What are car insurance groups?
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
All cars in the UK are categorised into groups from 1 to 50, with cars in the lower groups typically being cheaper to insure
Letters assigned to car insurance groups reflect the level of security features a car has
You can find out which car insurance group your car is in with our group checker
A new vehicle risk rating system is being phased in for new cars
What are car insurance groups?
UK car insurance groups help insurers work out how risky cars are to insure. Cars are sorted into groups from 1 to 50, based on factors like repair costs and the car’s safety and security features.
You can use the groups to help work out which cars may be cheaper to insure as cars in the lowest groups typically have the lowest costs.
However, the group ratings are only a guide and insurance providers will use them alongside their own claims experience and your personal risk factors when setting insurance premiums.
What is the new vehicle risk rating system?
The car insurance group rating system is being replaced by a vehicle risk rating (VRR) model for new cars, which gives insurers better insight on the risks of insuring a particular vehicle, based on real-world claims data.
It only applies to brand-new model ranges sold in the UK from 1 August 2024. You won’t be affected by the changes and your car will still have a group rating score if:
Your car was launched before 1 August 2024
You buy a new variant of a model range that existed before August 2024
Find out more about the vehicle risk rating (VRR) model and what it means for your car insurance premium here.
How do car insurance groups work?
Thatcham Research, a not-for-profit automotive risk intelligence organisation, gives each car a rating based on a number of factors. The scores it sets are then reviewed by a group rating panel, which is made up of insurance representatives.
When the group rating panel looks at the data they flag any issues they spot, such as sudden parts price changes, for discussion with vehicle manufacturers.
Cars in lower insurance groups are generally cheaper to insure, based on factors like the car's value, features and repair costs.
Car insurance groups are also divided into certain classifications using different letters, providing further information about a car’s rating and background.
What are car insurance group letters?
Letters are sometimes used along with the group number to show the level of security features fitted as standard to a particular car, and whether it meets or exceeds the requirements of the insurance group.
The letters and their meanings are:
A: The car meets the security requirement for the group.
D: The car doesn’t meet the security requirement for the group, which means the car has been placed in a higher group than normal. For example, a group 9 car that doesn’t meet the minimum standards would be listed as 10D.
E: The car exceeds the security requirement for the group, so it’s been placed in a lower group than normal. For example, a group 9 car that exceeds the standards would be listed as 8E.
P: Provisional. Used to show the data for group rating was incomplete at the time of launch.
U: Unacceptable, as the car falls well below security requirements and insurers may require an upgrade to security features before insuring it.
G: The car has been imported so doesn’t have an insurance group rating.
How do I check my car insurance group?
You can find out what insurance group a car is in by using our handy car insurance group checker. Knowing your car's group can help you anticipate the cost of insurance and make more informed decisions when purchasing a vehicle.
Retrieving data...
Your car
Your car insurance group
Group 8/50
This car is among the lower insurance groups which should be good news for your premium. Cars in lower groups are typically cheaper to insure.
This car ranks in the middle insurance groups so it isn’t among the cheapest cars to insure, but it won’t be one of the most expensive.
This car is towards the higher end of the scale which means it could be relatively expensive to insure.
Are vans sorted into insurance groups too?
Yes, vans are sorted into their own van nsurance groups, which work similarly to car insurance groups in that vans in lower groups are seen as less risky and therefore cheaper to insure.
It’s worth noting that the new vehicle risk rating (VRR) model applies to new vans too.
How are cars placed into insurance groups?
Cars are sorted into groups from 1-50 based on a number of factors, including:
Car value: The value of the car if it were in brand new condition.
Repair costs: The cost of repairing the car and ordering any parts, with 23 common repair items compared.
Repair time: The total amount of time it usually takes to make certain repairs. Longer repair times usually mean higher costs and therefore a higher car insurance group rating.
Performance: Aspects of the car’s performance on the road, including acceleration and top speed as high-performance cars often have more frequent insurance claims.
Safety features: The presence of safety features such as Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) systems, which can reduce the risk of accidents.
Car security features: The car’s security features, such as alarms or immobilisers, which are fitted as standard.
Bumper compatibility: The alignment and structure of the front and rear bumpers can affect how a car performs in a front to rear accident.
What are the cheapest car insurance groups?
The cheapest cars to insure will generally be found in lower insurance groups from 1 to 10. MoneySuperMarket data shows that the average cost of insuring a car in groups 1-10 was£427.43
That’s because cars in these groups are usually smaller, cheaper cars with lower repair costs, such as the Vauxhall Corsa, Citroen C1 and Hyundai i10.
Engine size is important too. For example, the Fiat Panda with a 1.1-litre engine or the Skoda Fabia hatchback with a 1.0-litre engine both fall into car insurance group 1 but more powerful cars are likely to be in a higher insurance group.
Vehicle insurance group | Average annual premium |
|---|---|
1-10 | £427.43 |
11-20 | £499.99 |
21-30 | £552.82 |
31-40 | £659.59 |
41-50 | £853.71 |
💡 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.
Do 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.
Which car insurance groups 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 electric cars, such as the Volkswagen E-up and Smart EQ forfour, fall into the lower groups
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.
What 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.
What other factors affect my car insurance premiums?
While insurers do place a lot of weight on your car and its insurance group, they also factor in a number of other details about you, such as:
Your age: Younger drivers unfortunately face higher insurance premiums than other age groups owing to their inexperience on the road and higher likelihood of being involved in an accident. Drivers aged 17-19 pay on average £1423.02
^ a year for comprehensive cover, compared to £1012.30^ for those aged 20-29, and £644.15^ for those aged 30-39.Your location: Your postcode will be taken into account, to assess things like crime rates and traffic that can affect your risk profile
Your occupation: Certain occupations carry higher risks than others
Your driving history: If you have a history of accidents or car insurance claims, insurers will see you as a high risk for claiming again in the future, so they’ll charge more for cover. On the flip side, going without making a claim for at least a year means you start building a no-claims discount
Your policy: Fully comprehensive policies cost an average of £533.90
^ for customers, compared to £888.04^ for third-party only policies.
💡 Top tip: Taking out extra cover for things like modifications or personal belongings can also increase the total cost
How can I save money on my car insurance?
No matter which insurance group your car is in, there are a number of things you can do or consider to try and bring down the overall cost of cover:
Pay annually
While it might mean a big up front cost, the overall amount you pay will usually be less when committing to a full year of cover as insurers charge interest for monthly payments.
Out of all fully comprehensive policies taken out, annual policies cost an average of £533.90
Build up a no-claims bonus
If you can go at least a year without claiming on your policy insurers will offer a discount on your premiums.
Fully comprehensive policy holders without a no-claims discount pay on average £1190.34
Pay a higher excess
Volunteering a higher excess fee indicates to insurers you’ll only claim when you really need to, lowering your risk profile and therefore your premiums.
Upgrade your security
Installing alarms and immobilisers or keeping your car stored in a private garage or on a driveway helps reduce the risk of theft, so you’ll often pay less for cover.
Consider telematics
A black box telematics policy lets you demonstrate good driving habits to your insurer, and they’ll reward you with lower premiums at renewal.
Learn more about car insurance groups 1-20
Author
Mehdi Punjwani
Insurance specialist
Mehdi is a financial writer and editor with over six years of experience in personal finance. He has written for organisations and publications including Equifax, The AA, and USAToday, covering a...
Reviewer
Sarah Tooze
Car & Van Insurance Expert
Sarah Tooze has been a motoring journalist for more than 15 years, specialising in company cars and vans, and has won a number of awards during her career, including the Newspress ‘Automotive...
