Insurance Groups · Updated August 2026

Car Insurance Groups 1–10

Groups 1–10 are the cheapest tier of the 50-group scale. This page explains what sits in the band and why, and links to each group's own page — every one lists example cars in that group and what they typically cost to insure, by driver age, from named published sources.

Browse groups 1–10 Check your car's group

1–10

This band, of the 50-group Thatcham scale

1–50

Full group range set by the Group Rating Panel

VRR 1–99

Successor rating for cars registered from Aug 2024

Direct answer

What sits in groups 1–10 — and why

City cars and small-engined superminis dominate these groups: low purchase prices, modest performance, cheap and quick repairs, and strong security ratings. That combination is why they anchor the cheap end of the market and why they are the classic recommendation for new and young drivers.

Placement is not guesswork: the Group Rating Panel — administered by Thatcham Research for the ABI and Lloyd's Market Association — scores every new model on new-car value, parts prices, repair times and costs, performance, and security. Cars registered from August 2024 also carry a Vehicle Risk Rating from 1 to 99 on the same evidence. The group is the panel's summary of how expensive a car is likely to be to put right — which is why it tracks repair economics more closely than badge or size.

If you are choosing a first car, our cheapest groups for new drivers guide ranks the models young drivers actually buy, and the insurance cost by age pages show how much the driver side of the equation moves the premium.

Group by group

Groups 1–10, page by page

Each page lists example cars in the group and their typical premiums by driver age, with sources named.

Insurance group 1 (and its cars)See typical costs →Insurance group 2See typical costs →Insurance group 3See typical costs →Insurance group 4See typical costs →Insurance group 5See typical costs →Insurance group 6See typical costs →Insurance group 7See typical costs →Insurance group 8See typical costs →Insurance group 9See typical costs →Insurance group 10See typical costs →

FAQ

Groups 1–10 — common questions

What cars are in insurance groups 1 to 10?

Who decides which insurance group a car is in?

The Group Rating Panel, administered by Thatcham Research on behalf of the Association of British Insurers and Lloyd's Market Association. The panel assesses new models against standard criteria — new-car value, parts prices, repair times and costs, performance, and security — and assigns a group from 1 to 50. Insurers are free to depart from the recommendation, but in practice most use it as the starting point for pricing.

Does a lower group always mean cheaper insurance?

All else being equal, yes — but the driver usually matters more than the car. Age, postcode, claims history and no-claims discount move a premium far more than a few group points. A low-group car is the right lever for a young or new driver, while an experienced driver with a long no-claims history will see much smaller differences between neighbouring groups. Each group page in this band shows what its example cars typically cost across driver profiles.

What is the Vehicle Risk Rating (VRR)?

The successor system to the 1–50 groups for cars first registered from August 2024: a score from 1 to 99 across five areas — performance, damageability, repairability, safety and security. Both systems will run alongside each other for years, because the existing car parc keeps its 1–50 ratings. Where a newer car carries a VRR, its page notes it.

How do I find my car's insurance group?

Use our insurance group checker, or go straight to the group page listed below if you already know the number — each one lists example cars in that group and what they typically cost to insure.

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