WHAT INSURANCE GROUP IS MY CAR IN?

The car you have affects the cost of your car insurance. So, if you’re looking for a new car, knowing what insurance group it’s in can give you a good idea of how high you can expect premiums to be. But what is an insurance group, how does it all work, and what cars can help you keep the cost of car cover down?

What is a car insurance group?

All cars made for the UK market belong to one of 50 insurance groups, the higher the group number, the more you can expect to pay for insurance. Groups are determined by:

• Car value
• Cost of parts and repairs
• Performance
• Safety and security

Essentially, the more expensive and powerful a car is, the higher the insurance group. Cars with expensive parts and repair costs can also find themselves at the higher end of the scale.

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The good news is that these types of cars can improve (lower) their insurance group rating by having effective safety and security features. These can include autonomous braking systems, factory fitted alarm systems and electronic immobilisers.

Which cars are the cheapest to insure?

Cars in low insurance groups are the cheapest to insure so it’s no surprise that these cars are some of the most familiar on our roads.

Here are some examples of some the most popular, low insurance group cars in the UK:

How much can I save on car insurance?

While the type of car you have is important, it’s not the only factor that affects the cost of car insurance. In fact, insurers will take into account a whole host of factors, including:

• Your age — young drivers pay significantly more for car insurance compared to other age groups because under 25s are statistically more likely to be involved in a car accident.
• Your address — if you live somewhere with a higher than average crime rate, you can expect to pay more for insurance.
• Security — you can keep car insurance premiums low by making sure your car is as secure as it can be, for example, keeping it in a locked garage or on a private driveway.
• Your driving record — you can expect to pay more for car insurance if you have penalty points.
• Any recent claims — if you’ve made a recent claim, insurers consider it more likely you’ll claim again which will increase your premium.
• The number of miles you drive — the more miles you cover, the greater the risk of being involved in an accident, which leads to higher insurance costs.

How can I get cheap car insurance?

Choosing a car in a low insurance group is just one way to help lower premiums. Other methods of lowering your car insurance, include:

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• Paying for premiums annually — paying in monthly instalments means you’ll be charged interest.
• Choosing a telematics policy — telematics car insurance calculates your premium according to the way you drive; if you drive consistently well, you could be rewarded with lower premiums.
• Increasing your voluntary excess — but ensure it’s still affordable as you must pay it before a claim can go ahead.
• Building up your no claims bonus — this takes time but can lead to considerable savings and five years of no claims could result in as much as 60% off your premium.
• Consider short-term temporary insurance if you only need car coverage for a few days or weeks, as it can be a more cost-effective solution than an annual policy, and if you have low annual mileage, pay-as-you-go insurance policies may also be worth considering, but be sure to check the limitations and exclusions before purchasing.

Compare car insurance quotes for the cheapest cover

Shopping around for car insurance really can help you save money on premiums.

Comparing policies means you can see exactly what’s being offered so you can be confident about getting value for money.

At comparison site mustard.co.uk, you can save time and money. Not only can you compare quotes from dozens of leading providers, their Cheapest Price Guarantee, is a promise to beat any other online quote.