Insurance group 21 cars & cost (UK 2026)
A car in insurance group 21 typically costs a mid-range driver roughly £800–£1,100 a year to insure comprehensively in 2026 — above the ~£600 UK average. Group 21 sits in the mid-range of the 1–50 scale, covering larger, sportier or premium-badged models like the Mercedes A-Class, Mini Cooper S and some Audi A3 variants.
What insurance group 21 means
UK cars are rated on a scale from group 1 (cheapest to insure) to group 50 (most expensive). The rating is set by Thatcham Research and the Association of British Insurers (ABI), based on five main factors: the cost of parts, how long repairs take, performance, the car's new and used value, and how good its security is. Cars first registered from August 2024 use the newer 1–99 Vehicle Risk Rating (VRR) system, but the 1–50 groups still apply to the millions of older cars on UK roads.
Group 21 sits just past the mid-point of the scale. Cars here are no longer small city runabouts — they tend to be larger family hatchbacks, warm or premium-badged models, and sportier trims with a bit more power. From roughly group 21 upwards, premiums start to climb above the national average because the cars are worth more, cost more to repair and can be quicker. That said, the group is only one ingredient in your price: your age, postcode, annual mileage, no-claims history and job usually matter more than the group number itself.
Group 21 is one notch above group 20 and one below group 22. The jump between adjacent single groups makes very little difference to your quote on its own — it is the broad band (say groups 15–25) that shifts the price.
How much does a group 21 car cost to insure?
There is no single "group 21 price" — insurers quote on your personal profile, not just the car. The figures below are indicative comprehensive annual premiums for a typical group 21 car, built from published UK price-index averages and adjusted for a mid-range group. Treat them as a guide to the shape of pricing by age, not a quote.
| Driver age band | Indicative annual premium (comprehensive) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 17–24 | £1,500–£2,300 | Young drivers pay a large premium regardless of group; a telematics (black box) policy can cut this sharply. |
| 25–34 | £950–£1,300 | Prices fall steadily as experience and no-claims years build. |
| 35–64 | £700–£950 | The cheapest bracket for most group 21 cars, assuming a clean licence. |
| 65+ | £650–£900 | Competitive again, though premiums edge up past the mid-70s. |
Sources: indicative estimates by the Car Insurance Expert editorial team, derived from the Confused.com Car Insurance Price Index (Q1 2026 average ~£600; 17–24 average ~£1,099) and ABI/Thatcham group methodology. Figures are illustrative for a mid-range group 21 car and are not quotes — your own price depends on postcode, mileage, history and cover level. See our UK car insurance cost index for the full picture.
Cars often rated around group 21
Insurance groups are set per variant, not per model — the same nameplate can span a wide range of groups depending on engine, trim and gearbox. The cars below have specific versions that are often rated in or close to group 21; always check your exact registration with a group checker before you rely on it.
- Mercedes-Benz A-Class (A180 petrol) — entry A-Class trims sit around this level, though higher-spec and AMG variants climb well beyond it.
- Mini Cooper S — the warm-hatch Cooper S sits within the group 21–30 band depending on trim and options.
- Audi A3 — the A3 spans a wide range (roughly groups 14–41); mid-spec petrol variants can land around group 21.
- Vauxhall Corsa-e (electric) — the electric Corsa sits in roughly groups 21–28 depending on specification, showing how EVs often rate mid-range.
- BMW 1 Series / 3 Series (lower-powered trims) — entry engines in premium BMWs can fall near this band before performance versions push higher.
- Audi Q3 (entry trims) — the compact premium SUV's base variants sit around the low-20s groups.
If you are choosing a car mainly to keep insurance down, compare the whole band rather than a single group. You can browse cars by vehicle or see every group on our insurance groups guide.
How to pay less on a group 21 car
- Increase your voluntary excess — agreeing to pay more towards a claim can lower the premium, but only set an excess you could actually afford.
- Build and protect your no-claims bonus — several years of no-claims driving is one of the biggest discounts available.
- Consider a telematics (black box) policy — especially valuable for 17–24 drivers, where it can cut a group 21 premium dramatically.
- Pay annually rather than monthly — monthly instalments add interest, often 20–30% APR.
- Add an experienced named driver — a low-risk second driver can reduce the price (but never "front" a policy).
- Shop around and renew early — quoting around 20–26 days before renewal typically returns the cheapest prices.
Group 21 car insurance: common questions
Sources & methodology
- Thatcham Research — insurance group rating methodology
- Association of British Insurers (ABI) — group rating panel and criteria
- Confused.com Car Insurance Price Index (Q1 2026)
- Car Insurance Expert — UK car insurance cost index and all insurance groups
Reviewed by the Car Insurance Expert editorial team. Last updated: 2026-07-06.
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