Car insurance groups explained
Every UK car sits in one of 50 insurance groups. The group is one of the strongest single influences on what a policy costs.
Who decides the group
Thatcham Research and the Association of British Insurers assess each model against repair cost, parts prices, performance, security and safety, then place it in a group from 1 to 50. Group 1 is the cheapest to insure, group 50 the most expensive.
What it means for a temporary policy
The same rating logic applies to short-term cover. A group 3 city car insured for a day will cost a fraction of a group 40 performance saloon for the same period, for the same driver.
- Groups 1-10: small-engine city cars and superminis, cheapest to cover
- Groups 11-25: mainstream hatchbacks, estates and family SUVs
- Groups 26-40: larger, faster and premium-badged vehicles
- Groups 41-50: performance and high-value cars, subject to stricter acceptance
Frequently asked questions
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