A car insurance group is a rating from 1 to 50 set by Thatcham Research and the Association of British Insurers. Group 1 is the cheapest to insure and group 50 the most expensive. Insurers use it as a starting point, then adjust for the driver, the postcode and the mileage.
The panel scores five things: the cost and availability of parts, how long a standard repair takes, new-car price, performance, and the security fitted as standard. Two versions of the same model can sit several groups apart because one has a bigger engine or weaker security.
| Group | Typically |
|---|---|
| 1 to 10 | Small engines, cheap parts. Usual choice for a first car. |
| 11 to 20 | Family hatchbacks and small estates. |
| 21 to 30 | Larger family cars, mid-range engines. |
| 31 to 40 | Premium models, larger engines, pricier parts. |
| 41 to 50 | Performance and luxury cars, highest repair costs. |
No. The group is one input. Age, licence history, claims, where the car is kept overnight and annual mileage usually move a quote more than a few groups either way. A group 5 car insured by a new driver in a high-theft postcode can cost more than a group 20 car insured by an experienced driver in a rural one.
Enter a UK registration to look up the insurance group for that vehicle.
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