Car insurance group 12
The make and model of the car you drive can influence how much you pay for car insurance. If you’re thinking of buying a new or used vehicle, it’s useful to know that cars in insurance group 12 can be more affordable to insure. They include versions of the Kia Sportage and BMW 2 Series.
The make and model of the car you drive can influence how much you pay for car insurance. If you’re thinking of buying a new or used vehicle, it’s useful to know that cars in insurance group 12 can be more affordable to insure. They include versions of the Kia Sportage and BMW 2 Series.
What is insurance group 12?
All cars registered in the UK are assigned an insurance group, independently ranked by Thatcham Research. Cars are put into groups from 1-50, based on their market value, cost of repairs and the risk of them being involved in an accident.
This is used as a guide by insurance providers to calculate insurance premiums. Cars in group 1 are generally the cheapest to insure and those in group 50 are the most expensive.
Cars in insurance group 12 are towards the lower end of the range, so they could be good value. But they won’t necessarily be the cheapest – you might find cars in the lower groups cost less to insure. You may also see cars categorised as 12e or 12u. This relates to the security of the car.
If you’re buying a new or used car, it’s a good idea to work out which group the car falls into as it will help you understand some of the potential running costs.
Which cars are in car insurance group 12?
Cars in insurance group 12 are at the cheaper end of the scale when it comes to calculating your insurance premium. That’s because they cost less to buy new, have less powerful engines, reasonable safety features and relatively cheap repair costs.
Of course, there are other factors that can affect the cost of car insurance, including your age, driving history and habits.
List of cars in group 12
Group 12 cars include well-known marques. Hatchbacks are common but it’s possible to find other body shapes too, like crossovers and SUVs. Here are a few of the cars you can find in insurance group 12.
| Make | Model |
|---|---|
| BMW | 2 Series Active Tourer 216d Active Tourer Sport,2018- 5dr, diesel |
| Citroen | Berlingo Multispace Feel, 1.2 BlueHDi 75, 5dr, diesel |
| Ford | Puma ST-Line Vignale 125 MHEV, 2020-2021, 5dr, Petrol |
| Hyundai | i20 Premium SE Nav TGDi 120, 2018-2020, 5dr, petrol |
| Kia | Sportage 1 ISG GDi, 2017-2018, 5dr, petrol |
| Mazda | CX-30 SE-L 122 MHEV, 2019-2022, 5dr, petrol |
| Nissan | Juke Acenta Premium Comfort Safety Ext+, 2014-2019, 5dr, diesel |
| Renault | Clio GT Line dCi 90, 2018-2019, 5dr, diesel |
| Skoda | Fabia SE L TDi 105, 2015-2018, 5dr, diesel |
| Vauxhall | Combo Life Design Turbo D130, 2018-2022, 5dr, diesel, automatic |
Optional extras and differences between factory specs may result in similar models being put into different groups. So just because one BMW 2-Series is on the list, it doesn’t mean all BMW 2 series are in group 12. Bigger engines, more acceleration and fancier specs can make a big difference.
What is the average cost of cars in insurance group 12?
How much you’ll pay for your group 12 insurance depends on more than just the insurance group. Your age, address, job, no-claims discount and driving history can also affect it.
Someone who’s just passed their test will be likely to pay more for group 12 insurance than an experienced driver, for example.
To help, 51% of our customers were quoted less than £743 for their comprehensive car insurance in June 2023. This is averaged across all groups, including those that are more expensive than group 12.
Who are group 12 cars most suitable for?
Cars in insurance group 12 are good for families who want to zip around town while still keeping motor insurance costs low. Vehicles in this category are still among the cheapest to insure, but they can give you more power and space than cars in lower insurance bands.
You’ll find a mix of reliable hatchbacks, estates and small SUVs in group 12, including versions of popular models like the Kia Sportage, Renault Clio and Nissan Juke.
What is group 12e?
Adding e to a group rating number is a sign that a particular model exceeds the security requirement for a car of this type. A group 13 car that exceeds Thatcham’s minimum-security standard for that group will have the benefit of being listed as an 12e.
How can I check my car insurance group?
It’s easy to find out your group using our free car insurance group checker. Simply enter a few details about your car or the vehicle you’re interested in buying, including the:
- Make and model
- Year of registration
- Number of doors
- Fuel type
- Transmission type.
Once you’ve found your group, you can start a quote with us to see how much you could be paying for car insurance.
Go to car insurance group checkerLooking for a car insurance quote?
Compare car insurance quotes with us today and see if you could start saving.
Get a quoteFrequently asked questions
What is insurance group 12e and insurance group 12u?
Cars in insurance group 12e are considered to have a level of security that exceeds the requirement for that model. So, a group 13 car that exceeds security standards will be categorised as group 12e.
Cars in insurance group 12u, on the other hand, have a security level that’s considered unacceptable for that model. Insurance providers might require the security on a 12u car to be upgraded before they provide cover.
How can I save on my car insurance premiums?
There are some simple ways you can help save on your car insurance.
For example, if you can pay your premium annually it could be cheaper. Many insurance providers charge interest on top of your premium if you pay monthly.
Opting to pay a higher excess – the amount you pay towards a claim – might also help reduce your premium. But you need to be sure you’d be able to pay this if you had to make a claim.
Not auto-renewing your policy and shopping around for a competitive policy could help you compare prices. But make sure that the policy you choose offers the cover you need.
Are cars in group 12 insurance good for young drivers?
Group 12 is towards the cheaper end of the insurance groups. But there are cars in lower groups that could be cheaper still to insure. You may even find a different version of the same model with fewer features or a smaller engine in a lower group.
Insurance for new and young drivers can be pricier, so opting for a car in a lower insurance group could make more financial sense.
But the reason young driver insurance is more expensive is that these drivers can be more accident prone. So, it’s always worth looking at the safety of a vehicle and the Euro NCAP (The European New Car Assessment Programme) safety rating when choosing a car.