Car insurance groups

Which insurance group is your car in?

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Which insurance group is my car in?

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What are car insurance groups?

Every make and model of car falls into one of 50 car insurance groups, numbered one through 50. Cars are assigned to a car insurance group based on scores they receive across several categories, including:

Price
Safety and security features
Engine power and performance
Repair cost and complexity.

Car insurance providers use these ratings to understand how expensive a car could be to insure, repair or replace.

They combine this with information about you, such as your age, postcode, occupation and driving history, to work out the cost of your car insurance.

What is the cheapest car insurance group?

The cheapest car insurance group is group 1. Group 50 is the most expensive. The lower the car insurance group, the lower your car insurance premium is likely to be.

If you’re in the market for a new car and you’re concerned about the cost of your car insurance, it makes sense to look for a model in a lower insurance group.

Be aware that different versions of the same model may be in different groups.

Group 1

Groups 2-5

Cars in the lower insurance groups have less powerful engines and can be among the cheapest to repair, with parts widely available. They’re often some of the cheapest to insure too.

Cars in insurance groups 2-5 can be a good choice for young drivers, who tend to pay more for car insurance because they’re statistically more likely to make a claim.

Cars in insurance groups 2, 3, 4 and 5 include versions of the Ford Ka, the Renault Clio, Skoda Fabia and the Nissan Micra.

Groups 6-10

While cars in these groups aren’t necessarily the cheapest to insure, they’re more powerful than those in the lowest car insurance groups and still likely to carry a below-average car insurance premium. Many newer models have advanced safety and security features as standard too.

Cars in insurance groups 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 include versions of the Seat Ibiza, the Kia Rio, the Volkswagen Golf, the Toyota Yaris and the Hyundai i10.

Groups 11-15

Groups 16-20

Cars in these groups lie a little further along the scale between affordability and performance. They may not be the best bet for a young driver’s budget. But with a clean driving record and a few years’ experience under your belt, you could find an affordable quote for cars in these groups.

Cars in insurance groups 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20 include versions of the Ford Focus, the Mercedes-Benz A-Class, the Jeep Wrangler, the Honda Jazz Crosstar and the Land Rover Freelander.

Groups 21-30

Groups 31-40

Groups 41-50

How are car insurance groups decided?

Car insurance groups are determined by a specialist panel made up of members of the Association of British Insurers (ABI). They assign cars to an insurance group based on vehicle and technical data collected and analysed by Thatcham Research.

Typically, the higher a car’s perceived insurance risk - for example, an expensive car with hard-to-source parts - the higher the insurance group it’s assigned to. If a car is relatively cheap to repair and replace or has added security features, it will likely be placed in a low insurance group.

Vehicles are scored across a range of criteria, including:

Price

Generally, the more expensive the car, the more costly a repair or replacement, which means they’re usually in the higher insurance groups.

Performance and power

More powerful cars with higher top speeds tend to be in the higher insurance groups.

Safety and security features

Cars fitted with features like autonomous emergency braking systems, immobilisers and alarms typically have a lower insurance group rating.

Cost of repairs

This factors in an internationally recognised crash impact test to determine the vehicle’s damage resistance, the cost of parts and the cost required to repair it to its previous condition.

Find out more about how Thatcham makes its calculations.

What’s the new vehicle risk rating system?

Vehicle Risk Rating (VRR) is a new system from Thatcham Research that's gradually replacing traditional car insurance groups.

Instead of placing cars into one of 50 groups, it assesses a vehicle's performance, damageability, repairability, safety and security to give insurers a more detailed picture of its insurance risk.

Unlike the old system, VRR uses real-world claims data and can be updated over time.

It applies to new cars registered from 1 August 2024 onwards. Vehicles registered before that date will continue to use the existing car insurance group system.

What else affects the price of my car insurance

Other factors that impact your car insurance premium include...

Age and experience

Your level of cover

Extras you add on

Where you live

Your job

Your annual mileage

Your driving history

Your no claims discount

What insurance group are electric cars in?

The insurance group an electric car is in will depend on the make and model. But electric cars are often put in higher insurance groups than petrol or diesel cars of a similar class and size.

While electric cars are cleaner and relatively cheaper to run, insurance costs may be higher than you’d expect. This is because they are relatively expensive to buy. And, currently, parts can be more expensive to source and fit.

What our expert says...

“If you’re looking for a new car, it’s worth checking its insurance group before you buy. Cars in lower groups are often cheaper to insure, and even different versions of the same model can fall into different groups.

“Comparing insurance quotes alongside running costs can help you find a car that's a good fit for your budget.”

Amy Rootham, Insurance expert

Is there a van insurance group checker?

Compare the Market doesn’t have a van insurance group checker. But like cars, van insurance groups range from 1-50 and are assigned by the ABI. Van makes and models are also assessed on criteria such as engine size, vehicle price, safety and security features, and the cost of repairs.

However, van insurance groups are split in two, based on age. Vans registered before 2016 fall into groups 1-20, whereas vans registered from 2016 onwards are split into groups 21-50.

For vans registered before 2016 in groups 1-20, group 1 tends to have the cheapest van insurance premiums and group 20 the highest. For vans registered after 2016, group 21 is typically the cheapest to insure and group 50 the most expensive.

This can make it a little confusing to check which insurance group your van falls into, as two vans with the same model registered a year apart could be in two separate groups (for example, groups 1 and 21). Also, a van in group 21 could be cheaper to insure than one in group 20.

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FAQs

Will my car’s insurance group change over time?

Thatcham rates a vehicle’s risk in relation to other vehicles. That means your car’s insurance group could go up or down as new makes and models are released.

For example, if you own an electric vehicle, you may see your insurance group drop over time as parts and repairs become cheaper and more readily available. On the other hand, as new safety systems are rolled out in newer models, your car could be assessed as less safe and your car insurance group could go up.

Thatcham and the associated Group Rating Panel are constantly reviewing how they assign car groupings, to keep up with a changing world.

Why are the same cars in different car insurance groups?

The group rating system takes into account different versions of the same car model and enhancements or additions that could make them cheaper to insure. A new security system, for example, could tip a car from one insurance group to another.

The Thatcham ratings also factor in the different age ranges of the same model. For example, there are many versions of the VW Golf.

How can I get cheap car insurance if my car is in a high insurance group?

Here are some things you can try to bring down the cost of your premiums:

Set a higher voluntary excess – but make sure you can afford to pay both the compulsory and voluntary excess if you make a claim.
Improve your car's security – check with your provider if there are any security improvements you can make to your car, such as adding an immobiliser.
Reduce your mileage – the less you’re on the road, the less of a risk you’re seen to be by your insurance provider.
Remove unnecessary cover – don’t include add-ons you don’t need.

Shopping around is one of the best ways to find a cheaper quote. Compare car insurance quotes with Compare the Market and we’ll show you a range of options to suit your needs.

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Reviewed 11 Sept 2026 by Amy Rootham Insurance expert

Amy helps make sure you get the best value when choosing insurance. Thanks to more than four years’ experience at Compare the Market, she understands what people look for, working closely with insurance providers to offer you deals and services that are fair, easy to understand and right for your needs.

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¹Based on the % of respondents claiming they have used Compare the Market in the last 12 months vs. other leading PCWs. Source: Savanta BrandVue Financial Services, National Representative Survey of 12,257 respondents (June 2026)