Q1 2026 UK Premium Index live · refreshed quarterly Independent · Editorial · FCA introducer disclosures in footer
Compare car insurance quotes from leading UK insurers in minutes — free & impartial Compare quotes →
Insurance Groups

Car Insurance Group 30: Cars & Cost (UK 2026)

A car in insurance group 30 typically costs a mid-range driver around £800–£1,100 a year for comprehensive cover in 2026 — an indicative figure that sits above the UK average of roughly £600.

What car insurance group 30 means

Every new car sold in the UK is placed into one of 50 insurance groups, from group 1 (cheapest to insure) to group 50 (most expensive). Group 30 sits in the upper-middle of that scale — the territory of larger family cars, mild performance models and premium-badged compacts. Cars registered from August 2024 also carry a newer 1–99 Vehicle Risk Rating, but the familiar 1–50 group still drives most quotes in 2026.

Groups are set by the Group Rating Panel, a joint body of the Association of British Insurers (ABI) and Thatcham Research. They weigh five main factors: the cost of parts, how long a repair takes, the car’s performance, its new and used value, and its security features. A group 30 car generally has pricier parts, stronger performance or a higher value than the group 10–20 mainstream hatchbacks most drivers own.

Being in group 30 does not fix your premium. Your age, postcode, mileage, claims history and no-claims discount usually matter more than the group itself — which is why the same group 30 car can cost a 19-year-old three times what a 45-year-old pays. Compare with the adjacent group 29 and group 31, or see the full list of all insurance groups.

Indicative group 30 premiums by driver age

The table below shows indicative annual comprehensive premiums for a typical group 30 car in 2026, broken down by driver age band. These are illustrative ranges built from published market data — your own quote depends heavily on postcode, mileage and claims history.

Driver age bandIndicative annual premium (group 30)Notes
17–24£1,900–£3,600Little or no no-claims history; highest risk band
25–34£850–£1,200Premiums fall sharply as experience builds
35–64£650–£950Lowest-cost band for most group 30 cars
65+£700–£1,050Edges up again in later years

Indicative figures for illustration only — not a quote. Sources: Confused.com Car Insurance Price Index (2026); Finder UK insurance-group cost data (2026); ABI and Thatcham Research group-rating methodology. See our UK car insurance cost index for the underlying averages.

Cars often rated around group 30

Insurance groups vary by exact engine, trim and model year, so the same nameplate can span several groups. The cars below are frequently rated in or around group 30 — always check the specific variant before you buy.

  • Mazda MX-5 — the lightweight roadster is regularly rated at group 30, reflecting its performance-focused character rather than a high value.
  • Jaguar XF — this premium executive saloon commonly falls in or just around group 30 on lower-powered trims, driven by parts cost and value.
  • Hyundai Ioniq 5 — the electric family SUV is often rated around group 30, reflecting battery-repair complexity and higher parts costs.
  • Volvo XC60 — the mid-size premium SUV sits around groups 28–31 depending on engine and trim.
  • Audi Q3 — higher-powered petrol and diesel Q3 trims are frequently rated near group 30.
  • Range Rover Evoque — certain Evoque variants land around group 30, reflecting brand value and repair costs.

Looking for a specific model? Browse cover by make and model on our car insurance by vehicle pages.

How to pay less in group 30

  • Compare widely and early. Quotes vary by hundreds of pounds between insurers; buy around three weeks before renewal for the best price.
  • Increase your voluntary excess — sensibly — to lower the premium, but keep it affordable if you claim.
  • Add an experienced named driver with a clean record, where genuine, to reduce the average risk on the policy.
  • Build and protect your no-claims discount — the single biggest lever most drivers control.
  • Consider telematics (black box) cover, especially for younger drivers, to prove safe driving and cut costs.
  • Reduce annual mileage and improve security — a garage or approved alarm can nudge the premium down.

Group 30 car insurance: your questions answered

Group 30 is upper-middle on the 1–50 scale, so it is more expensive to insure than the group 10–20 mainstream hatchbacks most drivers own, but far cheaper than groups 40–50. A mid-range driver might pay around £800–£1,100 a year for comprehensive cover — indicative only, as your own circumstances matter more than the group.
The Group Rating Panel (ABI and Thatcham Research) weighs the cost of replacement parts, how long repairs take, the car’s performance, its new and used value, and its security features. Pricey bonded panels, integrated sensors and one-piece bumpers push a car up the scale.
Use a free group checker from a comparison site (Confused.com, Compare the Market or GoCompare) and enter the exact make, model, engine and trim — or check your V5C and manufacturer spec. The group is set per variant, so two versions of the same model can differ by several groups.
Yes. Dropping to a lower-powered trim of the same model, or choosing a car in groups 15–25, can cut premiums noticeably. Even moving to the adjacent group 29 can help, though the difference of a single group is usually small compared with driver factors.
No. The group is one input among many. Your age, postcode, annual mileage, occupation, claims history and no-claims discount typically influence the quote more than the group does. That is why a group 30 car can cost a teenager three times what a middle-aged driver pays.
Very little in practice. A single group step reflects a small change in repair cost, performance or value, and the premium difference is usually modest. Compare group 31 to see how the next rung looks, or view all insurance groups.

Sources & editorial

  • Association of British Insurers (ABI) — car insurance group rating methodology
  • Thatcham Research — Group Rating Panel and vehicle risk assessment
  • Confused.com Car Insurance Price Index (2026)
  • Finder UK — insurance group 30 cars and cost data (2026)

Reviewed by the Car Insurance Expert editorial team.

Last updated: 2026-07-06