Car Insurance Group 8: Cars & Cost (UK 2026)
A group 8 car costs a typical UK driver roughly £500–£650 a year for comprehensive cover in 2026 — group 8 sits low on the 1–50 scale, so it is one of the cheaper superminis to insure.
What car insurance group 8 means
Every new car sold in the UK is placed into an insurance group from 1 to 50. Group 1 cars are the cheapest to insure and group 50 the most expensive. The groups are set by Thatcham Research and a panel from the Association of British Insurers (ABI), based on five main factors: the cost of parts, how long repairs take, performance (power and top speed), the car's new and used value, and how good its security is.
Group 8 sits firmly in the low-cost supermini band — comfortably in the cheaper half of the scale. Cars here tend to be small, sensible hatchbacks with modest engines, inexpensive parts and solid security. That keeps claims cheap for insurers, so premiums stay affordable. As a rough guide, a mid-range driver can expect around £500–£650 a year for a group 8 car, against a UK average of about £600 across all vehicles.
Two important caveats. First, the group is only one ingredient in your quote — your age, postcode, mileage, no-claims discount and driving history usually matter more. Second, cars registered from August 2024 are also scored under the newer Vehicle Risk Rating (VRR) system, which uses a 1–99 scale alongside the familiar 1–50 groups. Older cars still use the 1–50 groups you see here.
Group 8 insurance cost by driver age (2026)
The figures below are indicative annual premiums for a typical group 8 supermini on comprehensive cover, shown by driver age band. They are illustrative estimates for guidance only — your own quote depends heavily on postcode, mileage, no-claims discount and history. Younger drivers pay far more than the group alone would suggest.
| Driver age band | Indicative annual premium (group 8, comprehensive) | Vs. UK average |
|---|---|---|
| 17–24 | £1,500–£2,300 | Well above average |
| 25–34 | £650–£950 | Around / slightly above average |
| 35–64 | £420–£620 | Below average |
| 65+ | £480–£720 | Around average |
Sources: indicative estimates by the Car Insurance Expert editorial team, benchmarked against the UK average comprehensive premium of ~£600 (ABI, 2026) and published market data from Confused.com. Insurance groups are set by Thatcham Research and the ABI. Figures are illustrative and not a quote.
Cars often rated around group 8
Insurance groups vary by exact trim, engine and specification, so the same model can span several groups. The cars below are popular superminis and small hatchbacks that are often rated in or around group 8 for certain versions — always check the specific variant's group before you buy.
- Skoda Fabia — certain trims of this practical supermini are rated in group 8, though lower-powered versions can sit lower.
- Fiat 500 — popular petrol versions such as the 500 Pop Star are commonly rated around groups 8–9.
- SEAT Ibiza — some 1.0 TSI variants of this supermini fall in the group 8 region, while smaller-engined trims sit lower.
- Vauxhall Corsa 1.2 — higher-powered petrol Corsa trims can be rated around group 8, even though entry versions sit lower.
- Suzuki Swift — the sportier or better-equipped Swift trims edge toward the top of the 1–8 range.
To confirm exactly what group a specific car is in, use a free group checker by registration or browse our car insurance by vehicle pages. You can also compare with the neighbouring group 7 and group 9 cars.
How to pay less in group 8
Even in a cheap group, small changes can cut your premium noticeably:
- Build and protect your no-claims discount — years of claim-free driving is one of the biggest levers on price.
- Pay annually rather than monthly to avoid interest on instalments.
- Increase your voluntary excess sensibly — but only to a level you could actually afford to pay.
- Add a low-risk named driver (for example an older, experienced motorist) where genuine and appropriate.
- Consider a telematics or black box policy if you are a younger driver — safe driving can bring meaningful savings.
- Improve security and mileage accuracy — a locked garage, approved alarm and a realistic annual mileage all help.
- Shop around at renewal and compare quotes rather than auto-renewing — loyalty rarely pays.
Group 8 car insurance: common questions
Group 8 is one of the cheaper groups to insure. On the 1–50 scale it sits comfortably in the lower, more affordable band, typically costing a mid-range driver around £500–£650 a year for comprehensive cover — roughly in line with or slightly below the UK average of about £600.
The insurance group is only one factor. Your age, postcode, annual mileage, no-claims discount, occupation, driving history and the level of cover usually have a bigger effect on the final price than the group itself. A 17-year-old and a 45-year-old in the same group 8 car can pay very different premiums.
You can check any car's group using a free group checker that looks it up by registration or make and model. Groups are set by Thatcham Research and the ABI. Because trim and engine change the rating, always check the exact version you are interested in rather than assuming the whole model shares one group.
Yes. Cars in groups 1–7 are typically cheaper still to insure — small city cars and entry-level superminis often sit here. If keeping premiums as low as possible is the priority, compare group 7 cars, and browse the full range on our insurance groups hub.
No. The group gives insurers a starting point for how costly a car is to repair and replace, but it does not fix your premium. Personal factors — especially age, location and no-claims history — are combined with the group to calculate your quote, which is why identical cars can cost very different amounts to insure.
The traditional system rates cars from 1 to 50 and still applies to most vehicles on the road. Cars registered from August 2024 are also scored under the newer Vehicle Risk Rating (VRR), which uses a more detailed 1–99 scale. Both aim to reflect repair cost, security and performance; you may see either referenced when checking a newer car.
Sources & methodology
Insurance groups are set by Thatcham Research and the Association of British Insurers (ABI). Average premium context is drawn from the ABI's 2026 market data and published figures from Confused.com. Indicative premiums by age band are estimates prepared by our editorial team for guidance and are not quotes. Example cars are illustrative and based on publicly available group listings; always confirm the group for a specific trim and engine. See all insurance groups and our UK car insurance cost index for wider pricing context.
Reviewed by the Car Insurance Expert editorial team.
Last updated: 2026-07-06
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