Car insurance group checker
This tool converts an insurance group into an indicative annual premium band, using the 1 to 50 scale set by Thatcham Research and checked by the Association of British Insurers. A group 15 car sits in the low to medium tier, with a typical band of £450 to £850 a year before individual driver details are applied.
What are car insurance groups?
Thatcham Research assesses every new car and places it in one of 50 groups, with the rating panel run under 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.
| Group range | Tier | Indicative annual premium |
|---|---|---|
| Groups 1 to 10 | Lowest | £300 to £600 |
| Groups 11 to 20 | Low to medium | £450 to £850 |
| Groups 21 to 30 | Medium | £650 to £1,200 |
| Groups 31 to 40 | High | £1,000 to £2,000 |
| Groups 41 to 50 | Highest | £1,600 to £4,000 |
The group is only a starting point for a premium.
Insurers layer individual risk on top of it: age and experience, where the car is kept, claims and convictions history, annual mileage, the excess accepted and the level of cover.
That is why two people can pay very different prices for the same group, and a low group does not by itself guarantee a cheap premium.
How much might a car in this group cost to insure?
A car in group 15 sits in the low to medium tier, with an indicative band of £450 to £850 a year before individual details are applied.
A version of the same model with a larger, more powerful engine is typically placed in a higher group, which moves the band upward.
The figure entered above changes the tier and the band shown, but it does not change the actual premium an insurer would quote for a specific driver.
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.
How much might a car in this group cost to insure?
A car in group 15 sits in the low to medium tier, with an indicative annual band of £450 to £850 before individual factors are applied. That band comes only from the group. Age, address, claims history, mileage, excess and cover level are then layered on top by the insurer, and any of these can move the final premium well outside the band shown.
Sources & Rate Verification
Rates verified against official statutory guidance on 6 September 2026.