What is car insurance group 17?

Key takeaways

• Car insurance group 17 is a mid-range category for vehicles, which indicates that they are moderately priced to insure.

• Cars in group 17 are generally mid-range family vehicles, making them a balanced choice for many drivers.

• Group 17 includes models such as the Audi A3, Ford Focus and Volkswagen Golf.

What is car insurance group 17?

Before a car goes on sale, it’s assigned to an insurance group between 1 and 50 – with group 1 cars being the cheapest to insure and group 50 the most expensive. So group 17 is in the lower half of the groups, making cars in this category affordable to insure for the typical driver.

Groups are based on factors like market value, safety, security, and repair costs, all of which play a key role in determining your car insurance premium.

The groups are determined by a panel made up of members of the Association of British Insurers (ABI) and the Lloyd’s Market Association, and using safety and repair data from Thatcham Research.

Key factors when determining groups include:

• Car value – Pricier cars usually cost more to insure.

• Repair costs – Cheaper, quicker repairs mean lower ratings.

• Parts prices – Easily available, low-cost parts reduce premiums.

• Performance – Faster, high-powered cars fall into higher groups.

• Safety tech – Features like automatic braking or lane assist can lower the rating.

• Security – Alarms, immobilisers, and trackers help reduce risk.

• Claims data – Repair and accident stats from Thatcham Research influence the final group.

Which cars are in car insurance group 17?

Here are some specific car makes and models and trims that are in insurance group 17.

What’s the average insurance cost for a group 17 car?

According to Moneysupermarket data, the average annual cost of car insurance for a vehicle in insurance groups 11-20 is £486.37^{^} for comprehensive cover.

While a car’s insurance group has a major influence on the cost of cover, your premium also depends on several personal and situational factors. These include your age, driving experience, claims history, and where you live.

Areas with more traffic, accidents, or vehicle crime tend to have higher premiums. Details such as your annual mileage, job, and where you park your car at home will impact your insurance premium too.

Is a group 17 car cheap/expensive to insure?

Insurance premiums for cars in insurance group 17 are towards the lower end of the scale. You’ll get cheaper insurance if you buy a car in insurance groups 1–10 (an average of £425.75^{^} a year for comprehensive cover) but a group 17 car will be cheaper to insure than cars in higher groups. The average annual cost for a car in the 21-30 group is £536.76^{^} , for example.

Who is car insurance group 17 suitable for?

Car insurance group 17 is ideal for drivers seeking a good mix of value, comfort, and reasonable insurance costs.

It suits those who want a reliable mid-range car with solid safety features and moderate performance. Cars in this group often appeal to families, professionals, and confident younger drivers who have built up some driving experience but still want to keep premiums affordable.

Drivers who typically face high premiums – such as young drivers or those with driving convictions – should consider looking for a car in an insurance group lower than 17 if they want to keen insurance costs down.

What does the ‘e’ mean in car insurance group 17e?

The ‘e’ in car insurance group 17e means the car exceeds the security requirement for the type of car. These enhancements can include things like advanced alarms, immobilisers or tracking devices. This extra safety tech can reduce the risk of theft or accident, which leads to lower insurance premiums.

How can I check my car insurance group?

Use Moneysupermarket’s car insurance group checker tool.

How can I get cheaper insurance for my group 17 car?

There are several ways you can find cheaper insurance for your group 17 car. These include:

Increase your voluntary excess

Add a named driver

Boost your car’s security

Pay annually, not monthly

Park off-road and in a locked garage

Build your no-claims bonus

Limit mileage if possible

You should always compare quotes from different insurers when buying car insurance.

You can compare car insurance with MoneySupermarket.

• Drivers can save up to £514^{^} by comparing quotes

• You can get a £15^{^} SuperSaveClub reward with your car insurance policy plus other benefits like Free Days Out