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Updated August 2026

What insurance group is my car? UK groups 1–50 explained

The short answer

Every car sold in the UK carries an ABI insurance group from 1 (cheapest to insure) to 50 (most expensive), assigned to a specific variant — engine, trim and options included. The DVLA record does not hold it, so no service can return it from a registration alone.

Our free check by reg shows the insurance group for the 40 common UK models we hold spec data for, alongside MOT history, tax status and estimated running costs. For anything else, the table below and your policy documents are the fastest route.

UK

Free. Insurance group shown where we hold spec data — MOT, mileage, tax and CO2 shown for every UK vehicle.

Where to find your car's exact insurance group

In order of reliability. The group is variant-specific, so a source that knows your exact car beats any table — ours included.

1

Your insurance documents

The most reliable source, and free. The group rating for your exact variant appears on most quote summaries, schedules and renewal notices.

2

Your insurer or broker

They price against the group, so they hold it for your specific vehicle including trim and engine. A one-minute call settles it definitively.

3

Thatcham Research / the ABI

Thatcham Research manages the Group Rating Panel on behalf of the ABI and is the body that actually assigns the number. Their group rating information is the primary source.

4

The table on this page

A representative group for 40 of the most common UK models. Good enough to compare cars you are shortlisting; not a substitute for the exact variant figure.

Insurance groups for 40 popular UK models

Cheapest first. Each figure is the representative group for the most common UK specification of that model — the number we show in the free vehicle report when we hold spec data for it.

Performance and high-trim variants of the same nameplate sit higher, sometimes by a wide margin. Treat this as a shortlisting tool, not a quote.

Representative ABI insurance group (1–50) for 40 popular UK car models, sorted from cheapest to most expensive to insure.
#Make & modelBodyGroupBand
1Kia PicantoHatchback3Low
2Fiat 500Hatchback5Low
3Suzuki SwiftHatchback6Low
4Dacia SanderoHatchback9Low
5Ford FiestaHatchback10Low
6Honda JazzHatchback10Low
7Peugeot 208Hatchback10Low
8Renault ClioHatchback10Low
9Toyota YarisHatchback10Low
10Vauxhall CorsaHatchback10Low
11Volkswagen PoloHatchback10Low
12Dacia DusterSUV14Low–Medium
13Ford FocusHatchback14Low–Medium
14Ford PumaSUV14Low–Medium
15Nissan JukeSUV14Low–Medium
16Vauxhall AstraHatchback15Low–Medium
17Volkswagen T-RocSUV15Low–Medium
18Honda CivicHatchback16Low–Medium
19Toyota CorollaHatchback16Low–Medium
20Vauxhall MokkaSUV16Low–Medium
21Volkswagen GolfHatchback16Low–Medium
22Nissan QashqaiSUV17Low–Medium
23Skoda OctaviaHatchback17Low–Medium
24Ford MondeoHatchback18Low–Medium
25Hyundai TucsonSUV18Low–Medium
26Kia SportageSUV18Low–Medium
27MINI HatchHatchback18Low–Medium
28Peugeot 3008SUV18Low–Medium
29Ford KugaSUV19Low–Medium
30Audi A3Hatchback20Low–Medium
31BMW 1 SeriesHatchback20Low–Medium
32Volkswagen TiguanSUV20Low–Medium
33Mazda CX-5SUV22Medium
34Mercedes-Benz A-ClassHatchback22Medium
35Volvo Xc40SUV24Medium
36BMW 3 SeriesSaloon28Medium
37Mercedes-Benz C-ClassSaloon30Medium
38Volvo Xc60SUV30Medium
39Tesla Model 3Saloon36Medium–High
40Tesla Model YSUV38Medium–High

Groups run 1 (cheapest) to 50 (most expensive) on the ABI scale, set by the Group Rating Panel and managed by Thatcham Research. Figures are representative of a common UK specification and are a guide, not a quote. Last reviewed August 2026.

The 10 lowest-group cars in our data

If the premium is the constraint — a first car, a young driver, a second car doing low mileage — this is where to start looking. Nothing here is a recommendation to buy; it is simply where these models sit on the scale.

  1. 1

    Kia Picanto

    Hatchback

    3

    Low

  2. 2

    Fiat 500

    Hatchback

    5

    Low

  3. 3

    Suzuki Swift

    Hatchback

    6

    Low

  4. 4

    Dacia Sandero

    Hatchback

    9

    Low

  5. 5

    Ford Fiesta

    Hatchback

    10

    Low

  6. 6

    Honda Jazz

    Hatchback

    10

    Low

  7. 7

    Peugeot 208

    Hatchback

    10

    Low

  8. 8

    Renault Clio

    Hatchback

    10

    Low

  9. 9

    Toyota Yaris

    Hatchback

    10

    Low

  10. 10

    Vauxhall Corsa

    Hatchback

    10

    Low

Browse insurance groups by make

Makes where we hold enough real per-model data to be worth a page of their own. Everything else is in the table above.

Ford insurance groups

5 models, groups 10–19

Volkswagen insurance groups

4 models, groups 10–20

Vauxhall insurance groups

3 models, groups 10–16

What each band on the 1–50 scale means

Examples in each band are pulled from the real figures in the table above, not from a hand-written list.

1–10
Low

Small, low-powered cars with cheap, widely-stocked parts. The band new and young drivers are usually steered towards.

In our data: Kia Picanto (3), Fiat 500 (5), Suzuki Swift (6), Dacia Sandero (9), Ford Fiesta (10), Honda Jazz (10)

11–20
Low–Medium

Mainstream hatchbacks and small SUVs. Where most of the UK parc sits, and where premiums are still manageable.

In our data: Dacia Duster (14), Ford Focus (14), Ford Puma (14), Nissan Juke (14), Vauxhall Astra (15), Volkswagen T-Roc (15)

21–30
Medium

Larger family cars, premium compacts and mid-range SUVs. Higher parts prices and longer repair times start to bite.

In our data: Mazda CX-5 (22), Mercedes-Benz A-Class (22), Volvo Xc40 (24), BMW 3 Series (28), Mercedes-Benz C-Class (30), Volvo Xc60 (30)

31–40
Medium–High

Premium saloons, EVs with expensive battery packs, and performance variants. Value and repair complexity both push upwards.

In our data: Tesla Model 3 (36), Tesla Model Y (38)

41–50
High

High-performance, luxury and low-volume cars. Specialist repair, high theft appeal and very high replacement cost.

In our data: no models — we hold spec data for mainstream UK models, and this band is mostly performance, luxury and low-volume cars.

What decides which group a car lands in

Thatcham Research assesses each model against more than 125 data points on behalf of the Group Rating Panel. These are the levers that move the number most.

Repair cost and strategy

What it costs and how long it takes to return the car to its original condition after a claim. Bonded aluminium panels, structural adhesives and calibration-hungry sensors all push this up.

New price and trim

The list price of the vehicle and each trim variation, plus the price of the parts most often replaced. Higher replacement cost, higher group.

Performance

0–60 time, top speed and kerb weight. Faster and heavier cars do more damage and claim more often, so the assessment weights them upward.

Safety systems

The standard fitment and measured performance of autonomous emergency braking and other active safety systems. Effective AEB reduces claim frequency and pulls the group down.

Security

How the car performs against a benchmark set of security tests — locks, immobiliser, keyless-entry resistance. This is what the suffix letter reports.

Damage resistance

How the structure and bumpers absorb low-speed impacts. A car that shrugs off a car-park knock costs insurers less across thousands of small claims.

The letter after the group number

You will sometimes see a group written as 15E or 22D rather than just a number. The letter is the security suffix: how the car performed against the benchmark security tests for its class, and whether that moved the group up or down.

LetterMeaningEffect on the group
EExceedsSecurity exceeds the requirement for that type of car, so the group rating has been lowered.
AAcceptableSecurity meets the expected standard for that type of car. No adjustment.
DDoesn't meetSecurity falls short of the requirement for that type of car, so the group rating has been raised.
PProvisionalA provisional rating, typically on a newly launched model or one awaiting re-test.
UUnacceptableSecurity is below an acceptable standard — historically an issue on older and imported vehicles.

The suffix reflects factory-fitted security only. An aftermarket alarm or tracker does not change it, though telling your insurer about a Thatcham-approved device can still affect the quote.

What is replacing the 1–50 scale

Vehicle Risk Rating: the system succeeding insurance groups

Group Rating has been in place for around 25 years, and a single number from 1 to 50 was never going to describe a car with driver assistance systems, a high-voltage battery pack and software that changes after delivery. Thatcham Research launched Vehicle Risk Rating in September 2024 to succeed it, with a transition period during which both systems run side by side.

VRR scores a vehicle from 1 (low risk) to 99 (high risk) across five separate assessments instead of collapsing everything into one figure, and — the substantive change — it updates as real claims data arrives, rather than being fixed when the car launches.

Damage

How prone the vehicle is to damage in the first place.

Repair

The complexity, cost and time of putting it right afterwards.

Safety

Active and passive safety performance, including ADAS.

Security

Resistance to theft, including keyless-entry attacks.

Performance

Real-world performance characteristics and how they translate into risk.

What this means for you right now

Nothing changes for a car already on the road. Insurers and comparison sites still quote the 1–50 group, your policy documents still show it, and the table on this page is still the figure to compare against. VRR matters most when you are looking at a very new model, where the richer assessment can explain a premium that the old single number cannot.

Levers that actually move a premium

The group is fixed once you have chosen the car. These are the things still in your control — no percentages attached, because the effect of each one depends entirely on your risk profile and the insurer.

Shortlist cars in groups 1–10 if premium is your binding constraint — the group is fixed before you ever get a quote

Build and protect a no-claims discount; it is one of the largest single discounts most insurers apply

Raise your voluntary excess, but only to a figure you could actually pay tomorrow

Add an experienced named driver where they genuinely share the car — never list them as the main driver (fronting is fraud)

Park off-road, on a driveway or in a garage, and tell the insurer where the car is kept overnight

Consider telematics or black-box cover if you are a new driver — it prices your driving rather than your age group

Pay annually if you can; monthly is credit, and it carries interest

Compare at renewal instead of auto-renewing, and check the renewal quote against a new-customer quote

Give an honest annual mileage — overstating it costs money, understating it can void a claim

Avoid modifications that raise performance or kerb appeal, and declare any that already exist

Insurance groups — frequently asked questions

Common questions about UK car insurance groups.

What insurance group is my car?
Your car sits on the ABI scale of 1 to 50, where group 1 is the cheapest to insure and group 50 the most expensive. The exact group depends on make, model, engine, trim and specification — which is why the same model can span several groups. The fastest reliable answer is your insurance quote or schedule, which states the group for your exact variant. The table on this page gives a representative group for 40 common UK models across 21 makes, which is enough to compare cars you are shortlisting.
Can I find my car's insurance group from the registration?
Partly, and it is worth being precise about why. A registration identifies the vehicle, but the published group rating is assigned to a specific variant — engine, trim, gearbox and factory options included — and the DVLA record does not carry the group. Our free check by registration shows the insurance group where we hold spec data for that make and model, alongside MOT history, tax status, CO2 band and estimated running costs. For anything outside that set, your insurer or your policy documents hold the exact figure.
What are car insurance groups?
Car insurance groups are a rating system from 1 to 50 that classifies cars sold in the UK by how expensive they are to insure. Group 1 is cheapest and group 50 the most expensive. The Group Rating Panel — made up of members from the Association of British Insurers and the Lloyd's Market Association — sets the ratings, with Thatcham Research carrying out the technical assessment and managing the panel. Every new model is assessed before it goes on sale.
How are insurance groups decided?
Thatcham Research assesses each model against more than 125 data points. The main ones are repair cost and repair strategy (how long a repair takes and what it costs to return the car to its original condition), the new price and trim variations, performance figures including 0–60 time, weight and top speed, the standard fitment and performance of autonomous emergency braking and other safety systems, and vehicle security. Cars that are cheap to buy, unhurried, cheap and quick to repair, safe and secure land in the lowest groups.
What do the letters after an insurance group mean?
They are the security suffix. E means security exceeds the requirement for that type of car and the group has been lowered. A means it is acceptable, with no adjustment. D means it does not meet the requirement and the group has been raised. P is a provisional rating, usually on a new or re-tested model. U means the security standard is unacceptable. So a car listed as "15E" has better factory security than the panel expects for its class, and a "15D" has worse.
Which cars are cheapest to insure?
Group 1 to 10 cars — small, low-powered hatchbacks with cheap parts and good security. In the models we hold real group data for, the lowest is the Kia Picanto at group 3, and the highest is the Tesla Model Y at group 38. Choosing a car in the lowest bands is the single biggest lever a new or young driver has over their premium, because it is decided before you get a quote.
Does the insurance group actually change my premium?
Yes, but it is one input among many. A higher group means the car costs more to repair or replace, is more powerful, or is more attractive to thieves — all of which raise the expected claim cost. Your age, licence history, claims and convictions, postcode, annual mileage, where the car is kept and how you pay all move the number too, and for a young driver those personal factors can outweigh the group entirely.
Can the same model be in different insurance groups?
Yes, and the spread can be large. Engine, trim, gearbox and factory options all feed the rating, so a base hatchback and the performance version of the same nameplate can sit many groups apart. Any figure quoted against a model name — including the ones in our table — is representative of a common UK specification, not a guarantee for the car in front of you.
Do modifications change my insurance group?
No. The group is assigned to the vehicle as it left the factory and modifications do not alter it. They do affect your premium, and you must declare all of them — performance work such as engine tuning, exhaust or turbo changes typically increases it substantially, and even cosmetic changes like alloy wheels or lowered suspension must be disclosed. Failing to declare a modification can invalidate the policy.
Are electric cars in higher insurance groups?
Generally yes, compared with an equivalent petrol or diesel model, because of battery replacement cost, specialist repair requirements and strong acceleration. The gap has been narrowing as repair networks expand and more approved repairers are certified for high-voltage work. The rating is decided on the same criteria as any other car: value, repair cost, performance, safety and security.
Is the 1–50 insurance group system being replaced?
It is being succeeded. Thatcham Research launched Vehicle Risk Rating in September 2024 to sit alongside Group Rating during a transition, scoring vehicles from 1 (low risk) to 99 (high risk) across five separate assessments — Damage, Repair, Safety, Security and Performance — and updating those scores as claims data arrives rather than fixing them at launch. Group Rating had been in place for around 25 years and a single 1–50 number could not describe ADAS, EV battery packs or software-defined vehicles. For the cars already on UK roads the 1–50 group remains the figure insurers and comparison sites quote, so it is still the practical reference.

Sources

Group figures in the table are representative specifications held in our own vehicle spec data (40 models across 21 makes) and are a guide, not a quote. Vehicle details, tax and MOT data come from the DVLA and DVSA. Last reviewed August 2026.

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