When it comes to owning a car, it’s not just the purchase price you need to worry about. The ongoing costs, such as car insurance, need careful consideration too. Car insurance premiums have gone through the roof this year. The Association of British Insurers (ABI) says that the average annual policy is now £484, an increase of11% in just 12 months. For frugal motorists, one way to help cut costs is to look carefully the insurance group of your vehicle. Every car model is allocated a group rating from 1-50. Generally speaking, the lower the insurance group the lower your insurance costs will be.

How are car insurance groups decided?

The Group Rating Panel decides and sets the insurance group rating for each make and model of car. Cars in the highest groups tend to be high-performance models or ones that can be costly to repair or replace. They are in the highest insurance groups because claims against them cost insurance companies the most. Alongside Lamborghinis and Ferraris in the top group, you’ll also find many other high spec models from manufacturers including BMW, Jaguar, and Lexus.

How do I find out what insurance group my car is in?

If you have your car’s registration number, you can go online here to find out the insurance group it is in. If you don’t have a registration number but do know the model, you can look through the lists at Parkers.co.uk.

What cars are in Group 1?

Popular cars including the VW Fox, VW Up!, Vauxhall Corsa, and Citroen C1 all have models that are in the Group 1 insurance category. But remember that the Group 1 rating is only for models with the least powerful engines. As an example, whilst the Vauxhall Corsa 1.0i 12V ecoFLEX Expression 3d is Group 1 rated its beefier 1.6T 16V Sri model is in Group 26.

What about any modifications to your vehicle?

If your car has any modifications it is no longer the standard model. This may affect the cost of your insurance. Modifications could be cosmetic, such as a re-spray or wrap. They could be to improve the accessibility of your vehicle, such as to make it suitable for a disabled driver. Or they could be to improve the power and performance of your vehicle. In all cases, you need to notify your insurance company of anything that is not a factory standard fitting for your car or you risk invalidating your cover.

Do all insurance companies use this rating system?

Not all insurance companies use this group rating system. However, if your car insurance company makes their own assessment it is likely to be very similar. Insurers may also look at accident statistics to determine the risk of insuring your vehicle.

Does a low insurance group automatically mean low prices?

Your car’s insurance group is just one of the factors considered by your insurance company when calculating your premium. Other things, including your age, where you live, and the number of claim-free driving years will also influence the cost of your premium.

Our top 3 tips to get the cheapest car insurance

Whatever insurance group your car falls into, there are several steps you can take to help keep insurance costs down.

• The first thing you should always do is make the time to shop around to compare prices. Online comparison sites can be a good place to start but remember they don’t always show all the options available to you. You’ll also need to read the small print very carefully to make sure the policy you’re buying covers everything you need or you could be in for a shock when you make a claim.
• Look for insurance cover that can be tailored to your specific needs. If you only drive a limited number of miles every year make sure you specify that as it could reduce your premiums.
• Make your money go further buy purchasing your breakdown cover at the same time as your insurance. In many cases, you can save money by buying both together.

Let Easy2Insure shop around to find you the best value deal

If you don’t have the time to get lots of different quotes, ask a broker like Easy2Insure to do the calling round for you. Part of the respected Park insurance Group, we’ve been helping motorists to find the best value car insurance for over 30 years. We’ll make sure you get the cover you need with no nasty surprises lurking in the small print. For a free quote, call our friendly team on 0800 9179522 or get in touch.