Drivers with cars in the highest insurance groups are paying 38% (£248.79) more than those with cars in the lowest insurance groups, new research by MoneySuperMarket reveals.
Every car belongs to one of 50 car insurance groups, with higher groups usually paying higher premiums. Makes and models in the higher insurance group tend to be newer, more expensive and more powerful.
Research by leading price comparison site, MoneySuperMarket, shows that cars in the highest bracket (41-50) cost drivers £906.08 annually to insure on average. In comparison, cars in the lowest band groups (1-10) cost £657.29 on average.
Looking across the UK, drivers in the City of London, London’s West End and West Central London have the largest proportion of enquiries for car in the highest groups. The most popular cars in these groups include the Land Rover Range, BMW X5, Tesla Model-3, Jaguar XF and BMW 530.
Areas with the highest proportion of enquiries in groups 41-50
| Area | Percentage of enquires from this area in groups 41-50 |
| EC – City of London | 10% |
| W – West End | 9% |
| WC – West Central London | 8% |
| IG – Ilford and Barking | 8% |
| HP – Hemel Hempstead | 8% |
| SW – South West London | 7% |
| SL – Slough | 7% |
| KT – Kingston-upon-Thames | 7% |
| BR – Bromley | 7% |
| RM – Romford | 7% |
At the opposite end of the scale, residents in Dumfries and Galloway, Llandrindod Wells and Swansea have the largest proportion of enquiries in groups 1-10.
The most popular cars in this bracket include the Vauxhall Corsa, Ford Fiesta, Volkswagen Polo, Toyota Yaris and Renault Clio. Vehicles that fall within groups 1-10 are valued at £1,595 on average – £17,850 less than the average value of vehicles in groups 41-50 (£19,445).
Areas with the highest proportion of enquiries in groups 1-10
| Area | Percentage of enquires from this area in groups 1-10 |
| DG – Dumfries and Galloway | 33% |
| LD – Llandrindod Wells | 32% |
| SA – Swansea | 31% |
| L – Liverpool | 31% |
| DD – Dundee | 31% |
| LL – Llandudno | 31% |
| BH – Bournemouth | 31% |
| EX – Exeter | 30% |
| KY – Kirkcaldy | 30% |
| LA – Lancaster | 30% |
The data shows 6.2% of all enquiries made by men were for cars in the highest insurance groups compared to only 2.3% of female enquirers. Comparatively, over a third (37.5%) of enquiries for women were for cars in the lowest insurance groups (1-10) compared to just a quarter (24.2%) for men.
Kate Devine, car insurance expert at MoneySuperMarket, commented: “It’s interesting to see the divide across the UK when enquiring about cars in different insurance groups. People in the City of London, London’s West End and West Central London are the most likely to enquire about cars in the highest groups. Our research has shown that people in certain areas of Scotland and Wales are the most likely to enquire about cars in the lowest insurance groups.
“Car insurance premiums are typically incrementally more expensive depending on the group the vehicle falls into. In order to save money on car insurance premiums, it’s key to understand how car insurance groups work, how cars are ranked and therefore how much your car of choice is going to cost to insure.”
“However, multiple other factors are taken into consideration by insurers when allocating costs for insurance, not just the insurance group. Age, driving history, occupation and the use of the car all contribute to the cost of insurance.”
Use MoneySuperMarket’s new group checker to find out the insurance group for your current car using your registration, or by entering a make and model if you are considering which car to buy.
