Car insurance group checker
Cars sit in a group from 1 to 50, and the group is one of the biggest levers on your premium. Enter a group to see its tier, an indicative cost band, and what moves a car up or down.
How insurance groups work
Thatcham Research assesses every new car and places it in one of 50 groups, with the rating panel overseen by the Association of British Insurers. Group 1 cars are the cheapest to insure and group 50 the most expensive. The rating looks at what a car costs to repair, how it performs in a crash, the price and availability of parts, how quickly a bodyshop can fix it, the performance figures, and how well it resists theft.
The group is only a starting point. Insurers layer your own risk on top: your age and experience, where the car is kept, your claims and convictions history, annual mileage, the excess you accept and the level of cover. That is why two people can pay very different prices for the same group, and why a low group helps but never guarantees a cheap premium on its own.
Worked example
A popular family hatchback often sits around group 15, in the low to medium tier, with an indicative band of £450 to £850 a year before your own details are counted. Pick the same model with a bigger turbo engine and it can jump into the twenties or thirties, moving the band up sharply. Checking the group before you buy is one of the simplest ways to avoid an unwelcome renewal quote.
Common questions
What are car insurance groups?
Every new car is placed in a group from 1 to 50 by Thatcham Research, with the panel run through the ABI. Group 1 is the cheapest to insure and group 50 the most expensive. Insurers use the group as one starting point, then adjust for your age, address, history and the cover you choose.
What pushes a car into a higher group?
A more powerful engine, a higher new price, costlier parts and repairs, weaker security and a higher theft risk all push a car up the groups. Better crash safety, cheap and available parts, good security and a modest performance figure pull it down.
Does a lower group always mean cheaper insurance?
Not on its own. The group is a strong guide, but your premium also depends heavily on your age, where you live, your no-claims history, annual mileage and excess. A young driver in a group 5 car can still pay more than an older driver in a group 20 car.
How can I keep my insurance group low?
Choose a smaller engine and lower trim, since higher-powered versions of the same model often sit several groups up. A car with good security and a strong safety record helps too. Checking the group before you buy is one of the easiest ways to keep premiums down.
Are the premium bands here a quote?
No. The bands are indicative ranges to show how cost rises with the group, not a price for your car. For a real figure you need a quote that takes your own details into account.