Car Insurance Group 49: Cars & Cost (2026)
A group 49 car typically costs a mid-range UK driver around £1,600–£2,500+ a year for comprehensive cover in 2026 — group 49 sits in the most expensive band (1–50), covering high-performance and luxury cars.
What car insurance group 49 means
UK cars are rated on an insurance-group scale from 1 to 50, where group 1 is the cheapest to insure and group 50 the most expensive. Group 49 is the second-highest band, sitting just below group 50 and one step above group 48. It is reserved almost entirely for powerful performance cars, high-value luxury saloons and premium SUVs.
These ratings are set by the Group Rating Panel, administered by Thatcham Research in partnership with the Association of British Insurers (ABI). They weigh five main factors: the cost of parts, repair time, performance (power and top speed), the car's new and used value, and how good its security systems are. A group 49 car scores high on most of these — expensive to repair, fast, valuable and a magnet for theft — which is why premiums land well above the UK average of roughly £600 a year.
Cars registered from August 2024 are also scored under the newer Vehicle Risk Rating (VRR) system, which uses a 1–99 scale and factors in safety, security, performance, repair and damageability. The 1–50 group is still the figure most quote engines and comparison sites display, so it remains the practical reference point for shoppers in 2026.
How much does a group 49 car cost to insure?
Because group 49 covers high-powered, high-value cars, premiums are among the steepest on the road. The figures below are indicative averages for annual comprehensive cover on a representative group 49 car — your own quote depends far more on your age, postcode, mileage, claims history and no-claims bonus than on the group number alone.
| Driver age band | Indicative annual premium (comprehensive) | Vs UK average (~£600) |
|---|---|---|
| 17–24 | £3,500–£6,000+ | 6–10× higher |
| 25–34 | £2,000–£3,000 | 3–5× higher |
| 35–64 | £1,600–£2,500 | 3–4× higher |
| 65+ | £1,800–£2,800 | 3–5× higher |
Sources: indicative estimates modelled on Confused.com Price Index 2026 data, Finder group-49 cost estimates (~£2,506/year average) and ABI premium tracking. Figures are illustrative ranges for a typical group 49 vehicle and not quotes — individual premiums vary widely by insurer, driver and location.
For context, comparison sites put the blended average for a group 49 car at around £2,500 a year, while the overall UK average across all groups is closer to £600. Younger drivers can face five-figure quotes on the most extreme models — a strong reason to consider a lower group if budget is a concern.
Cars often rated around group 49
Insurance groups vary by exact trim, engine, model year and options, so no single car is permanently “group 49.” That said, cars often rated around group 49 include:
- Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio — a 500hp performance saloon whose power and repair costs push it into the top band.
- Audi RS 5 / high-spec A6 & A7 — fast, premium Audis where performance and parts prices lift the rating.
- BMW M5 and BMW X5 M-badged SUVs — high-output engines plus expensive bodywork and electronics.
- Mercedes-AMG E 63 S — a super-saloon combining big power with high value and theft appeal.
- Porsche 911 and Porsche Cayenne (performance trims) — sports and SUV models with premium repair and value profiles.
- Range Rover Sport SVR (pre-2022) — a powerful luxury SUV frequently rated in the high-40s.
Always check the specific registration, as the same nameplate can span several groups depending on engine and equipment. Use our car insurance by vehicle tool to look up cost by make and model.
How to pay less in group 49
- Increase your voluntary excess — a higher excess usually lowers the premium, provided you could afford it if you claimed.
- Build and protect a no-claims discount — several years of no-claims can cut a high-group premium substantially.
- Add an experienced named driver — a low-risk second driver can reduce the price on a performance car.
- Improve security — a Thatcham-approved tracker, immobiliser and secure overnight parking (a locked garage) all help on theft-prone models.
- Limit annual mileage and consider a black-box policy — lower, telematics-verified mileage can bring high-group quotes down, especially for younger drivers.
- Pay annually and shop around early — paying in one go avoids interest, and quoting 3–4 weeks before renewal typically beats last-minute prices.
Group 49 car insurance: FAQs
Sources & methodology
- Thatcham Research — Group Rating Panel and the 1–50 insurance group system and Vehicle Risk Rating.
- Association of British Insurers (ABI) — average premium tracking and group-rating governance.
- Confused.com Car Insurance Price Index 2026 — average premiums and age-band trends.
- Finder and Parkers group-49 vehicle listings and indicative cost estimates.
Premium figures are indicative ranges for illustration, not quotes. Always compare live quotes for your own circumstances.
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 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
- Insurance group 30 cars and cost