Updated 22 October 2026.
Every car sold in the UK has an insurance group from 1 to 50: group 1 is the cheapest to insure and group 50 the most expensive. To find yours, enter the registration in our free car specs check, which shows a car’s insurance group with its engine, performance and running costs. This guide explains how groups are set, what pushes a car up or down, and the new rating system that’s replacing them.
What are car insurance groups?
Insurance groups rate how expensive a car is likely to be to insure, from 1 to 50. They’re set by the ABI’s Group Rating Panel using research by Thatcham Research, the insurance industry’s research centre, when a model goes on sale. The rating is advisory: insurers use it as a starting point, alongside their own claims data and everything about you as a driver.
What decides a car’s insurance group?
Thatcham looks at around 125 details of each model. The main factors are:
- Repair costs: what common replacement parts cost, and how long typical repairs take.
- The car’s value when new.
- Performance: acceleration and top speed.
- Safety: autonomous emergency braking fitted as standard lowers the rating.
- Security: how well the car resists theft. Two otherwise identical cars can be two groups apart on security alone.
Some ratings carry a letter after the number. E means the car’s security exceeds the requirement for its group, which lowers the rating; D means it falls short, which raises it; and A means it meets it.
Insurance groups 1 to 50: what to expect
| Groups | Typical cars |
|---|---|
| 1 to 10 | Small city cars and superminis with small engines, such as a Hyundai i10 or a basic VW Polo. |
| 11 to 20 | Family hatchbacks, small SUVs and higher-powered superminis. |
| 21 to 30 | Larger family cars, SUVs and executive saloons. |
| 31 to 40 | Premium and performance models. |
| 41 to 50 | High-performance and luxury cars with expensive parts. |
Groups vary by version, not just model: a BMW 4 Series can sit anywhere from the high 20s to group 50 depending on the engine, so always check the exact car.
How to find your car’s insurance group
- From the registration: our free car specs check shows the insurance group for that exact car.
- When you get a quote: insurers and comparison sites look it up from the registration.
- Not on the V5C: the logbook doesn’t show an insurance group.
The new system: Vehicle Risk Rating
In September 2024 Thatcham launched Vehicle Risk Rating to replace the 1 to 50 groups. Instead of one number, it scores a car on five things: performance, how easily it’s damaged, how easily it’s repaired, safety and security. It’s designed to keep up with newer cars, whose sensors, cameras and batteries make repairs more complex. The two systems are running side by side while insurers move over, and cars already on sale keep their 1 to 50 group. Thatcham says the scales aren’t comparable, so a car’s old group doesn’t convert into a new score.
Does the insurance group affect what I pay?
Yes, but it’s only one factor. Your age, address, driving and claims history, mileage and job usually matter more. Repair costs are pushing premiums up across the board: the ABI reported an average comprehensive premium of £560 in the first quarter of 2026, with the average accidental damage claim up 8% to £3,699, which it puts down to higher parts prices and more complex cars.
Cheapest cars to insure: tips for new drivers
- Choose a car in a low group: many superminis with small engines are in groups 1 to 10.
- Compare versions: a lower-powered engine or simpler trim can drop several groups.
- Check the group, and get a quote, before you buy, not after.
- Factor insurance into the total cost: our used car checklist covers the rest.
Before buying any used car, run a full car history check: it shows whether the car has been stolen, written off or still has finance owing. See Silver and Gold check prices.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find out what insurance group my car is in?
Enter the registration in our free car specs check. Insurers and comparison sites also show it when you get a quote.
What is the cheapest insurance group?
Group 1. Most small city cars and superminis with small engines are in groups 1 to 10.
Does insurance group affect car insurance cost?
Yes. The higher the group, the higher the premium is likely to be, though your own details usually matter more.
Is the insurance group on the V5C?
No. The V5C logbook doesn’t show it.
Can a car’s insurance group change?
The 1 to 50 group is set when a model is launched. The new Vehicle Risk Rating can be updated as real-world data, such as theft figures, comes in.
- Thatcham Research: group rating
- Thatcham Research: Vehicle Risk Rating (September 2024)
- ABI: motor premiums and repair costs (April 2026)
- What litre is my car?
- Is GAP insurance worth it?
Look up any car’s insurance group, engine size and running costs with our free car specs check.
One thought on “What Insurance Group Is My Car? Car Insurance Groups Explained”