Car Insurance Groups

Every car in the UK is placed into an insurance group, numbered from 1 to 50. The lower the group, the cheaper the car usually is to insure.

 

This guide to insurance groups for cars explains how car insurance groups work. We’ll look at what affects a car’s group rating and how it can impact what you pay for car insurance.

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20 Oct 2023

What are car insurance groups?


Every make and model of car in the UK is placed into a car group. Each car group is given a number, running from 1 to 50.

 

Cars in lower groups are usually seen as lower risk and are therefore often cheaper to insure, while those in higher groups are seen as a greater risk and therefore may cost more to insure.

 

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Car insurance groups explained


Car insurance groups are a handy way for car insurers to classify cars and calculate their premiums. They’re also a great way for you to get an idea of how much a car will cost to insure.

 

The insurance group a car is put into will depend on:

 

  • The value of the car: More expensive cars tend to be placed in higher car groups

  • How rare a car is: Rarer cars can be harder to find parts for and may be at a greater risk of theft, meaning they’re more likely to be put in a higher car insurance group

  • The car’s performance: Faster cars are viewed as a higher risk and usually end up in higher groups

  • The cost of repairs and replacement parts and repairs: The more expensive these are, the more likely a car will be placed into a higher group

  • A car’s security features: Security features, like alarms and immobilisers, can reduce the risk of theft and lead to a car being placed into a lower group.

  • A car’s safety features: Cars with a better Euro NCAP safety rating will typically be placed into lower car insurance groups.

 

Remember, car insurance groups are just one factor insurers use to calculate the cost of car insurance premiums. They will also look at your age, driving history, where you live, and more.

Car insurance group letters explained


You’ll often see letters used alongside insurance groups. But what do the letters mean on car insurance groups? They help to show how well a car meets an insurance group’s safety and security requirements.

 

The insurance group letters mean:

 

  • A: The car meets the safety standards for its group.

  • E: The car exceeds the safety standards for its group. It has been placed in a lower group.

  • D: The car doesn’t meet the safety standards for its group. It has been placed in a higher group.

  • P: The car is only provisionally placed, as the data needed to properly judge the car was incomplete when it was released.

  • U: The security for the car falls below the requirements for the group. To get it insured, the insurer may ask you to fit updated security features.

  • G: The car has been imported.

 

 

What kind of cars are in insurance group 1?


Cars in insurance group 1 are typically models that are small, have lower power, and are fairly inexpensive to repair. They’re amongst the cheapest to insure, and are often popular amongst new and younger drivers. Examples of cars in insurance group 1 include some models of the Volkswagen Up, Hyundai i10, and Kia Rio.




What kind of cars are in insurance group 25?


Cars placed in insurance group 25 tend to be mid-range in cost and performance, offering good security and safety features. These usually include family saloons, hatchbacks, and smaller SUVs. Examples include some models of the Audi A3, BMW 2 Series Coupe, and Volkswagen Golf.




What kind of cars are in insurance group 50?


Group 50 is the highest insurance category for cars, reserved for high-performance, luxury or specialist vehicles. These cars are typically powerful, relatively rare, and expensive to buy and repair. Often, they come with advanced technology or bespoke parts.

 

Models in this group include the Porsche 911 Coupe, Tesla Model S Plaid, and Range Rover Sport SVR.

 

 

What affects the price of car insurance?


While your car’s insurance group is important, insurers also look at a few other factors when calculating your premium. These include:

 

  • Your age: Younger drivers, especially those under 25, face higher premiums as they’re more likely to be involved in accidents and are seen as a higher insurance risk.
  • Your address: If you live in a postcode that sees higher average levels of car theft or vandalism, your car insurance will often be more expensive.
  • Your annual mileage: The more you drive, the greater the risk of an accident, and the higher your premium.
  • Your driving history: If you have any driving convictions, your car insurance premiums will be higher.
  • Your previous claims: Any previous claims you’ve made on your car insurance will likely push up your premiums.
  • Your job: Some jobs are viewed as riskier than others, which can increase your premiums.

Your no claims discount: The longer you go without making a claim, the better no claims discount you may receive.

Car insurance groups FAQs

How do car insurance groups work?

Cars are placed in insurance groups from 1 to 50 based on their value, performance, rarity and ease of repair, alongside security and safety features. Cars in group 1 are usually the cheapest to insure, whilst cars in group 50 are the most expensive.

What is the cheapest car insurance group?

Of the 50 car insurance groups, cars in group 1 are usually the cheapest to insure, whilst those in group 50 are typically the most expensive.

What cars are in group 1 insurance?

Cars placed in group 1 tend to be small, economical models with good safety and security features, like the Fiat Panda or Vauxhall Corsa.

What insurance group is my car in?

You can find out which insurance group your car is in by using a car insurance group checker or by looking it up on car insurance group lists online.

Why are the same cars sometimes in different car insurance groups?

Different versions of the same car – including updated models released over time – can be placed in different insurance groups if details about the models change. This could be due to new security features being added.

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