Key takeaway: Every car in the UK is assigned an insurance group from 1 (cheapest) to 50 (most expensive). The group is based on repair costs, performance, safety, and security. Moving from a Group 20 car to a Group 5 car can save £500 to £1,500 per year on insurance, depending on your age, location, and driving history.
Car insurance groups are one of the most important factors in determining your premium, yet most people have no idea what group their car falls into until they get a quote. Understanding the system gives you a real advantage when choosing your next car, because you can factor in the insurance cost before you buy, not after.
This guide explains how the groups work, what determines which group a car is placed in, gives examples across all 50 groups, and shows you how to check the group for any specific car. For a detailed breakdown of any car's insurance group alongside its full running costs, enter the registration number in our free tool.
How Insurance Groups Are Set
Insurance groups are determined by the Group Rating Panel, a joint body run by the Association of British Insurers (ABI) and the Lloyds Market Association (LMA). They assess every new car model before it goes on sale and assign a group from 1 to 50. The assessment is based on these factors:
1. Damage and Parts Costs (Biggest Factor)
This is the single most influential factor. The panel looks at how much it costs to repair the 23 most commonly damaged parts (bumpers, wings, headlights, bonnet, etc.) and how long the repair takes. Cars with cheap, widely available parts score lower. Cars with expensive, dealer-only or imported parts score higher. This is why a VW Up (Group 1) uses cheap, universal parts, while a BMW i4 (Group 32) uses expensive, model-specific components.
2. New Car Value
Higher value cars cost more to replace if written off, so they sit in higher groups. A £10,000 Dacia Sandero and a £40,000 BMW 3 Series have very different replacement costs, which is directly reflected in their insurance groups.
3. Performance
Top speed and acceleration (0-62 mph time) are factored in. Faster cars are statistically more likely to be involved in accidents, and accidents at higher speeds cause more damage. This is why a 1.0-litre VW Up (Group 1) and a 2.0-litre Golf GTI (Group 29) sit in very different groups despite both being Volkswagens.
4. Safety (Euro NCAP Rating)
Cars with strong safety ratings (4 or 5 stars from Euro NCAP) receive a group reduction because their occupants are less likely to suffer serious injuries. Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) is particularly valued. Cars that score well for pedestrian safety also benefit.
5. Security (Thatcham Rating)
The panel assesses resistance to theft. Cars with factory-fitted immobilisers, alarms, and tracking systems score better. Cars that are easy to steal or are frequently targeted by thieves (certain BMW, Range Rover, and Ford models) may be placed in higher groups.
6. Bumper Compatibility
Cars designed to absorb low-speed impacts without expensive damage score better. This is tested using standardised low-speed crash tests. Cars where a minor parking bump costs £2,000 in sensors and paint (common in modern luxury cars) are penalised.
Insurance Groups at a Glance: Example Cars
| Group Range | Category | Example Cars | Typical Premium (30yr, 3yr NCB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-5 | Cheapest | VW Up, Citroen C1, Toyota Aygo, Kia Picanto, SEAT Ibiza 1.0 | £300-£600 |
| 6-10 | Low | Ford Fiesta 1.0, Honda Jazz, Mazda 2, Hyundai i20 | £450-£750 |
| 11-15 | Below Average | VW Polo 1.0 TSI, Skoda Octavia 1.0, Ford Focus 1.0 | £550-£900 |
| 16-20 | Average | Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic, Kia Sportage, Nissan Qashqai | £650-£1,100 |
| 21-25 | Above Average | BMW 1 Series, Audi A3, VW Golf GTD, Mazda CX-5 | £800-£1,400 |
| 26-30 | High | BMW 3 Series, Audi A4, VW Golf R, Mercedes A-Class AMG | £1,000-£1,800 |
| 31-35 | Very High | BMW M135i, Audi S3, Mercedes C300, Tesla Model 3 LR | £1,200-£2,200 |
| 36-40 | Premium | BMW M3, Audi RS3, Porsche Boxster, Tesla Model S | £1,500-£3,000 |
| 41-45 | Luxury | Porsche 911, BMW M5, Mercedes AMG GT, Range Rover Sport SVR | £2,000-£4,500 |
| 46-50 | Supercar | Ferrari, Lamborghini, McLaren, Rolls-Royce, top-spec AMGs | £3,000-£10,000+ |
You can check the insurance group for any specific car on our insurance groups page, which lists every group with example cars and typical costs.
How Much Difference Does the Group Make?
The impact depends on your personal circumstances, but here are some real-world scenarios:
Scenario 1: New Driver (Age 18, 0 NCB)
| Car | Group | Estimated Annual Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Citroen C1 1.0 | 1 | £1,500 |
| Ford Fiesta 1.0 | 7 | £2,100 |
| VW Polo 1.0 TSI | 13 | £2,800 |
| BMW 118i | 16 | £3,400 |
Difference between Group 1 and Group 16: £1,900 per year
Scenario 2: Experienced Driver (Age 40, 9 NCB)
| Car | Group | Estimated Annual Premium |
|---|---|---|
| VW Up 1.0 | 1 | £250 |
| Honda Jazz 1.3 | 7 | £320 |
| Ford Focus 1.0 | 12 | £420 |
| BMW 320i | 27 | £680 |
Difference between Group 1 and Group 27: £430 per year
The group makes the biggest difference for younger drivers and those in higher-risk postcodes. For experienced drivers with long no-claims histories, the impact is smaller in absolute terms but can still add up over multiple years.
Why the Same Car Can Be in Different Groups
You may notice that a single model can span several groups. For example, the Ford Fiesta ranges from Group 6 (1.0 Ti-VCT 65PS) to Group 28 (1.5 EcoBoost ST). This happens because:
- Engine variants: A more powerful engine puts the car in a higher group due to increased performance.
- Trim levels: Higher trim levels with more expensive standard equipment (larger alloys, advanced headlights, premium audio) cost more to repair.
- Security features: Higher trims often include better security (alarm systems, tracking) which can offset some of the increase.
- Body style: A 3-door vs 5-door version of the same car may differ by one or two groups.
This is why checking the specific variant matters. Our free car check tool shows the insurance group for the exact car you are looking at, not just a range for the model.
Electric Cars and Insurance Groups
Electric cars tend to sit in higher insurance groups than equivalent petrol or diesel cars. There are three main reasons:
- Battery repair costs: Even minor damage to the battery pack can cost £5,000 to £20,000 to repair or replace.
- Specialist repair: Many body shops cannot work on EVs due to high-voltage safety requirements, which limits competition and pushes up labour costs.
- Higher new car values: Most EVs cost more than their petrol equivalents, increasing the replacement cost component.
As an example, the Vauxhall Corsa petrol sits in Groups 4 to 10 depending on spec, while the electric Corsa-e sits in Groups 21 to 28. That is a significant insurance premium difference for what is essentially the same car with a different powertrain.
How to Use Insurance Groups When Car Shopping
- Set a group target before you start looking. If insurance cost matters to you, limit your search to cars in Groups 1 to 10 (cheap), or 1 to 15 (moderate).
- Check the specific variant. A "Ford Fiesta" could be Group 6 or Group 28. The engine and trim matter hugely.
- Factor insurance into the total cost. A car that is £2,000 cheaper to buy but £800/year more to insure costs more over a typical 3-year ownership period.
- Get a full cost picture. Insurance is one piece. Check any car for free to see insurance group alongside road tax, fuel costs, MOT history, and predicted repair costs.
The Bottom Line
Insurance groups are a powerful tool for managing car costs. Groups 1 to 5 offer the cheapest premiums and are ideal for new drivers, young drivers, and anyone focused on keeping costs down. Groups 6 to 15 are the sweet spot for most drivers, offering a good range of cars at reasonable insurance costs. Above Group 20, premiums rise significantly, especially for younger drivers.
Before buying any car, check it with our free tool to see the exact insurance group, MOT history, and full running cost breakdown. It takes 10 seconds and could save you hundreds per year.