What are car insurance groups?

To get an accurate impression of how expensive a car will be to insure, every car in the UK is grouped between one and 50; one being the cheapest and 50 being the most expensive to insure.

When you’re buying and insuring a car, insurers take numerous factors into consideration when calculating your car insurance premium – one of the most significant influences being the model of the car you’re insuring. Simply put, some cars are more expensive to insure than others.

So, how do you know how expensive your chosen car will be to insure? Insurers base their calculations on risk – the more likely you are to claim, the higher your insurance premium. To get a better idea - a Ferrari could be rated around insurance group 50, whereas a Fiat Panda can be as low as group three.

How do insurance groups work?

Insurance groups are decided upon by the Group Rating Panel, which is made up of insurance industry experts. The Group Rating Panel use research from Thatcham, who are an independent testing company, to assess cars according to the following criteria:

  • The car's price
  • The car's performance (including factors like image, top speed and 0 to 60 performance)
  • Repair costs
  • Availability and price of body shell
  • Price of parts
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What insurance group does my car fit into?

It’s worth checking the insurance group of the car you’re looking to buy, before parting with your hard-earned cash, to make sure you’re able to afford the insurance on it too. too. An Internet search for ‘car insurance group checker’ brings up a number of options for you to choose from.

Why should new drivers choose a car in a low insurance group?

It’s well known that the cost of insurance for young or inexperienced drivers can be more expensive. Choosing a car that is in a low insurance group could potentially make those all-important insurance costs a bit more manageable.