Car insurance group 21

Car insurance group 21 explained

With insurance groups ranging from 1-50, vehicles in group 21 are on the cheaper side to insure.

The vehicles within this group score well in most of the factors used to determine the group ratings, including safety, security features and possessing less powerful engines.

However, there are also other personal factors that insurers take into account, such as your age, driving history and location.

Car makes and models in insurance group 21

Here are some of the more popular cars in insurance group 21 that are likely to fall on the cheaper side when it comes to your car insurance premiums.

Cars in insurance group 21 and the average cost by driver’s age

Using the table below, you can discover how much you’re likely to pay to insure your specific vehicle 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: April 2024 (source: Confused).

Insurance group 21 categories

• 21E: Surpasses the security requirements for this type of car, leading to a lower insurance group rating.
• 21A: Meets the standard security requirements for this type of car.
• 21D: Falls short of security requirements for this type of car, resulting in a higher insurance group rating.
• 21U: Security standard is unacceptable. The insurer might require upgraded aftermarket security before providing coverage.
• 21P: Provisional status. Insufficient data is available at launch for classification. This will likely be updated once Thatcham can evaluate the new car.
• 21G: Grey import. Thatcham tests only officially sold UK cars, so imports are evaluated based on the insurer’s pricing.

Average insurance group 21e cost

To provide you with an idea of how much it may cost you to insure your insurance group 21 car, we ran several quotes to find an average figure. Based on our results, on average, you could insure your car with a comprehensive policy for the monthly price of £71.15, or an annual sum of £715.

• How we calculated this price

  We generated these quotes using the following assumptions about the vehicle and the driver.

  The vehicle is/has:

  • Insurance group 21 model
  • Factory fitted alarm system
  • Not modified
  • Used for social, domestic and commuting purposes
  • 10,000 mileage per year
  • Parked in a work car park during the day
  • Parked on a driveway at night

  The driver is/has:

  • A 30-year-old, single teacher from London
  • A homeowner
  • Five years no-claims discount
  • No driving or other convictions in the last 5 years

Why are cars in group 21 one of the cheapest?

Cars in insurance group 21 score well in a number of factors that determine which group the car will fall under. These factors include the following:

• Good security and safety features
• Inexpensive parts to source
• Inexpensive repair costs
• Lower market value
• Smaller engine size
• Faster repair times

What other factors affect your car insurance premium?

Here are some other factors that have a significant impact on the cost of your insurance:

• Engine type and capacity. The bigger your engine, the more you’re likely to pay for insurance. That’s because larger engines cost more to repair or replace. With a smaller engine, you’ll be seen as less of a risk to an insurer and this is usually reflected with a lower premium.
• Driver location. Insurers factor in the likelihood that your car will be stolen or involved in an accident when calculating your insurance, and your location has a big impact on this. As an example, a 30-year-old in central London will pay £1,159 for insurance for a Fiat Punto 1.4 Multiair 16V Sporting (135bhp) 3d, while the same 30-year-old in Newcastle may only pay £715.
• Driver age. Your age will play a huge role in determining the cost of your insurance premium. As an example, the average 20-year-old driver in London could pay £4,028 for the Ford Zetec 1.5T EcoBoost 150PS S/S auto 5d, while the average 40-year-old Londoner will only pay £975.

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

• Your marital status
• Your credit history
• Your occupation
• Your car’s safety rating
• Your car’s security features and anti-theft precautions
• The model and age of your car
• Your driving activity
• Your driving history
• Your no-claims discount

How can I save on my car insurance premiums?

There are a few other things you can do to drop the cost of your car insurance:

• Drive safely. Having driving convictions on your record will make your premium more expensive.
• Don’t use your car all of the time. You could save money by reducing your annual mileage. Consider opting for public transport or walking when you can.
• Pay annually. By paying annually, you’ll usually end up with a cheaper deal since you won’t have to pay interest on monthly instalments.
• Install extra safety precautions. The safer you make your car, the cheaper your premium will be.
• Shop around. When it’s time for renewal, compare your options. You’ll be surprised at how much you could save by shopping around.

Frequently asked questions

• What is the lowest insurance group?

  Car insurance groups range from 1-50, with group 1 including the cheapest cars and group 50 including the most expensive.

• 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?

  Yes, in theory. However, other personal factors can also influence the cost of your car insurance.

• 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?

  There are 50 car insurance groups in total.

• 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.

Written by

Danny Butler

Publisher

Danny is a publisher at Finder specialising in insurance and investing. He previously worked at the global insurer Aon and has appeared in national media giving advice on insurance. Danny holds a BA in International Business from the University of Plymouth and has undying loyalty to his average-poor football team, Portsmouth FC. See full bio

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