Car insurance group 31

With insurance groups ranging from 1-50, vehicles in group 31 tend to cost a bit more than average to insure.

The cars in this group score OK in factors used to determine the group ratings, such as having good car safety and security features and low repair costs.

We’ll be exploring these factors in greater detail throughout this guide. We’ll also look at the personal factors that insurers take into account when calculating your premium, including your age, location and driving history.

Car makes and models in insurance group 31

Here is a list of the more popular cars in insurance group 31. As mentioned, they are likely to cost a bit more than average to insure.

Cars in insurance group 31 and the average cost by driver’s age

The table below will help you to work out how much it’ll cost to insure your car based on your age.

• How we got these rates

  These rates are based on the average cost of cover for cars in the insurance groups shown for drivers of different ages with a Newcastle (NE1) postcode, which our research suggests represents an average for insurance rates in the UK. Updated: March 2021 (source: Quotezone).

Why are cars in group 31 more expensive?

Cars in insurance group 31 usually score a tiny bit below average for the following factors. That’s why they cost slightly higher than average to insure.

• Low market value
• Low repair costs
• Small engine
• Good security features
• Good safety features

What other factors affect your car insurance premium?

Along with your car’s insurance group, these three factors have a significant impact on the cost of your insurance:

• Engine type and capacity. Larger engines cost more to repair or replace. As such, the bigger your engine, the more you’re likely to pay for insurance.
• Driver location. Insurers factor in the likelihood that your car will be stolen or involved in an accident based on your location. If you live in an area where a lot of claims are made, you’ll pay more. As an example, a 30-year-old in central London will pay £1,050 for insurance for a Audi A3 2.0 TFSI 190PS 3d, while the same 30-year-old in Newcastle may only pay £903.
• Driver age. Your age plays a big role in determining the cost of your insurance premium. This is because insurers will calculate the likelihood of someone your age making a claim, based on previous claims data. Younger drivers face higher premium costs for this reason. The average 20-year-old driver in London could pay £1,826 for the BMW X1 xDrive25d SE auto 5d, while the average 40-year-old Londoner will only pay £956.

Here are some other factors that can also impact the price of your premiums.

• Your marital status
• Your credit history and job
• Your car’s safety rating,
• Your car’s security and anti-theft precautions
• The model and age of your car
• The likelihood of your car model being targeted by thieves
• Your driving history, including your no-claims discount.

How can I save on my car insurance premiums?

Choosing a car in a low car insurance group will help to reduce the price of your premium.

However, there are plenty of things you can do to reduce the cost of insuring a car in insurance group 31.

Here are some ideas:

• Drive safely. It may sound obvious, but insurers offer lower premiums to safe drivers. Having convictions on your record will make your premium more expensive.
• Don’t use your car as much. You could save money on your insurance by reducing your annual mileage. So, think about which journeys you could make by walking or by taking public transport.
• Pay annually. By paying annually, you’ll avoid interest charges on monthly instalments.
• Install extra safety precautions. The safer you make your car, the cheaper your premium will be.
• Shop around for the best deal. The best car insurance deals tend to be offered to new customers, so don’t blindly accept your existing insurer’s renewal quote. Use price comparison sites to find out if another insurer will offer you a lower price.

Frequently asked questions

• What is the lowest insurance group?

  Car insurance group 1 is the lowest and has the cheapest cars to insure.

• What does Thatcham Research analyse?

  Thatcham Research analyses a number of criteria to calculate a car’s group rating. One of its key tests is a 15km/h crash impact assessment, based on an internationally recognised insurance standard. Following the crash, Thatcham’s engineers work out the cost of the time and parts to return the car to its pre-accident condition. The group rating also takes into account new car values, car performance (including top speed and acceleration time), parts pricing, safety and security features, and the alignment and structure of a car’s bumpers.

• Does a lower insurance group mean cheaper car insurance?

  In theory, yes. However, an insurer will also consider your personal circumstances when calculating your premium.

• Are cars in insurance group 31 good for younger drivers?

  Younger drivers face the highest car insurance premiums, so they may prefer to drive a car in a lower car insurance group. This will help to make their car insurance more affordable. They could always upgrade to a vehicle in insurance group 31 when they are older and more experienced drivers.

• What do the letters mean in insurance groups?

  The letters refer to the security features on the vehicle that are fitted as standard.

• How many car insurance groups are there in the UK?

  In the UK, there are 50 car insurance groups with 1 being the lowest (cheapest) and 50 being the highest (most expensive).

• Who decides on the car insurance groups?

  In the UK, The Group Rating Panel, administered by Thatcham Research, assigns new car models to an insurance group from 1 to 50.