This article originally appeared on Evans Halshaw.
Understanding Insurance Groups
At some point or another, you may have come across the term 'insurance group' when searching for a new car or looking for a more competitive insurance quote.
Having an understanding of how car insurance groups work could help you save a considerable amount in the long run because some cars are cheaper to insure than others.
In addition to explaining how the grouping process works, we have also highlighted other factors that will affect your annual premium, as well as any tips for lowering the cost.
What are car insurance groups?
Every new vehicle is placed within an insurance group that ranges from 1 to 50 (group 1 is the lowest and 50 is the highest). Vehicles that are placed in lower groups are cheaper to insure on an annual basis, while those placed in the higher groups will cost more.
Essentially, if you plan on buying a car that is rare, fast or expensive (maybe all three) then you can usually expect to pay a higher premium because it is likely that car will be placed in a higher insurance group.
The group rating system has been put in place to help insurers calculate a premium for its customers. Although other factors affect the amount you pay (see below), the groups give insurers an established foundation to work from.
How are insurance groups decided?
A vehicle's insurance group is decided by the ABI Group Rating Panel, which is made up of members from the Association of British Insurers and the Lloyds Market Association. The panel uses data from Thatcham research and assigns new car models to an insurance group based on the following factors:
- The vehicle's value: Usually, the cost of a car correlates with the amount it would cost to repair that car.
- Cost of parts: Cars with high parts prices are typically dearer to repair and therefore get placed in a higher insurance group.
- Repair times: The panel compares a list of 23 common repair items with similar manufacturers. The longer the repair time on average, the higher the group.
- Performance: The faster you can go the more likely you are to get involved in an accident, which is why performance figures are taken into account.
- Safety equipment and features: Vehicles fitted with the latest safety technologies (e.g. autonomous emergency braking) are less likely to be involved in a collision.
- Car security: The harder it is for the car to be stolen or broken into, the lower the insurance group will be.
What are the cheapest cars to insure?
There is no textbook answer for this one because there are a variety of cars that occupy the lowest insurance groups and you can even find some luxury cars with low insurance premiums. Typically, vehicles that were relatively inexpensive new and do not have much in the way of performance are the least expensive to insure. We have highlighted some of our most popular models that occupy some of the lower insurance groups below:
Other factors that affect premiums
It is worth remembering that just because a car occupies a higher insurance group that it does not automatically mean that your annual premiums are going to be high. There are a number of other factors insurance providers take into account when providing a quote:
- Age: We have all seen stories in the news of young drivers who have been quoted extortionate prices. The reason for this is because younger drivers have no experience and are statistically more likely to get involved in an accident.
- Location: Some locations in the country have more reports of theft and vandalism compared to others, which typically results in higher premiums for motorists living in those areas.
- Driving History: Insurance companies take into account any accidents or incidents you have been involved in within the recent past. If you have previous claims or a driving conviction, then that will reflect in your premium.
- Occupation: Some occupations and industries are higher risk than others, which can translate into a higher premium.
Tips for reducing your car insurance premium
As with any insurance quote, there will always be factors you cannot influence. For example, you are not going to move house or change career just to save £100 annually; that would be daft. However, there are some changes you can make that may help lower your premium:
- Excess: This is how much you would pay towards a claim before the insurer covers the rest. The more you are willing to pay, the lower your annual premium will be.
- Named Drivers: If you are a younger driver, then adding another driver with a wealth of experience and a clean history could lower your premium.
- No Claims Bonus: The longer you have gone without claiming on your insurance, the lower your premium will be. This is worth considering if you do some minor damage to your car, as it may work out cheaper in the long run to do the repair privately.
- Drive less: The miles you travel in the car directly correlates to the amount you pay for your insurance. If you can, lower your policy's annual mileage and look to other modes of transport.
- Pay annually: Although there is nothing wrong with paying for your premium on a monthly basis, insurance providers will typically charge interest for the privilege. We recommend paying annually if you have the means.
- Car storage: Where you keep your car has an effect on your premiums. So if you have an unused garage that can house the car, it could help you save money.
Here to Help
Hopefully we have clarified what insurance groups are and how they affect your annual premium. It is important to remember that just because the car you are considering is in a higher group that it does not mean you will have sky high premiums as a result.
There are a number of other factors to consider as we have highlighted above. However, if you need a car that is inexpensive to insure, then check out this list of luxury used cars with low insurance premiums. Alternatively, have a browse of our extensive range of used cars to find your perfect vehicle.
