Car Insurance Group 22: Cars & Cost (UK 2026)
A group 22 car typically costs a mid-range driver roughly £800–£1,100 a year for comprehensive cover in 2026 — higher than the ∼£600 UK average, because group 22 sits in the mid-to-upper part of the 1–50 scale.
What car insurance group 22 means
Every car sold in the UK is placed in an insurance group from 1 to 50, where group 1 is the cheapest to insure and group 50 the most expensive. The ratings are set by Thatcham Research on behalf of the Association of British Insurers (ABI), based on factors such as the cost of parts, repair times, performance, new-car value and security features.
Group 22 sits in the mid-range of the scale. Cars here are usually larger family hatchbacks, compact SUVs, or premium-badged models — more expensive to repair or more powerful than the small city cars in single-digit groups, but well short of the high-performance and luxury vehicles in groups 40–50. As a rough guide, insurers treat groups 21–30 as carrying higher-than-average premiums.
Note that cars registered from August 2024 may instead show a rating on the newer 1–99 Vehicle Risk Rating scale, which Thatcham introduced to capture modern driver-assistance and repair technology. The older 1–50 group still applies to the vast majority of cars on UK roads today.
The group is only one ingredient in your premium. Your age, postcode, annual mileage, claims history and no-claims discount usually move the price far more than the group number alone.
How much does a group 22 car cost to insure?
The figures below are indicative estimates for a typical group 22 car with comprehensive cover in 2026, broken down by driver age band. They blend published price-index data (Confused.com, NimbleFins) with the mid-range group premium. Treat them as a starting point — your own quote depends heavily on postcode, mileage and history.
| Driver age band | Indicative annual premium (comprehensive) | Vs UK average (∼£600) |
|---|---|---|
| 17–24 | £2,400–£3,400 | Much higher |
| 25–34 | £900–£1,200 | Higher |
| 35–64 | £750–£950 | Slightly higher |
| 65+ | £700–£950 | Slightly higher |
Sources: indicative estimates derived from the Confused.com / WTW Car Insurance Price Index, NimbleFins average-cost data and Thatcham/ABI group ratings. Figures are illustrative for a group 22 car and not a quote; individual premiums vary widely by postcode, mileage, occupation and claims history.
Cars often rated around group 22
Insurance groups vary by exact trim, engine and gearbox, so the same model can straddle two or three groups. The cars below are frequently rated at or around group 22 in commonly quoted specifications — always check the specific version you are considering.
- Audi A3 — the popular 35 TFSI petrol hatchback is often quoted around group 22, reflecting its premium badge and repair costs.
- Volkswagen Golf — mid-spec petrol and diesel Golfs frequently land in the low-20s groups.
- Skoda Octavia — larger-engined and higher-trim Octavias sit around this level.
- Kia Sportage — this compact SUV commonly appears in the low-20s group range.
- Ford Kuga — family SUV trims are often rated near group 22.
- Nissan Leaf — the electric hatchback’s battery and repair costs push it into the low-20s despite modest performance.
To confirm the exact group for a specific car, use a registration or make/model group checker — see our car insurance by vehicle tool, or browse all insurance groups.
How to pay less in group 22
- Compare widely and early. Quote 3–4 weeks before renewal and use comparison sites — prices can vary by hundreds of pounds for the same cover.
- Increase your voluntary excess (only as much as you could realistically afford to pay in a claim) to lower the premium.
- Build and protect your no-claims discount — it is one of the biggest levers on price.
- Add a low-risk named driver such as an experienced parent or partner, where genuine.
- Consider telematics (black-box) cover, especially for younger drivers, to price on how you actually drive.
- Pay annually rather than monthly to avoid interest, and improve security (approved alarm, off-road parking) where possible.
Group 22 car insurance: frequently asked questions
Sources & editorial information
- Thatcham Research & the Association of British Insurers (ABI) — car insurance group rating system (1–50) and the 1–99 Vehicle Risk Rating.
- Confused.com / WTW Car Insurance Price Index — UK average premium and cost-by-age data.
- NimbleFins and Finder UK — average cost of car insurance and group 22 vehicle examples.
See also our 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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