Two hundred pounds might buy you a month of phone use, satellite TV and a few streaming subscriptions.
But it's also enough to unlock lots of choice if you're financing a used car.
Stump up a 20% deposit and you'll be able to shop lots of different models – most being only a few years old with low mileage. Here are 10 of our favourite used cars for less than £200 per month.
Skoda Kamiq
The Skoda Kamiq may be the smallest SUV in the Czech brand's range, but no one's told the Kamiq that! This compact family car is barely any bigger than hatches like the Volkswagen Golf on the outside, but squeezes so much passenger room into the cabin that it can compete with larger SUVs from the class above. You can seat four six-footers in comfort, or squeeze a fifth in for shorter journeys, while also having enough boot space for a couple of big suitcases. Plus, it's more fun to drive than you'd expect, with fast steering and level handling.
Shop used Skoda Kamiq cars for sale or read our Skoda Kamiq review
Mini Hatchback
There's more to the Mini Hatchback than its cheeky retro styling. This is a genuine junior hot hatch, with ultra-responsive steering and go-kart-like handling that begs you to flick it between tight corners. Your £200-per-month budget won't quite stretch to the 2.0-litre Cooper S engine if you're shopping for relatively recent used cars, but will still cover one of the 1.5-litre Cooper versions. With 136hp, this engine has plenty of grunt to get this lightweight city car up to speed while also returning affordable fuel bills.
Shop used Mini Hatchback cars for sale or read our Mini Hatchback review
Ford Focus
Remember not long ago when the Ford Focus was one of the most popular cars in Britain? While it’s not as ubiquitous as it once was, the Focus’ qualities are still there – it’s spacious, cheap to run and great to drive. High-spec Titanium, sporty ST-Line and SUV-like Active trims are all available for under £200 per month at the time of writing, paired with Ford’s sweet 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine and, usually, a slick six-speed manual gearbox.
Shop used Ford Focus cars for sale or read our Ford Focus review
Citroen C3 Aircross
While the little Citroen C3 hatchback is charming, it's too small to work as a family wagon – step in the Citroen C3 Aircross. This SUV-styled MPV has a longer, taller body giving substantially more interior space for only a slight increase in footprint. That means adults can sit in the second row comfortably, and you won't throw your back out trying to cram a bulky child seat into either of the rear Isofix points. Zippy turbocharged petrol engines make light work of the C3 Aircross's frame and, while you couldn't exactly call it exciting to drive, the soft suspension does a great job smoothing out bumps and cracks in the road before they make it to the cabin.
Shop used Citroen C3 Aircross cars
Skoda Scala
The Skoda Scala is the company's answer to the Volkswagen Golf, but it's more than just a cut-price alternative. This surprisingly spacious family car has enough room to convince wriggling kids into their car seats, and just about enough boot space for a pushchair or a week's holiday gear. The cabin is subtle but has details like patterned upholstery and posh metal door handles to lift the atmosphere. On the road, the Scala is calm and fuss free. Your budget buys a relatively recent model with the 1.0-litre TSI petrol engine, as well as the optional quick-shifting DSG automatic gearbox, which suits the car's chilled character.
Shop used Skoda Scala cars for sale or read our Skoda Scala review
Nissan Juke
Some might dismiss the Nissan Juke as style over substance but the second-generation car finally puts those criticisms to bed. The cabin feels surprisingly premium at this price point, with lots of soft-touch materials and deliberately styled elements to lift the passenger experience. What's more, as long as you're not carrying especially lofty passengers in the back, you'll find the Juke is more practical than you might expect with decent rear legroom and a usefully square boot.
Shop used Nissan Juke cars for sale or read our Nissan Juke review
BMW i3
There was a time when battery-powered cars were pricey but, with more options now available on the used market, prices have softened substantially. Not only that, but your £200-per-month budget will actually cover one of the most interesting EVs ever made – the BMW i3. This fascinating little electric car has an ultra-lightweight carbon-fibre-polymer chassis – which you can see through the door opening – so acceleration from the 171hp electric motor is surprisingly rapid. The 42kWh battery pack will cover nearly 190 miles on a full charge, making the i3 the ideal second car for many buyers.
Shop used BMW i3 cars or read our BMW i3 review
Renault Clio
The Renault Clio has always been a stylish alternative to the Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Polo, but you might not realise it has a pretty plush interior for the price – which usually undercuts most of its rivals. Under £200 per month gets you a wide choice of high-spec Clios with an economical turbocharged petrol engine. The Clio can’t quite match its rivals for rear-seat space – there’s just enough space for adults provided front-row occupants aren’t really tall – but the Clio offers the biggest boot of any supermini.
Shop used Renault Clio cars for sale or read our Renault Clio review
Vauxhall Grandland X
Affordable monthly finance makes the Vauxhall Grandland X a tempting family car option. Your budget will be able to buy a fairly new example, ideally in a higher spec trim like SRi Nav with part-leather upholstery, rear parking sensors and an infotainment system. On the road, the Grandland X doesn't exactly deliver memorable handling but it does, at least, have suspension soft enough to absorb most of the cracks from our country's scruffy roads, so long trips needn't be a battle of attrition.
Shop used Vauxhall Grandland X cars for sale
SEAT Leon
Alongside the Ibiza, the bigger SEAT Leon slots in under £200 per month – and you can choose the new shape or the old shape, whichever you prefer. The Leon is a Volkswagen Golf but with sharper looks and lower prices, so you still get a spacious and techy cabin and a good-sized boot. There are a couple of petrol engines to pick from, and we’d pick either the SE Dynamic or the sporty FR trims.
Shop used SEAT Leon cars for sale or read our SEAT Leon review
Read our top picks for other monthly budgets
- 10 of the best cars for under £150 per month
- 10 of the best cars for under £250 per month
- 10 of the best cars for under £300 per month
Affordable finance on used cars
Check out Motorpoint's huge selection of nearly new and used cars, all with a range of flexible finance options.
