Car Insurance Group 13: Cars and Cost (UK 2026)
A car in insurance group 13 typically costs a mid-range UK driver around £600–£800 a year for comprehensive cover in 2026 — affordable, with plenty of popular family hatchbacks and small SUVs in this band.
What insurance group 13 means
Every car sold in the UK is placed into one of 50 insurance groups, from group 1 (cheapest to insure) to group 50 (most expensive). The groups are set by Thatcham Research and the Association of British Insurers (ABI), based on factors such as the cost and availability of parts, how long repairs take, performance, the car's new and used value, and how good its security is.
Group 13 sits comfortably in the lower quarter of the scale — still firmly on the affordable side. Cars here are usually mainstream family hatchbacks, superminis and small SUVs with modest engines (typically under 2.0 litres), where parts are cheap and widely available. You'll pay more than for a group 1–10 city car, but far less than for a hot hatch or performance model in the 30s and 40s.
Note that cars registered from August 2024 may instead carry the new 1–99 Vehicle Risk Rating (VRR), a more granular successor to the 1–50 system. The principle is the same: a lower number means cheaper cover.
How much does a group 13 car cost to insure?
The insurance group is only one ingredient in your premium. Your age, postcode, annual mileage, claims history and no-claims discount usually matter more than the group itself. For context, the overall UK average comprehensive premium is around £600 in 2026. The table below shows indicative annual comprehensive premiums for a typical group 13 car by driver age band.
| Driver age band | Indicative annual premium (comprehensive) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 17–24 | £1,400–£2,200 | Young/new drivers pay the most; a black box can cut this sharply |
| 25–34 | £700–£1,000 | Falls quickly as experience and no-claims build |
| 35–64 | £550–£800 | Lowest-risk band; close to the group 13 “typical” cost |
| 65+ | £600–£900 | Edges up again at older ages |
Sources: figures are indicative 2026 estimates for a representative group 13 car, informed by ABI and Thatcham Research group definitions and Confused.com average-premium data. Actual quotes vary widely by driver, postcode and vehicle variant — always compare live quotes.
Cars often rated around group 13
Insurance groups vary by exact trim, engine and model year, so the same nameplate can span several groups. The cars below have popular versions that are frequently rated in or close to group 13 — always check your specific registration to be sure.
- Ford Focus — the 1.0 EcoBoost family hatch has trims that land in the low-to-mid teens; the range as a whole spans much wider (avoid ST versions if you want a low group).
- Skoda Scala — roomy, sensible family hatchback with several variants around this band.
- Vauxhall Astra — a long-standing family favourite with mainstream trims commonly rated in the low teens.
- Mazda 2 / Mazda 2 Hybrid — a supermini whose higher-spec petrol and hybrid versions can reach around group 13.
- Renault Clio — well-equipped supermini trims often sit around this group.
- Volkswagen Golf — entry and mid petrol variants of the perennial hatchback can fall near group 13.
Looking for a specific model? Browse cover by make and model on our car insurance by vehicle hub.
How to pay less in group 13
- Compare quotes and shop early. Buying cover around three weeks before renewal is typically cheaper than at the last minute.
- Increase your voluntary excess — sensibly, and only what you could afford to pay in a claim.
- Build and protect your no-claims discount; it is one of the biggest levers on price.
- Add a low-risk named driver (for example an experienced parent or partner) where genuine.
- Consider telematics (black box) cover — especially valuable for 17–24 drivers.
- Improve security and where you park; an approved alarm or off-road parking can help.
- Pay annually rather than monthly to avoid interest on instalments.
Group 13 car insurance: frequently asked questions
Group 13 is affordable. On a 1–50 scale it sits in the lower quarter, so cars here are cheaper to insure than most of the market but a little dearer than the group 1–10 city cars. A typical mid-range driver might pay around £600–£800 a year for comprehensive cover in 2026.
The group is only one factor. Your age, postcode, annual mileage, driving and claims history, no-claims discount, chosen excess and the exact car variant all influence the final quote — often more than the group itself.
Check your car's exact make, model, engine and trim against a group checker (MoneySuperMarket, Compare the Market and Quotezone all offer free tools), or look in the vehicle handbook. Cars registered from August 2024 may show a 1–99 Vehicle Risk Rating instead.
Yes. Dropping to a lower-group version — a smaller engine or entry trim — can save money. See group 12 for slightly cheaper options, or browse the full range via all insurance groups.
No. The group gives insurers a starting point for a car's risk and repair cost, but your personal profile and location adjust the price heavily. Two drivers with the same group 13 car can be quoted very different premiums.
Very little in practice — one group is a small step in expected repair cost and risk. A group group 14 car may cost marginally more to insure than group 13, but driver factors usually outweigh a single-group difference. Compare both against the UK car insurance cost index.
Sources & editorial information
This guide draws on insurance group definitions from Thatcham Research and the Association of British Insurers (ABI), and average-premium data from Confused.com. Indicative premium figures are estimates for a representative group 13 car and are not quotes; live comparison is always recommended.
Related reading: all insurance groups, the UK car insurance cost index, group 12 and group 14.
Reviewed by the Car Insurance Expert editorial team.
Last updated: 2026-07-06
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