Car Insurance Group 48: Cars & Cost (2026)
A group 48 car typically costs a mid-range UK driver around £1,600–£2,500+ a year for comprehensive cover in 2026 — group 48 sits near the top of the 1–50 scale, covering high-performance and luxury models.
What car insurance group 48 means
Every car sold in the UK is placed in one of 50 insurance groups, from group 1 (cheapest to insure) to group 50 (most expensive). The ratings are set by the Group Rating Panel, administered by Thatcham Research on behalf of the Association of British Insurers (ABI). Group 48 sits in the top band — groups 41–50 — which is reserved for the most costly cars to insure.
A rating of 48 signals that a car scores high on the factors insurers weigh: new-car value, cost and availability of parts, repair times and labour, performance (0–62mph and top speed), and how well it resists and recovers from theft. In practice, group 48 is populated by fast performance saloons and coupés, powerful SUVs and premium luxury cars. Cars registered from August 2024 also carry the newer 1–99 Vehicle Risk Rating (VRR), but the familiar 1–50 group system remains the reference most UK insurers and comparison sites still quote.
Because group 48 is so near the ceiling, the group contributes meaningfully to your quote — but it is rarely the biggest factor. Your age, address (postcode), claims history, annual mileage and job usually move the price more than a single group number.
Indicative group 48 premiums by driver age
The figures below are indicative annual comprehensive premiums for a group 48 car in 2026. They are illustrative ranges, not quotes: a young driver in a high-risk city postcode can pay several times the figures shown, while an experienced driver with a clean licence in a low-risk area can pay less. The overall UK average across all cars is roughly £600, so group 48 sits well above the typical premium.
| Driver age band | Indicative annual premium (comprehensive) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 17–24 | £4,500–£12,000+ | Young, inexperienced drivers face the steepest loadings; many insurers decline group 48 cars for this age band |
| 25–34 | £2,200–£4,500 | Premiums fall sharply with a few years' no-claims discount |
| 35–64 | £1,600–£2,500 | Typical mid-range driver band; the indicative headline figure |
| 65+ | £1,700–£3,000 | Rises again modestly at older ages depending on health and mileage |
Sources: group definitions and rating factors per Thatcham Research and the ABI Group Rating Panel; indicative premium ranges informed by published market data (e.g. Confused.com Car Insurance Price Index and comparison-site group cost tables). Figures are illustrative for a group 48 car and are not quotes.
Cars often rated around group 48
Insurance groups vary by exact trim, engine, year and security specification, and a single model can span several groups across its range. The examples below are cars whose higher-performance or higher-value variants are often rated around group 48 — always check the specific version you are considering rather than assuming the whole model line sits in this group.
- Porsche 911 (variants) — the flagship sports coupé's higher-output versions routinely rate in the high-40s band.
- BMW M-badged models (e.g. M3 Competition, M5) — fast performance saloons with high value and repair costs.
- Audi RS models (e.g. RS6, RS7) — high-performance Audi variants sit near the top of the scale.
- Mercedes-AMG models (e.g. AMG C 63, AMG GT) — powerful AMG versions of otherwise mid-group cars.
- Jaguar F-Type (higher-output versions) — the performance sports models push into the high-40s.
- Range Rover Sport (high-output / SVR-type variants) — high-value, high-performance SUVs.
To confirm any specific car, use a free group checker (see FAQs) or browse cover by vehicle. Adjacent groups are covered on our group 47 and group 49 pages.
How to pay less in group 48
You can't change a car's group, but you can shape most of the other factors insurers price on. If a group 48 premium looks too high, these steps tend to help most:
- Build and protect a no-claims discount — the single biggest lever for experienced drivers.
- Increase your voluntary excess — raising it sensibly can cut the premium (only as far as you could afford to pay in a claim).
- Improve security — a Thatcham-approved tracker, garage parking and an immobiliser can nudge the effective rating and the quote down.
- Cut annual mileage and add a named experienced driver — lower mileage and a low-risk second driver often reduce the price.
- Pay annually rather than monthly — monthly instalments carry interest (APR).
- Compare widely and consider a specialist — high-performance and prestige cars are sometimes cheaper through specialist or agreed-value insurers than on mainstream panels.
- Consider a lower-group trim — a less powerful engine or lower spec of the same model can drop several groups.
Group 48 car insurance FAQs
Sources & editorial
Group definitions and rating factors: Thatcham Research and the Association of British Insurers (ABI) Group Rating Panel. Indicative premium ranges informed by published UK market data including the Confused.com Car Insurance Price Index and comparison-site group cost tables. Premium figures on this page are indicative ranges for a group 48 car, not quotes; your actual price depends on your individual circumstances.
See also: all insurance groups, the UK car insurance cost index, group 47 and group 49.
Reviewed by the Car Insurance Expert editorial team. Last updated: 2026-07-06.
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