What insurance group is my car? How to check your car insurance band
Your car’s insurance group is one of the biggest factors in how much you pay for cover. Every car sold in the UK is placed into a group from 1 to 50, and the higher the number, the more expensive it is likely to be to insure.
The quickest way to check? Enter your car’s registration number into a free online group checker (we’ve listed the best ones below). This guide walks you through how insurance groups work, what decides which group your car falls into, and why the group number is only part of the story.
Key Takeaways
Personal Factors: While groups affect premiums, your age, location, and driving history still play a major role in final costs.
Group Range: UK car insurance groups range from 1 (cheapest) to 50 (most expensive).
Decision Body: Groups are set by the Group Rating Panel, administered by Thatcham Research.
Rating Factors: Bands are determined by repair costs, parts prices, performance, and safety features.
- What insurance group is my car in? How to find out.
- Car insurance group check tools
- How car insurance groups work
- How does the current insurance rating system work?
- Does a lower insurance group always equal lower costs?
Insurance groups used to be one of the first things anyone mentioned when talking about a car, right up there with engine size and fuel economy. They are still just as important when it comes to what you pay for cover, but these days most people check online rather than asking a salesperson. Here is how to do it and what the results actually mean.
How to check your car’s insurance group
The easiest way to find out is to use a free online insurance group checker. Just enter your car’s registration number and you will see its group in seconds, no sign-up required.
In the past, you would have had to ask your dealer, who might have had to dig through a trade guide to find out. These days, several websites do the hard work for you.
Car insurance group check tools
- MoneySuperMarket car insurance group checker
- Parkers: car insurance groups, costs and advice
- CarInsuranceGroups.co.uk
- Comparethemarket car insurance group checker
Most of these tools let you search by registration number, which is the most accurate method. If you are searching by make and model instead, make sure you pick the exact variant. Different versions of the same car can sit in very different groups.
For example, a BMW 4 Series can range widely:
- BMW 420d (2.0-litre diesel): Group 29
- BMW 435d xDrive M Sport: Group 42
- BMW M4: Group 50
That is a big gap for what looks like the same car on the outside, so getting the variant right matters.
How car insurance groups work
Insurance groups were first introduced in the 1970s as a simple way for people to gauge how much they were likely to pay to insure a specific car. The original system had just 20 groups, where group 1 was the cheapest to insure and group 20 the most expensive.
Since 2009, the system has expanded to 50 groups, giving a much more detailed picture. Groups are decided by the Group Rating Panel, an independent body administered by Thatcham Research, a not-for-profit automotive risk intelligence organisation. Its members include the Association of British Insurers (ABI) and Lloyds Market Association (LMA).
Thatcham Research assesses every new car against a range of factors, including:
- New car value — the more expensive the car is when new, the more it typically costs to replace
- Repair costs — including the price and availability of parts
- Performance — engine size, power output, and top speed
- Safety features — how well the car protects occupants in a crash (based on Euro NCAP ratings and similar data)
- Security — how resistant the car is to theft, including locks, immobilisers, and alarm systems
The lower the risk across these factors, the lower the group, and typically the cheaper the car is to insure.
How does the car insurance rating system work?
The system is straightforward: groups run from 1 to 50, and the higher the number, the more you are likely to pay for cover. Group 1 cars are typically the cheapest to insure, while group 50 cars are the most expensive.
Although the official group ratings set by the Group Rating Panel carry real authority, individual insurers can apply their own weighting on top. That might sound like it works against you, but it actually means specialist insurers can offer competitive prices for certain types of driver or vehicle that a one-size-fits-all system might not cater for. It is always worth comparing quotes from several providers.
What about the Vehicle Risk Rating (VRR)?
If you are looking at a brand new model range that went on sale in the UK from 1 August 2024, there is now a second system running alongside insurance groups. The Vehicle Risk Rating (VRR) is based on real-world claims data rather than pre-launch assessments, and it updates regularly as more data comes in. While the traditional 1 to 50 groups still apply to most cars on the road, the VRR is being phased in for newer models. Both systems exist side by side for now, so your insurer may use either or both when calculating your premium.
Does a lower insurance group always equal lower costs?
Not necessarily. A lower insurance group means the car itself is cheaper to insure relative to cars in higher groups, but the premium you are quoted depends on much more than the group number alone.
Insurers also factor in your personal circumstances, including:
- Your age — younger and older drivers often pay more
- Where you live — your postcode affects risk calculations
- Your driving history — claims and convictions push premiums up
- Your occupation — some jobs are statistically linked to lower risk
- Your annual mileage — the more you drive, the higher the exposure
- The level of cover you choose — comprehensive, third-party fire and theft, or third-party only
So two people insuring the same car in the same group could be quoted very different prices.
The smart move is to check a car’s insurance group before you get too attached. It will not tell you exactly what you will pay, but it gives you a realistic starting point, and it means no surprises when you come to get a quote.
Frequently asked questions
How does the current insurance rating system work?
The Group Rating Panel, which is administered by Thatcham Research and includes members from the Association of British Insurers (ABI) and Lloyds Market Association (LMA), assigns cars to groups from 1 to 50. Thatcham looks at the new car price, repair costs and parts availability, engine power and performance, safety features, and security features when deciding the group.
Individual insurers can then apply their own groupings or weighting on top of the official rating when they calculate your premium.
For brand-new model ranges launched in the UK from 1 August 2024, there is also a Vehicle Risk Rating (VRR) system. Unlike traditional groups assigned at launch, VRR uses real-world claims data and updates regularly alongside the traditional group system during a phase-in period.
What is the cheapest insurance group for a car?
Group 1 is the cheapest insurance group for a car, and group 50 is the most expensive. Cars in groups 1 to 10 generally carry the lowest premiums, roughly half the annual cost of cars in groups 41 to 50. Cars in the lowest groups are usually small, affordable to buy new, cheap to repair, and fitted with modest engines. Your age, address, occupation, and driving history will still affect the final premium you are quoted.
What cars are in insurance groups 1 to 5?
Common examples of cars in insurance groups 1 to 5 include variants of the Fiat Panda, Vauxhall Corsa, Ford Ka, Renault Clio, Skoda Fabia, and Nissan Micra. The exact group depends on the trim and engine size, so different versions of the same model can sit in different groups. Use the checker tools listed on this page to verify the exact variant you are looking at.
What is a Vehicle Risk Rating (VRR)?
Vehicle Risk Rating, or VRR, is a rating system introduced in August 2024 for brand-new car model ranges sold in the UK. It sits alongside the traditional 1–50 insurance group system during a phase-in period. Unlike traditional groups assigned at launch, VRR uses real-world claims data and updates regularly. Cars in new ranges launched after August 2024 carry both a standard insurance group and a VRR. Use a checker tool to see which system applies to your car.
Ready to sell?
Need to sell your car, or want to understand more about documentation or maintenance? Check out more of our guides here, covering everything from the paperwork you need when buying and selling, to various notices you may need to file with the UK’s driver and vehicle licensing agency.
The information provided on this page is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered as professional advice.