build quality and a bit more oomph over previous models.

This 2003 model has low miles, lots of equipment and has a 1.3-litre petrol engine which provides great mpg and a decent turn of speed. It's in great condition and there's plenty of space for carting around friends and luggage. Fiestas are also renowned for being easy to drive and crucially, safe.

5. Vauxhall Corsa

The Corsa was the most popular supermini in the UK in the mid-2000s and the second most popular car in the country between 2002 and 2004. The third generation car was a huge success for Vauxhall with car buyers loving its value, strong build quality, sporty styling and running costs.

We found this 2006 model in silver which comes with a small but pokey 1.2-litre petrol engine. It is in low insurance and tax brackets which is good news for first time buyers, and it comes with plenty of equipment - including a CD player, electric windows and half leather seats.

6. Ford Ka

If you're on a tighter budget and want a car with all the basics ticked, the old-shape Ford Ka is the perfect car for you. The Ka is hugely popular (and also one of the least-stolen cars) thanks to its cheap insurance, good fuel economy and easy parking characteristics.

This 2006 model comes in the 'Style' spec (which is just above the lowest 'Studio' specification) and comes with a decent amount of equipment, including a CD player, electric mirrors and electric windows. Its 1.3-litre petrol engine is best suited for town driving so bear this in mind.

7. Fiat Grande Punto

Want a bit more space? Then the Fiat Grande Punto could be for you. Fiat has now dropped the "Grande" in the name with the newest models, but the 2005-2012 generation is a great little car thanks to its good handling, strong styling - by Giorgetto Giugiaro - and a good quality interior. Surprisingly for its size, the car is actually just as cheap to run and insure as its competitors and all engines produce strong fuel economy.

This 1.2-litre petrol version in 'Active' trim is a steal at just £2,495. It is well equipped and its 65bhp engine has a decent amount of poke. It is known to be easy to drive which makes the transition from passing your test to getting on the road that little but easier. This model may be in a basic trim level but it comes with all the basics needed, including a CD player, electric windows and remote central locking. Alongside that, it is in great condition with not too many miles on the clock.

8. Volkswagen Polo

The Polo continues to be a sales success and it's easy to see why; it's got the desirable badge, well-appointed interior and offers a selection of engines to suit all budgets.

This 2006 model comes in the basic trim level 'E' but, is up for grabs for only £2,450.

So there you go. There's plenty of choice out there but it is important to shop around and find the best car for you; it will likely be your set of wheels for quite some time.