Understanding Car Insurance Groups
Every car in the UK is assigned an insurance group from 1 to 50. Group 1 cars are the cheapest to insure, while group 50 cars are the most expensive. Knowing a car's insurance group before you buy can help you budget for running costs.
How Insurance Groups Are Determined
Several factors influence which group a car is placed in:
- Vehicle value - More expensive cars cost more to replace
- Performance - Faster cars are statistically more likely to be in accidents
- Repair costs - Parts prices and labour time for repairs
- Security - Standard security features like alarms and immobilisers
- Safety ratings - Euro NCAP crash test results
- Bumper compatibility - How well bumpers absorb impact in low-speed crashes
Insurance Group Examples
Here's a rough guide to what you'll find in different group ranges:
- Groups 1-10 - Small city cars, older vehicles, low-powered hatchbacks
- Groups 11-20 - Family hatchbacks, small SUVs, most mainstream models
- Groups 21-30 - Larger family cars, performance variants, executive cars
- Groups 31-40 - Sports cars, large SUVs, premium vehicles
- Groups 41-50 - Supercars, high-performance sports cars, luxury vehicles
Tips for Cheaper Insurance
If you're looking to reduce insurance costs:
- Check the insurance group before buying a car
- Consider lower-powered versions of the same model
- Add approved security devices to potentially lower your group
- Compare quotes from multiple insurers - groups are a guide, not a fixed price

