Insurance groups are one of the biggest factors behind your car insurance premium, yet many drivers choose a car without ever checking where it sits on the scale. Here is a clear guide to car insurance groups explained, including the new rating system now running alongside the traditional one.
How UK Car Insurance Groups Work
Every car sold in the UK is placed into an insurance group from 1 to 50, with group 1 being the cheapest to insure and group 50 the most expensive. The groups are set by the Group Rating Panel, made up of members from the Association of British Insurers and Thatcham Research, who assess each new model based on repair costs, safety features, security and performance.
What Affects a Car’s Insurance Group?
- Repair costs: Thatcham tests how much it costs to fix a car after a typical low-speed impact, with cheaper, faster repairs pushing a car into a lower group.
- Performance: more powerful engines are statistically linked to higher claim rates, pushing faster cars into higher groups.
- Security: cars with strong anti-theft features tend to sit in lower groups, since they are less likely to be stolen.
- Value: more expensive cars generally cost more to repair or replace, which can push up the group rating.
The New Vehicle Risk Rating System
Since August 2024, new car models have moved to a Vehicle Risk Rating (VRR) system on a 1 to 99 scale, offering more granular risk assessment than the traditional 50 group scale. Both systems currently run side by side during a transition period, so it is worth checking which rating applies to the specific model and registration date you are considering.
Typical Insurance Groups by Car Type
| Group Range | Typical Cars |
|---|---|
| Group 1 to 10 | Small hatchbacks, city cars (Fiat 500, Citroen C1, Dacia Sandero) |
| Group 11 to 20 | Mainstream family cars, some SUVs |
| Group 21 to 35 | Larger SUVs, performance hatchbacks |
| Group 36 to 50 | High performance and luxury vehicles |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a low insurance group guarantee cheap insurance?
No, the insurance group is only one factor. Your age, location, driving history and occupation are also used by insurers to calculate your final premium.
Are electric cars always in a low insurance group?
Not necessarily. Electric cars can sometimes sit in higher groups than expected, since battery replacement and specialist repair costs can be significant.
How can I check what insurance group my car is in?
Most comparison sites and insurer checkers allow you to look up a car’s insurance group using its registration number or make and model.
Related reading: choosing a first car? See our guide on cheapest cars to insure for new drivers.
Written by the Apriliapartsbuyer editorial team, covering UK car insurance and buying guides.
