Car insurance groups explained (UK 2026)
Every car sold in the UK is rated in an insurance group — the traditional scale runs 1 to 50 (group 1 is cheapest to insure, 50 the dearest), and cars registered from August 2024 use a new Vehicle Risk Rating of 1 to 99. Choosing a car in groups 1–5 instead of 15–20 can cut a premium by £500–£1,000 a year, especially for new drivers. Here is what sets the group, how to check yours, and the typical cost by band.
What is a car insurance group?
An insurance group is a risk rating set by Thatcham Research and the ABI Group Rating Panel. It reflects how much a car is likely to cost an insurer: its value, the price and availability of parts, repair times, performance, safety and security features, and how likely it is to be stolen. A lower group means cheaper cover. Cars registered before August 2024 sit on the familiar 1–50 scale; newer cars use the Vehicle Risk Rating (1–99), which works the same way — lower is cheaper. Your group is only one factor: your age, postcode and history still matter, but the group sets the baseline.
| Group band | Typical cars | Relative cost to insure |
|---|---|---|
| 1–5 | City cars — Hyundai i10, Kia Picanto, VW Up, Toyota Aygo | Cheapest |
| 6–10 | Superminis — Ford Fiesta, Vauxhall Corsa, VW Polo | Low |
| 11–20 | Family hatchbacks — Ford Focus, VW Golf, Vauxhall Astra | Moderate |
| 21–30 | Larger / sportier — Audi A3, BMW 1/3 Series, SUVs | Higher |
| 31–40 | Premium & many EVs — Tesla Model 3/Y, performance trims | High |
| 41–50 | High performance / luxury — hot hatches, large premium SUVs | Dearest |
Sources: Thatcham Research / ABI Group Rating; Confused.com Price Index; Car Insurance Expert cost data. Bands are indicative — see the UK car insurance cost index for current averages. Last updated: 2026-06-11.
How to check your car's insurance group
You can find a car's group from the manufacturer's spec sheet, the Thatcham/ABI group rating lookup, most comparison sites, or by entering the registration on a group-checker tool. Remember that trim and engine matter: the same model can span several groups, so a base 1.0 petrol may be group 8 while the sporty version is group 20+. If you are buying to keep premiums low — especially as a new or young driver — check the exact variant's group before you buy, not just the model.
Insurance group guides
Browse our group-by-group breakdowns and the cheapest cars in each band:
Car insurance groups FAQs
Our sources
- Thatcham Research / ABI Group Rating Panel — how groups are set
- Confused.com Price Index — premium by car and band
- Car Insurance Expert — UK car insurance cost index
- Thatcham — insurance group rating
Reviewed by the Car Insurance Expert editorial team
Maintained by the Car Insurance Expert editorial team; group bands and example cars reviewed against Thatcham/ABI ratings.
Last updated: 2026-06-11
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