Which insurance group costs the least to insure?

Group 1. Groups run from 1, the least expensive to insure, to 50, the most expensive.

Does the insurance group decide my premium?

Only in part. Your age, address, driving record, mileage and level of cover also count. Use the group to compare cars, then get quotes. Our car insurance page has more.

Does a write-off change the insurance group?

The group is set for the model and version, not for an individual car. But insurers take a write-off into account, so always declare it.

Can modifications affect my insurance?

Yes. Insurers need to know about modifications, including engine remaps. Not declaring them could invalidate your cover.

Where does the insurance group come from?

It is part of the specification our licensed data supplier holds for the vehicle, shown in the full history check.

Insurance Group Check by Registration

Insurance group check

Every car sits in one of 50 insurance groups, and the group has a big effect on what you pay. The full history check shows the car's insurance group, where available, alongside finance, write-off and stolen checks. It costs from £4.49.

Part of the full history check, £4.49, or £3.00 a check in a pack of 10.

What insurance groups are

Cars are put into groups from 1 to 50. Group 1 cars cost the least to insure and group 50 the most. The group reflects things like the car's value, its performance, how much parts and repairs cost and how well it resists theft.

The group is not a price. Your premium depends on you as much as the car: your age, address, driving history and the cover you choose. Insurers use the group as a starting point and then look at you, but it gives you a fair comparison between two cars before you ask for quotes.

Why check before you buy

It is easy to fall for a car, buy it and then find the insurance costs more than you budgeted for. That is especially true for younger drivers, where a few groups can make a big difference. Check the group while you are still comparing cars, and ask for quotes on two or three cars from your shortlist before you choose.

Two versions of the same model can sit in very different groups, usually because of power. The BHP and performance check shows the figures behind it.

The group can also change your mind about a model. A sensible-looking hatchback in a high group can cost more to insure than a larger car in a lower one, because repair costs and parts prices matter as much as speed.

What else insurers will ask

Your insurer will want to know about any write-off, modifications such as a remap, and where the car is kept. The write-off check tells you about any recorded write-off, which you should declare even if the car has been repaired. A Category S or N car may be harder or more expensive to insure, so get a quote before you commit.

Where you keep the car overnight, how many miles you drive a year and whether it has an approved alarm or immobiliser can also matter to insurers. Have those answers ready. For the rest of the running costs, the running costs check covers fuel and tax for a year, so you can put insurance alongside it.

Part of the full history check

The insurance group is part of the full history check: £4.49 for one, or £3.00 a check in a pack of 10. It also includes finance, stolen, keeper and plate checks, a valuation and the full specification. The free check covers MOT, tax and mileage.

Have the report to hand when you ask for insurance quotes. The group, the exact version and any write-off history are all things an insurer may ask about. Your answers need to be accurate, so use the report rather than the advert.