Car Insurance Group 31: Cars & Cost (UK 2026)
A group 31 car typically costs a mid-range driver about £1,100–£1,600 a year for comprehensive cover in 2026 — well above the UK average, because group 31 sits in the higher-cost band of the 1–50 scale.
What insurance group 31 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 groups are set by Thatcham Research and the Association of British Insurers (ABI), based on five main factors: the cost of parts, repair time and labour, performance (power and top speed), the car's new and used value, and how good its security is.
Group 31 sits firmly in the upper-middle to higher-cost band. It is above the mainstream cluster — most everyday hatchbacks and small family cars sit between groups 10 and 25 — and reflects pricier premium models, larger SUVs and many electric vehicles (EVs), whose battery packs and specialist repairs push replacement costs up. A group 31 car is not in the extreme-cost territory of high-performance groups 45–50, but it will almost always cost more to insure than the UK average premium of roughly £600.
One important caveat: the insurance group is only one ingredient in your price. Your age, postcode, mileage, job, claims history and no-claims discount usually move the premium far more than the group number itself. Cars registered from August 2024 are also being rated on the newer 1–99 Vehicle Risk Rating (VRR) system, which runs alongside the classic 1–50 groups.
Indicative group 31 premiums by driver age
The table below gives indicative annual comprehensive premiums for a typical group 31 car in 2026, split by driver age band. These are illustrative estimates blended from published price-index data and group-level sample quotes — your own quote will vary with postcode, history and mileage.
| Driver age band | Indicative annual premium (group 31) | How it compares |
|---|---|---|
| 17–24 (young / new driver) | £2,800–£4,600 | Highest — little or no no-claims history |
| 25–34 | £1,200–£1,700 | Falls sharply once experience builds |
| 35–64 (typical mid-range driver) | £1,100–£1,600 | Most representative band for group 31 |
| 65+ | £900–£1,400 | Often lower again, though can tick up in late retirement |
Sources: indicative figures derived from the Confused.com Price Index (2026), group-level sample quotes from Finder UK, and group-methodology guidance from Thatcham Research and the ABI. Figures are indicative only and not a quote.
Cars often rated around group 31
Insurance groups vary by exact trim, engine and model year, so no single car is “always group 31”. However, based on published group listings, cars often rated in or around group 31 include:
- BMW X3 — mid-size premium SUV; higher trims and diesel/petrol variants frequently land in the low 30s.
- Audi A5 / Q5 — premium coupe and SUV models often sit around group 31 depending on engine and spec.
- Mercedes-Benz C-Class — many variants of this executive saloon fall in the group 30–35 range.
- Jaguar XF — executive saloon with strong performance and higher parts costs, commonly in the low-to-mid 30s.
- Land Rover Discovery Sport / Range Rover Evoque — premium SUVs whose repair and value profile pushes several variants into this band.
- Tesla Model 3 (some variants) — certain configurations of this EV are rated around group 31, reflecting battery and specialist-repair costs.
Always confirm the exact group for the specific trim and registration year using a free group checker before you buy — the difference between two trims of the same model can be several groups. You can browse the whole scale on our all insurance groups hub or check cars by model on our car insurance by vehicle pages.
How to pay less in group 31
- Compare early. Get quotes 21–26 days before renewal — insurers price later renewals as higher risk.
- Pay annually if you can. Monthly instalments carry interest (APR), often adding 10–15% to the total.
- Build and protect your no-claims discount. This is one of the biggest levers on a higher-group car.
- Consider a telematics / black box policy, especially for younger drivers — it can offset a high group with proven safe driving.
- Increase your voluntary excess sensibly, keep annual mileage accurate, and add a named experienced driver.
- Improve security — a Thatcham-approved alarm/tracker or off-road overnight parking can reduce theft-related loading.
- Check the exact group before buying. Dropping one trim level can move you down several groups. See our UK car insurance cost index for current market trends.
Group 31 car insurance: FAQs
Group 31 is on the more expensive side. It sits in the higher-cost band of the 1–50 scale, so a typical mid-range driver might pay roughly £1,100–£1,600 a year for comprehensive cover — above the UK average of around £600. It is not, however, in the most expensive performance-car territory of groups 45–50.
The group is just one factor. Your age, postcode, annual mileage, occupation, claims history and no-claims discount usually influence the premium far more than the group number. Two drivers with the same group 31 car can be quoted very different prices.
Use a free group checker from a comparison site or Thatcham, entering your make, model, trim and registration year. Because the same model can span several groups depending on engine and spec, always check the exact variant rather than the model name alone.
No. The group gives insurers a starting risk signal based on the car, but your personal risk profile does most of the work. A safe, experienced driver in a low-risk postcode can pay less on a group 31 car than a young driver in a high-risk area pays on a group 15 car.
Electric vehicles and larger SUVs often carry higher repair and replacement costs — expensive battery packs, specialist repair networks, advanced driver-assistance sensors and higher vehicle values all push the group up. That is why cars that feel “ordinary” to drive can still be rated around group 31.
Sources & review
- Thatcham Research — car insurance group methodology.
- Association of British Insurers (ABI) — group rating panel.
- Confused.com Price Index — UK average premium and age-band data (2026).
- Finder UK — group 31 sample cars and premiums.
Reviewed by the Car Insurance Expert editorial team.
Last updated: 2026-07-06
More Insurance Groups pages
- Insurance group 12 cars and cost
- Insurance group 16 cars and cost
- Insurance group 13 cars and cost
- Insurance group 15 cars and cost
- Insurance group 11 cars and cost
- Insurance group 50 cars and cost
- Insurance group 49 cars and cost
- Insurance group 47 cars and cost
- Insurance group 48 cars and cost
- Insurance group 45 cars and cost
- Insurance group 44 cars and cost
- Insurance group 46 cars and cost
- Insurance group 43 cars and cost
- Insurance group 42 cars and cost
- Insurance group 41 cars and cost
- Insurance group 39 cars and cost
- Insurance group 40 cars and cost
- Insurance group 37 cars and cost
- Insurance group 38 cars and cost
- Insurance group 36 cars and cost
- Insurance group 34 cars and cost
- Insurance group 33 cars and cost
- Insurance group 35 cars and cost
- Insurance group 32 cars and cost