Car insurance groups explained
Understand what cars fall into groups 1 to 50 in the UK
When shopping for your next set of wheels, you have likely considered vital factors like price, reliability, fuel economy, and performance. However, one crucial aspect that influences ongoing running costs is often overlooked by drivers - the vehicle’s insurance group rating.
In the UK, every car model falls into one of 50 insurance groups set by the Association of British Insurers (ABI) - with Group 1 representing the cheapest band to insure and Group 50 carrying the highest premiums. This system allows insurers to calculate quotes based on the price of replacement parts, repair time, accident rates, and theft risks.
So while splashing out on that high-performance motor may seem tempting, the ongoing insurance costs could far exceed expectations, swallowing up cash that could be used elsewhere. Read our guide to car insurance groups in the UK to help stick to your budget when it comes to managing monthly motoring costs…
What are the 3 main types of car insurance in the UK?
The 3 main types of car insurance in the UK are:
- Fully comprehensive
- Third party, fire and theft
- Third party
Fully comprehensive car insurance
Classed as the highest level of car insurance cover in the UK, fully comprehensive policies are designed to provide the most peace of mind to drivers. ‘Fully comp’ covers third party damage and injury, as well as damage to the policyholder's own vehicle through incidents like accident damage, vandalism, fire, theft and more. This is the most complete type of car insurance available to drivers.
Third party, fire and theft car insurance
Provides the same third party cover as third party only car insurance does, but also covers the policyholder against vehicle theft and damage caused by fire. However, other damage to the policyholder's own car is not covered.
Third party car insurance
This is the minimum level of car insurance cover required by law in the UK. Third party car insurance covers damage and injury to third parties (other drivers) caused by the policyholder but provides no cover for damage to the policyholder's own vehicle, which is why this is a more basic form of car insurance compared to a fully comprehensive option.
What determines the insurance group of a car?
The main factors determining a car's insurance group in the UK include:
- Repair Costs - Vehicles that are more expensive to repair in the event of a claim are placed in higher insurance groups.
- Performance & Power - Cars with higher top speeds, acceleration, and more powerful engines are seen as more 'risky' by insurers, pushing them into higher insurance groups.
- Safety Features - Advanced safety technology like automatic emergency braking helps bring insurance costs down.
Theft Risk - Some cars are more commonly targeted by thieves, so those with higher theft rates are automatically put in higher insurance groups. - Driver Profile - Typical driver age/gender profiles for each car influence groupings too as there are lower and higher risk demographics to be considered.
In general, faster, more powerful luxury and sports cars tend to sit in higher insurance groups due to the increased risk that comes with them. But standard family cars and simpler lower-powered vehicles often qualify for lower car insurance groups due to reduced repair costs, risks and associated claims.
Why can the same car be in different insurance groups?
The same make and model of a car can end up in different insurance groups due to a few key reasons. Firstly, consider the spec level; this is because higher-trim vehicles with more powerful engines, modifications, or added options/accessories can get placed into more expensive car insurance groups than their basic specification equivalents.
Secondly, if a car attracts younger/riskier drivers it may be placed in a higher group than if the typical driver profile is older and classed as ‘safer’. Locality and where you live can also affect what insurance group your car may be designated. Insurance group ratings can vary slightly region by region within the UK based on localised theft and crime rates, repair costs, average claims, etc.
Annual updates and model year changes by the manufacturer can sometimes alter a vehicle's group rating if equipment, designs, or parts are added/removed/updated. Newer models may be placed in higher car insurance categories. While the base model may have a standard insurance group classification, choices made when purchasing the car and even just where it is driven can explain cases where the same car ends up with different group ratings between policies.
What are the different car insurance groups in the UK?
The car insurance group system in the UK is a method of classifying vehicles to represent different levels of risk, pricing, and coverage requirements. Groups 1 to 50 are assigned by the Association of British Insurers (ABI) to every model and specification of a car based on factors like repair costs, theft likelihood, vehicle performance, and safety features. The lower the group number, the cheaper the insurance premiums are likely to be.
Most standard family cars such as small SUVs, modest hatchbacks and estate cars with basic engines fall into low to mid groups between 1-25. These vehicles are economical to insure as potential repair bills are lower, while parts are readily available and they attract lower-risk owner demographics. As you progress up the groups from 25 to 50 however, vehicles get faster, rarer and more expensive to repair or replace.
Many executive models, high-performance sports cars and supercars are rated at the upper end of the scale as the costs associated with claims and accidents are far greater. Inexperienced drivers may also be placed in higher groups regardless of which vehicle they drive. So in essence, if you own a supercar you'll be paying substantial premiums, whereas something standard and sensible should be very affordable where car insurance is concerned.
UK car insurance groups 1 to 50
| Car insurance group | Car insurance description |
| Group 1-3 | Very low-risk vehicles including smaller/budget cars with tiny engines and basic specs. Some electric cars and vans are also included. |
| Group 4-7 | Low-risk, ideal for new/young drivers. Mostly lower-power small family cars and non-performance hatchbacks/estates are included. |
| Group 8-16 | Mid-range family cars, some executive models and good-value performance cars fall within these typical groups. These groups cover a lot of popular cars. |
| Group 17-25 | Higher-end vehicles, executive models, powerful diesel estates, and high-performance hot hatches/sports cars normally sit within these groups. |
| Group 26-39 | Includes most high-end premium vehicles such as SUVs, sports cars and supercars. But also some more modest cars associated with inexperienced drivers. |
| Group 40-50 | Supercars, extremely powerful/expensive sports vehicles and highly modified models too. Young drivers with hot hatches may also be placed in these groups. |
Which car insurance group is the cheapest in the UK?
The cheapest car insurance groups in the UK are groups 1, 2 and 3. These are the lowest groups in the 1-50 rating system used by insurers. If you are looking for the most affordable and cheapest car insurance policies available, you should consider cars that are rated in groups 1, 2 or 3. These groups have the lowest premiums as they pose the least risk to insurers in the event of an incident or claim.
Is Group 1 car insurance high or low?
Group 1 car insurance is the lowest and cheapest insurance group in the UK, out of a possible 50. Being placed in insurance group 1 means the vehicle is considered very low risk to insure and is therefore the cheapest category. As a result, drivers of cars in Group 1 will benefit from the most affordable car insurance premiums compared to any other group. This includes cheap quotes for comprehensive, third party and third party fire & theft policies.
Which car insurance group is the most expensive?
The most expensive car insurance group in the UK is 50. Being placed in Group 50 means the vehicle is considered to be the highest risk to insure, leading to very high insurance premiums. The reasons these vehicles are the most costly to insure are because they are vehicle values, meaning the repair bills and replacement parts are expensive. Sports and supercars are also costly due to an increased likelihood of accidents at high speed.
What insurance group do electric cars fall into?
Most electric cars fall into the lower insurance groups in the 1 to 50 rating system. Groups 1 to 3 contain the most affordable vehicles to insure, including many small-battery budget EVs like the Smart EQ models and some electric vans/commercials.
Groups 4 to 10 cover leading mainstream electric family models like the Nissan Leaf, Renault Zoe, Vauxhall Corsa-e, and Volkswagen ID.3. More premium EVs like the Polestar 2 and Tesla Model 3 also qualify for groups in this range. The majority of the UK's popular electric cars sit in groups 1-10, with rare exceptions reaching groups 11-20 depending on their specifications.
Car finance solutions for customers across the UK
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Are you looking for cheaper car insurance? Find out how to cut down on your annual vehicle costs by reading our guide to getting cheaper car insurance.