Car Insurance Group 46: Cars & Cost (2026)
A group 46 car typically costs a mid-range UK driver about £1,600–£2,500+ a year for comprehensive cover in 2026 — it is one of the most expensive bands, home to performance and luxury models.
What car insurance group 46 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 is the dearest. Group 46 sits near the top of that scale — inside the most expensive band, alongside high-performance saloons, sports cars and premium 4x4s. Cars registered from August 2024 use the newer 1–99 Vehicle Risk Rating (VRR), but the 1–50 system still applies to the vast majority of cars on the road.
Groups are set by the Group Rating Panel, administered by Thatcham Research on behalf of the Association of British Insurers (ABI). Each car is scored on five main factors: the cost of parts and repair, repair time after a typical claim, performance and engine power, the car's new and used value, and security and safety equipment. A group 46 car tends to score badly on several of these — expensive parts, strong performance and high value all push the rating up.
Crucially, the group is only one ingredient in your price. The overall UK average premium is around £600 a year, but for a group 46 car your age, postcode, mileage, claims history and no-claims discount usually matter more than the group number alone. See how the bands compare across the full list of insurance groups or check a specific model by vehicle.
How much a group 46 car costs to insure
The table below shows indicative annual comprehensive premiums for a typical group 46 car by driver age band. These are illustrative estimates for 2026, not quotes — your own price depends heavily on postcode, mileage, claims history and no-claims discount.
| Driver age band | Indicative annual premium (comprehensive) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 17–24 | £3,000–£5,500+ | Young drivers pay the most; many insurers decline group 46 cars for under-25s |
| 25–34 | £1,800–£3,000 | Falls sharply as experience and no-claims build |
| 35–64 | £1,500–£2,300 | Lowest band; a settled address and clean history help most |
| 65+ | £1,700–£2,600 | Edges up again on age-related risk assumptions |
Sources: Indicative 2026 estimates by the Car Insurance Expert editorial team, benchmarked against Finder.com's group 46 average of £1,779/year (30-year-old, 5 years no-claims, Newcastle NE1) and ABI premium tracking. Insurance groups are set by Thatcham Research and the ABI. Figures are illustrative, not quotes.
For context on how prices are moving across all bands, see our UK car insurance cost index.
Cars often rated around group 46
Insurance groups vary by exact trim, engine, year and specification, so the same nameplate can appear in several groups. The models below are examples often rated in or around group 46 — always check your specific car's group before you buy. High-performance versions of otherwise ordinary models are the most common residents of this band.
- Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio — a 500bhp performance saloon with costly parts and strong performance scores.
- Alpine A110 — a lightweight sports coupe where specialist parts and repair costs push the rating up.
- Jaguar F-Type — higher-powered V6 and V8 variants routinely sit in the mid-to-high 40s.
- Porsche 911 — base and older Carrera variants can land around this band; many newer 911s sit higher still.
- Range Rover Velar (high-spec/high-output) — premium value and expensive parts lift stronger-engined trims into this range.
- Audi A7 Sportback / high-output BMW X5 — large premium models whose repair costs and performance versions reach the mid-40s.
Compare the neighbouring bands to see the difference a group or two makes: group 45 (slightly cheaper) and group 47 (slightly dearer).
How to pay less in group 46
You cannot change your car's group, but you can still cut the premium a group 46 car attracts:
- Increase your voluntary excess — a higher excess usually lowers the premium, provided you could afford to pay it after a claim.
- Build and protect your no-claims discount — the single biggest lever most drivers control on an expensive car.
- Add an experienced named driver — a second, low-risk driver can reduce the price (never "front" a policy in a younger driver's name — that is fraud).
- Fit and declare approved security — a Thatcham-approved tracker or alarm can help on high-value cars, and secure overnight parking (a garage or driveway) lowers risk.
- Limit annual mileage and pay annually — lower mileage reduces exposure, and paying in one go avoids monthly interest.
- Shop around and renew early — quoting 20–26 days before renewal is consistently cheaper than quoting on the day. Compare widely on Confused.com and other panels.
Group 46 car insurance FAQs
Yes. Group 46 is near the top of the 1–50 scale, so it is one of the more expensive bands to insure. A typical mid-range driver might pay roughly £1,600–£2,500+ a year for comprehensive cover in 2026, well above the ~£600 UK average. Younger drivers can pay considerably more.
The group sets the baseline, but your age, postcode, annual mileage, claims history, no-claims discount, chosen excess and where you park all move the price. On an expensive car, your driving record and no-claims discount usually matter more than the group number itself.
Check the manufacturer's brochure or your V5C details, use a free group checker from Thatcham Research or a comparison site, or look up the model on our by-vehicle pages. The exact trim, engine and year all change the group, so match your specification precisely.
Yes. Choosing a lower-powered version of the same model, or a car in the teens or low 20s, can cut premiums dramatically. Even dropping one band to group 45 helps a little; moving several groups lower saves far more. Browse the full group list to compare.
No. The group is one factor among many. Two drivers insuring the same group 46 car can be quoted very different prices based on age, location, history and cover level. The group indicates relative risk; the final premium is calculated on your personal profile.
Group 46 is dominated by high-performance and luxury models. Cars often rated in or around it include the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio, Alpine A110, Jaguar F-Type, base or older Porsche 911 variants, and high-output premium models like the Audi A7 or BMW X5. Always confirm your exact trim and year, as ratings vary within a model range.
Our sources
Insurance group ratings are set by Thatcham Research and the Association of British Insurers (ABI). Indicative premiums are benchmarked against published market data including Finder.com's group 46 average and ABI premium tracking. All figures on this page are illustrative estimates, not quotes.
Reviewed by the Car Insurance Expert editorial team.
Last updated: 2026-07-06
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