Understanding Groups for Car Insurance

What are insurance groups?

Insurance grouping is categorised from 1 to 50 and is determined by factors such as vehicle make and model, engine size, value, performance ratings and even repair costs.

Check the insurance group of any car via CarVeto’s free car check reports.

Navigating the complex world of car insurance can be daunting, but understanding the concept of groups for car insurance can help you make more informed decisions and save money on your premiums.

Here, we look at car insurance groups, exploring how they are determined and affect your insurance’s cost.

We’ll also discuss the role of additional factors like safety features and the impact of electric cars on insurance groups. Buckle up!

Key Takeaways

• Car insurance groups are a numerical system used to calculate the risk and cost of insuring a car model based on size, value and repair costs.
• Lower insurance groups offer more affordable options due to smaller cars with reduced repair costs. Electric vehicles typically belong to higher insurance groups.
• Additional factors such as age, gender and driving history can affect the cost of car insurance premiums.
• Vans & motorbikes have their own group ratings criteria.

Car Insurance Group Basics

Car insurance groups are a classification rating system devised by the Group Rating Panel, comprising members of the Association of British Insurers (ABI) and Lloyds Market Association (LMA), to assess the risk and cost of insuring a particular car model.

The groups range from 1 to 50, with lower groups generally indicating lower insurance costs.

Factors such as:

• Car size
• Car value
• Repair costs
• Bumper compatibility

are taken into account when determining these groups.

For example, larger and heavier vehicles are more likely to cause significant damage in the event of an accident, leading to higher insurance claims.

On the other hand, cars with a lower annual mileage are less likely to be involved in accidents, resulting in lower insurance premiums.

You can use a car insurance group checker to find out the insurance group of a specific car model – enter a car registration number for an instant, free report.

Popular cars and insurance groups

Group Rating Factors

Insurance groups are primarily determined by three key factors:

• Repair expenses
• Performance metrics
• Safety and security features.

These factors help the Group Rating Panel assess which cars are likely to incur the highest costs for insurers in terms of insurance claims. By considering these factors, the insurance group rating is established.

The following sections will investigate these factors, highlighting their impact on a car’s insurance group assignment.

Repair Expenses

One of the main factors influencing a car’s insurance group is the repair cost, including parts, labour, and time.

Insurers estimate the cost of repairs by considering what it would take to restore a car to its pre-accident state following a crash impact.

As longer repair times and higher labour costs can hike insurance costs, insurers must factor these elements into determining a car’s insurance group.

Performance Metrics

A car’s performance metrics, such as acceleration and top speed, also play a role in determining its insurance group placement.

Cars that are faster and more powerful cost more to insure and are placed in higher insurance group categories.

A high-performing sports car would generally land in a higher insurance group than a modest family car with less impressive performance capabilities.

Safety and Security

Safety and security features are another significant factor in determining a car’s insurance group.

Features like alarms, immobilisers, and autonomous emergency braking can significantly affect a car’s group placement.

Autonomous emergency braking, for example, is a safety feature that automatically applies the brakes if the driver fails to respond appropriately to a potential collision.

Cars equipped with this technology may be placed in lower insurance groups, as they are considered safer and less likely to be involved in accidents.

Identifying Your Car’s Insurance Group

You can consult resources like Thatcham Research or use online tools like car insurance group checkers to identify your car’s insurance group.

Websites like CarVeto provide exact insurance groups for any UK vehicle. Other databases include:

• MoneySuperMarket
• Motorway
• Parkers
• Compare the Market
• Confused.com

These tools require you to input your car’s details, including car models or registration numbers, to determine its insurance group.

Understanding your car’s insurance group aids in:

• Selecting a suitable insurance policy
• Anticipating potential premiums
• Facilitating informed decision-making when buying a new car, as opting for a model in a lower insurance group, can lead to savings on insurance costs.

Tip: Check our recent guide to check vehicle insurance status online

Lower Insurance Groups: Affordable Options

If you’re seeking more affordable car insurance, consider buying a car with a lower car insurance type.

These vehicles are typically smaller, less expensive, and more cost-effective to insure due to their lower repair costs.

Some examples of cars in lower insurance groups include:

• Skoda Citigo
• Hyundai i10
• Ford Ka

Selecting a car from a lower insurance group increases the likelihood of securing an insurance policy that aligns with your budget and reduces car insurance premiums.

Electric Cars and Insurance Groups

Electric cars are becoming increasingly popular, but how do they fare in terms of insurance groups?

While electric cars are generally placed in higher insurance groups due to their expensive repair costs, they can still be found across the entire 1-50 group range.

Remember that rare or high-value electric vehicles may attract higher insurance premiums due to their typical placement in higher insurance groups. However, as the market for electric cars continues to grow and evolve, we may see more affordable insurance options for these vehicles in the future.

Additional Factors Affecting Car Insurance Costs

Aside from the factors discussed above, other elements can influence car insurance costs, such as:

• Age
• Gender
• Address
• Occupation
• Driving history
• Credit score

For example, certain professions may be associated with a higher risk of car insurance costs due to the time spent driving and the hours of operation.

These supplementary factors can influence insurance premiums and the total cost of car insurance, warranting consideration during policy selection.

The three common types of road insurance car:

• Third-party
• Third-party fire & theft
• Fully comprehensive insurance

Additional types of cover include:

• Temporary car insurance
• Young or new driver insurance

Tips for Reducing Car Insurance Premiums

If you’re looking to reduce your car insurance premiums, there are several strategies you can employ. First, consider choosing a car in a lower insurance group, which can result in more affordable insurance rates.

You can also increase your excess (the amount you agree to pay towards a claim before your insurance kicks in) to lower your premium.

A clean driving record is vital to controlling insurance costs, especially for younger drivers. Responsible driving and adherence to traffic rules help lessen your accident risk, subsequently lowering your insurance premiums.

Insurance Groups for Vans and Motorbikes

Cars, vans and motorbikes also fall into insurance groups, determined based on similar factors like size, value, and repair costs.

Vans manufactured before 2016 are assigned insurance groups ranging from 1 to 20, with group 20 being the highest.

Motorbike insurance groups can be found in the guide provided by Devitt Insurance. Just like with cars, knowing the insurance group of your van or motorbike can help you find the right insurance policy and save on premiums.

Summary

We’ve explored the world of car insurance groups and how they influence the cost of your insurance.

By understanding the factors that determine these groups, such as repair expenses, performance metrics, and safety and security features, you can make more informed decisions when shopping for car insurance or purchasing a new vehicle.

Remember that in addition to insurance group ratings, other factors like age, gender, address, occupation, driving history, and credit score can also affect your insurance premiums.

Remember these and employ strategies like choosing a car in a lower insurance group, increasing your excess, and maintaining a clean driving record to save on car insurance costs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is insurance group 14 high or low?

Group 14 car insurance is low on the spectrum and generally associated with cars with good safety features, less powerful engines, and relatively inexpensive to repair. This results in cheaper motor insurance premiums for these vehicles.

Is insurance group 11 high or low?

Insurance Group 11 is relatively low, with Group 1 being the lowest and Group 50 being the highest. Factors such as vehicle price, performance, safety, security, and repair times all determine the insurance group of a particular car.

Is insurance group 16 high?

Cars in group 16 offer good value for money and are on the lower end of the spectrum regarding car insurance groups, making them a cost-effective option for younger drivers seeking to reduce their premiums.

What is the difference between A and E insurance groups?

The difference between A and E insurance groups is that A indicates the car meets the set standards for its group, while E indicates the vehicle exceeds the fixed requirements and is placed in a lower group.

What is the insurance group of a car?

Insurance groups determine the annual cost of insuring a vehicle, with group 1 being the lowest and 50 the highest.