Who sets insurance groups
The Group Rating Panel, made up of insurers and managed by Thatcham Research, assesses each new model before it goes on sale. It gives every version of a car its own group, so a basic petrol hatchback and a high-powered version of the same model can be many groups apart.
What decides a car's group
- Repair costs: how much common accident repairs cost, and how long they take.
- Parts prices: the cost of panels, lights, windscreens and sensors. Cameras and radar in bumpers have pushed this up.
- Performance: power and acceleration, which link to the risk of claims.
- Safety: features such as automatic emergency braking can lower the group.
- Security: how hard the car is to steal and break into.
- Price when new.
Rough guide to the groups
| Groups | Typical cars |
|---|---|
| 1 to 10 | Small city cars and basic superminis with small engines |
| 11 to 20 | Larger superminis and lower-powered family hatchbacks |
| 21 to 30 | Family cars, small SUVs and estates |
| 31 to 40 | Large SUVs, executive cars and many electric cars |
| 41 to 50 | Performance, luxury and high-value cars |
How to find a car's insurance group
Insurance groups are shown in most new car brochures and on car review and comparison websites, which take them from the Group Rating Panel's data. Make sure you check the exact version, engine and trim, as groups vary within a model.
Cutting the cost of insurance
- Choose a lower-group version of the car you want, often the smaller engine or lower trim.
- Compare quotes at every renewal.
- Pay annually if you can, as monthly payments often include interest.
- Add a telematics box if you are a young driver.
- Keep your record clean. Penalty points raise premiums for years.
Insurance is one part of the bigger picture. See how much it costs to run a car.
Sources
Checked against official sources on 15 October 2026. Rules and prices change, so confirm anything important on GOV.UK. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.