Hi Alannah,

OK, there’s a few good options here, but you’ll need to shop around carefully and make sure that anything you’re buying comes with a full service history. If it’s maximum safety you want, we did find a Mercedes-Benz A-Class that’s within your budget (https://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/mercedes-benz/a-class/used-2004-mercedes-benz-a-class-dublin-fpa-199712157033577), but it’s possible that it’ll be too expensive to insure. Worth thinking about though, as no compact car has superior safety levels. A possibly better option could be a Nissan Micra, always a good choice for starter drivers, and the third-gen model was safe, good to drive and certainly quirky to look at (aesthetically pleasing? We’ll have to let you judge…). This one is a March model, which means it’s a Japanese import, but the cars are basically the same. Just make sure of the history with Cartell.ie and get it checked by a good mechanic before buying: https://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/nissan/march/used-2006-nissan-march-ak12-5dr-a-dublin-fpa-7649638323785904571