Car Insurance Group Checker: Free Tools & UK Guide

The same driver can pay hundreds of pounds more for identical coverage just by choosing a different car. That price gap comes down to a single number: your insurance group. Every UK vehicle carries a rating from 1 to 50, and knowing yours before you buy means no nasty surprises at renewal.

Total UK Insurance Groups: 50 (groups 1-50) · Lowest Group: Group 1 (cheapest to insure) · Highest Group: Group 50 (most expensive to insure) · Key Factor in Premiums: Repair costs, performance, safety

Groups 1-50 define how insurers assess risk and price coverage for each vehicle on UK roads.

What cars are in insurance group 1, 2, 3, 4?

Groups 1 through 4 sit at the cheapest end of the scale — these are the cars insurers consider lowest risk to repair, replace, or write off. If you’re a new driver or looking to keep premiums lean, these groups are where you’ll find the friendliest pricing.

Examples of group 1 cars

The Fiat 500 consistently lands in group 1 or 2, thanks to its modest repair costs and low engine output. The Hyundai i10 also frequently appears in groups 1-3, making it a staple choice for budget-conscious buyers. Vehicles in these groups tend to be small city cars with straightforward mechanics and readily available parts.

• Fiat 500 — Group 1-2
• Hyundai i10 — Group 1-3
• Citroen C1 — Group 3
• Kia Picanto — Group 1-2

Group 2 and 3 models

Moving up slightly, group 2 and 3 covers a broader mix of affordable runabouts. The Skoda Citigo, Volkswagen Up, and SEAT Mii all share similar underpinnings and typically sit in these bands. Insurance is still very affordable, though not quite as rock-bottom as the pure group 1s.

Group 4 vehicles

Group 4 includes slightly larger superminis and some early-generation small SUVs. The Dacia Sandero Stepway and early Ford Fiesta models land here — still excellent value to insure, but with enough size or standard equipment to tick up the rating one notch.

What cars are insurance group 1 to 10?

Groups 1-10 cover everything from the lightest city cars to well-equipped superminis. This is the sweet spot for most first-time buyers and experienced drivers alike — affordable to insure, practical to run, and widely available on the used market. The MoneySuperMarket group checker notes that group 1 cars are typically cheapest to insure, while group 10 sits at the upper edge of the low-risk band.

Cheapest to insure 2025 UK cars

• Volkswagen Polo 1.0 — Group 5
• Ford Fiesta 1.25 — Group 6
• Renault Clio 1.0 TCe — Group 7
• Peugeot 208 1.2 PureTech — Group 8
• Toyota Yaris 1.5 Hybrid — Group 9

Superminis in groups 5-10

This band is packed with the UK’s best-selling cars. The Ford Fiesta, VW Polo, and Renault Clio dominate here — popular choices that insurers have deep data on, which generally means more stable, competitive premiums. Security features and crash-test ratings keep many of these in the single digits despite their equipment levels.

Is insurance group 14 high or low?

Group 14 sits comfortably in the middle of the scale — not cheap, not expensive. It falls within the groups 11-25 band that WeCovr describes as medium risk, typically covering family hatchbacks and compact crossovers with more powerful engines or higher repair costs than the superminis below them.

Group 14 premium impact

For a 30-year-old with 5 years’ no-claims bonus, group 14 typically adds £100-200 annually compared to a group 7 equivalent. For a 20-year-old new driver, the gap widens considerably — that’s where group 14 starts looking expensive in absolute terms. The MoneySuperMarket group guide explains that groups are scored on price when new, repair costs, safety, and security — so a well-equipped family hatchback will naturally sit higher than a stripped-out city car.

Cars in group 14

• Volkswagen Golf 1.4 TSI — Group 14
• Ford Focus 1.6 TDCI — Group 13-15
• BMW 1 Series 118i — Group 15
• Mini Cooper — Group 14

Is insurance group 7 cheap?

Yes — group 7 sits near the bottom of the low-to-mid range. It’s genuinely affordable for most drivers and an excellent choice for young or new drivers looking to keep costs reasonable. MoneySuperMarket’s group guidance places it firmly in the lower-risk band alongside groups 5-9, where premiums stay comparatively modest.

Group 7 affordability

Group 7 cars benefit from a combination of moderate purchase price, reasonable repair costs, and solid safety ratings. Many popular superminis land here — the Renault Clio, Nissan Micra, and Fiat Punto have all spent time in this band on various trim levels.

Examples and costs

• Renault Clio 1.2 — Group 7
• Nissan Micra 1.2 — Group 7
• Ford Fiesta 1.4 TDCI — Group 7
• Vauxhall Corsa 1.2 — Group 7-8

What is a good insurance group?

The answer depends on your situation, but groups 1-20 generally represent good value for most drivers. The WeCovr analysis breaks this down clearly: groups 1-10 are lower risk (city cars), groups 11-25 are medium risk (family cars), and groups 26-50 are higher risk (performance and luxury models). With 50 groups total in the UK system, anything below 20 puts you in the lower half.

Ideal groups for low premiums

• Groups 1-10: Best for new drivers, young drivers, or anyone on a tight budget
• Groups 11-20: Reasonable for experienced drivers; moderate premiums
• Groups 21-30: Worth considering if you have a clean record and aren’t price-sensitive
• Groups 31-50: Expect significant premium uplift; typically performance/luxury vehicles

How many insurance groups are there?

There are exactly 50 insurance groups in the UK system, ranging from Group 1 (cheapest to insure) to Group 50 (most expensive). The CarVeto guide notes that every UK-registered vehicle is assigned one of these groups, reflecting its value, repair complexity, engine output, and safety systems.

How to check your car insurance group

The most convenient way to find your car’s group is through a free online checker that uses your vehicle registration number. Most tools pull data directly from the ABI database via Thatcham Research, so results are consistent across providers. Here’s how to do it:

1. Choose a checker — MoneySuperMarket, Confused.com, WeCovr, Howden Insurance, and Cuvva all offer free checks. Each uses the same underlying data, though some display additional context (like similar cars in the same group).
2. Enter your registration — Type in your VRN exactly as shown on your log book (V5C). No other details needed at this stage.
3. Read your group — The tool will return a number between 1 and 50. Some checkers also show the group bands and explain what the rating means for pricing.
4. Use it in comparisons — Knowing your group helps you understand why quotes vary between insurers. Some price group 14 very competitively; others charge a premium for the same band.

Note that for brand new model ranges launched after 1 August 2024, the traditional group system is being phased out in favour of Vehicle Risk Rating (VRR). The MoneySuperMarket checker already flags this transition — new models may show VRR instead of a group number until the phase-in is complete.

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