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Car Insurance Groups Explained: What Groups 1 To 50 Mean For Your Premium
5 min read
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CarVerified Team
Every UK car sits in an insurance group from 1 to 50. Here is who sets them, what they are based on, and how much they really affect what you pay.
Before you fall in love with a used car, it is worth knowing its insurance group. It is one of the quickest ways to guess whether cover will be cheap or painful, especially for younger drivers.
What are insurance groups?
Every car sold in the UK is placed in a group from 1 to 50. A low number means the car is generally cheaper to insure, and a high number means it is expensive to insure. The system was introduced in the 1970s and widened to 50 groups in 2009, which lets different versions of one model sit in different groups.
Who decides?
The groups are set by the Group Rating Panel, an industry body with members from the Association of British Insurers (ABI) and the Lloyd’s Market Association. Thatcham Research runs the scheme and supplies the data.
What is a group based on?
The biggest factor is the cost of repairs. The panel also looks at:
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How long repairs take
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The car’s performance and power
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The standard security fitted
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The cost of parts
That is why a small-engined hatchback with cheap parts sits low, and a powerful or expensive-to-repair car sits high.
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How much does the group really matter?
It is a guide, not a price list. Insurers are not required to use the groups and many use their own models too. Your premium also depends heavily on:
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Your age and driving experience
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Your claims and conviction history
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Where you live and park the car
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Annual mileage and how you use the car
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Your no-claims discount
Two drivers can pay very different amounts for the same group.
How to use groups when buying
1.
Check the group for the exact model, engine and trim, since variants of one model can differ.
2.
Get quotes before you buy, using the registration or exact model.
3.
Compare similar cars. A car one or two groups lower can mean a noticeable saving for a new driver.
4.
Remember other costs, such as tax and fuel. See our car running cost calculator.
Insurance and a car’s history
A car’s record can change how insurers see it. A write-off category must be declared, and some insurers decline cars with a salvage history. See can I insure a Cat S car.
Check the car you are looking at
Start with a free check of the registration at carverified.co.uk to confirm the car matches the advert. For finance, write-off and mileage markers, see what each report includes on the pricing page or in the sample report, and take our free used car checklist to the viewing.
FAQ
Where can I find a car’s insurance group? Many insurers and comparison sites show it, and Thatcham’s checker lists groups by model.
Do electric cars have higher groups? Often, because repairs and parts can cost more, but it varies by model.
Is group 1 the cheapest to insure? Yes, as a general rule, but your own profile matters more.

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Table of Contents
1.
What are insurance groups?
2.
Who decides?
3.
What is a group based on?
4.
How much does the group really matter?
5.
How to use groups when buying
6.
Insurance and a car's history
7.
Check the car you are looking at
8.
FAQ
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