What is car insurance group 6?

If your car went on sale in the UK from 1 August 2024 and is part of a brand-new model range then it will be assessed under a new insurance rating system. ➡️ Find out more.

Key takeaways

• Cars are sorted into insurance groups from 1 to 50, with 1 being the cheapest to insure and 50 the most expensive, based on factors like new car value, engine size, and repair costs

• Popular group 6 cars include the Citroën C1, Ford Ka, Honda Civic hatchback, and Volkswagen Golf hatchback

• Insurers consider a range of factors when setting premiums, not just what group a car is in, so it’s always good to compare your options

What is car insurance group 6?

All car makes and models are ranked and assigned an insurance group from 1 to 50 by Thatcham Research, a not-for-profit automotive risk intelligence organisation. Cars in lower insurance groups, such as group 6, are generally cheaper to insure, based on factors such as value, safety and security features and repair costs.

Which cars are in car insurance group 6?

Insurance group 6 has some of the cheapest cars to insure. They tend to be smaller cars that are reliable, have good safety features, and those with spare parts which are easy to source. This brings down the overall cost when they are involved in an accident or need repairs to be made.

Some of the cars found in insurance Group 6 include:

• Aixam 400 hatchback

• Aixam 500 hatchback

• Chevrolet Matiz

• Chrysler Ypsilon

• Citroën C1

• Citroën Berlingo Multispace

• Dacia Sandero Stepway

• Fiat 500

• Fiat Panda

• Fiat Punto

• Ford Fiesta

• Ford Focus

• Ford Ka

• Ford Tourneo Connect

• Honda Civic hatchback

• Hyundai i10 hatchback

• Hyundai i20 hatchback

• Kia Picanto hatchback

• Nissan Micra

• Nissan Note

• Peugeot 207 hatchback

• Renault Clio hatchback

• SEAT Ibiza

• Škoda Fabia hatchback

• Škoda Octavia hatchback

• Smart Fortwo Coupe

• Toyota Aygo

• Vauxhall Astra hatchback

• Vauxhall Corsa

• Volkswagen Golf hatchback

• Volkswagen Polo

💡 Top tip: The trim level of your car and its engine size affect which group your car is in so different versions of the same car model can sit in different groups. Use our free car insurance group checker to find out which group your car is in

Why are cars in group 6 cheaper to insure?

Cars in insurance group 6 are not the very cheapest to insure, you’ll find these in insurance groups 1 to 5, but they are a lot cheaper than cars in groups higher up the list.

This is due to the way they are made, their size, and how fast they can go. These cars tend to be designed for everyday driving, are at a low risk of being in an accident, and don’t have any unique or hard-to-source parts.

The combination of these factors means they are cheaper to insure because they will cost an insurer less if a claim is made.

Are group 6 cars a good option for young drivers?

Yes, group 6 cars can be a good option for young drivers as they are relatively cheap to insure.

Young drivers face the highest average costs for any drivers on the road. This is because they are statistically most at risk of having an accident. They also lack driving experience and won’t yet have had the opportunity to build up a no-claims bonus which can reduce future premiums.

There are many ways young drivers can cut their costs, and one is by picking a car in a low-down insurance group. A car in insurance group 6, or below, might be a good option for a 17-year-old or 18-year-old.

What is insurance group 6E and insurance group 6U?

Insurance groups 6E and 6U are sub-sections of insurance group 6.

An ‘E’ means the car ‘exceeds’ the security requirement for a car of this type and the group rating has been reduced – so a group 7 car that exceeds the standard is listed as 6E.

Cars with a ‘U’ suffix have a level of security that’s considered ‘unacceptable’ for that model. The car won't be uninsurable, but some insurers may insist on a security upgrade before they will offer cover.

What are car insurance groups?

UK car insurance groups, which run from group 1 to 50, help insurers work out how risky cars are to insure. 

Thatcham Research, a not-for-profit automotive risk intelligence organisation, gives each car a rating based on a number of factors, such as its repair costs, and safety and security features. The scores Thatcham Research sets are then reviewed by a group rating panel, which is made up of insurance representatives.

The group your car falls into will influence how much you pay for car insurance:

• Cars in group 1 are typically the cheapest to insure as they are usually smaller, lower-value cars that are cheaper to repair

• Cars at the top end of the scale (group 50) are typically the most expensive to insure as they are often high-value or high-performance cars that are desirable to thieves and have more expensive parts

How important are insurance groups to overall car insurance costs?

While car insurance groups are important, insurers consider a number of details about you before setting premiums.

For example, they’ll look at your:

• Age

• Postcode

• Job title

• Driving history and whether you’ve made any claims on car insurance policies in the past

These factors all contribute to your overall risk profile.

Your insurance costs will also depend on the type of cover you take out and the provider you choose - which is why it’s always good to shop around for a car insurance quote.

Which car insurance group will my hybrid or electric car be in?

Hybrid and electric cars are rated in the same way as petrol and diesel models so you’ll find electric and hybrid cars throughout the different groups.

Some small electric cars that are in the lower insurance groups include:

• The Volkswagen E-up is in group 10

• The Smart EQ forfour is in groups 9-11, depending on the version

However, electric cars can be more expensive to repair than petrol and diesel cars and more likely to be written off if the battery is damaged in an accident, which can push up electric car insurance costs.

See our Electric Car Insurance Index to find out the top 10 cheapest and most expensive electric cars to insure.

📣 Did you know? Electric vehicles are about 25% more expensive to repair than equivalent petrol and diesel models and their repair times can be 14% longer, according to Thatcham Research.

Which car insurance group will my classic car be in?

Classic car group ratings can vary hugely depending on the make, model and variant, as different cars will have different values, accident and theft risks and repair costs. You should look into your specific model to understand what insurance costs might look like.

Which car insurance group will my modified car be in?

Some modifications can increase the risk of theft or cost of repairs, while others can improve your car’s safety and security and therefore bring down costs. Some insurers might even request that you upgrade a car’s features before they will insure it - these cars, whichever group they’re in, will have a ‘U’ rating alongside their group number.

Do car insurance groups change over time?

No, the group rating system gives each car a score at launch that never changes. However, the new vehicle risk rating system is different as the scores update regularly to reflect changing market conditions.

What car insurance group is my car in?

You can quickly find out what insurance group a car is in with our free car insurance group checker.

When you’re buying a new car it’s a good idea to check which insurance group it’s in case the version you’re interested in falls into a higher group than a lower specification model and could therefore have a higher insurance cost.