Car insurance group 26

What is insurance group 26?

There are 50 car insurance groups that were created by Thatcham Research to help car insurance companies deliver an accurate premium to customers.

Insurance group 26 cars are priced just above average. That means they typically rank just above average for the factors used to rank these groups, including market value, repair costs, safety features, etc.

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

In this guide, we will explore these factors in greater depth.

Car makes and models in insurance group 26

Here are some of the more popular cars in insurance group 26 that you can expect to pay just above average prices for when it comes to your car insurance premiums.

Cars in insurance group 26 and the average cost by driver’s age

Using the table below, you can find the make and model of your car, then work out how much you’re likely to pay for your car insurance 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 26 categories

• 26E: Surpasses the security requirements for this type of car, leading to a lower insurance group rating.
• 26A: Meets the standard security requirements for this type of car.
• 26D: Falls short of security requirements for this type of car, resulting in a higher insurance group rating.
• 26U: Security standard is unacceptable. The insurer might require upgraded aftermarket security before providing coverage.
• 26P: Provisional status. Insufficient data is available at launch for classification. This will likely be updated once Thatcham can evaluate the new car.
• 26G: Grey import. Thatcham tests only officially sold UK cars, so imports are evaluated based on the insurer’s pricing.

Average insurance group 26e cost

To provide you with an idea of how much it may cost you to insure your insurance group 26 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 £57.90, or an annual sum of £579.

• 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 26 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 do cars in group 26 cost more to insure?

Cars in insurance group 26 cost slightly above average because they rank as slightly above average for the following features:

• Security features
• Cost of parts
• Cost of repairs
• Repair time
• Market value
• Engine size

What other factors affect your car insurance premium?

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

• Engine type and capacity. The larger your engine, the more you’re likely to pay for insurance. With a smaller engine, you’re likely to be seen as less 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 based on your location and will adjust your premium accordingly. As an example, a 30-year-old in central London will pay £1,208 for insurance for a Abarth 500 1.4 16V T-Jet (09) 3d, while the same 30-year-old in Newcastle may only pay £579.
• Driver age. Like location, the age of the driver plays a huge role in determining the cost of your insurance premium. The average 20-year-old driver in London could pay £4,870 for the DS 3 1.6 THP DStyle 3d, while the average 40-year-old Londoner will only pay £1,040.

There are a handful of other factors that can also impact the price of your premiums.

These include the following:

• Your marital status
• Your credit history and job
• Your car’s safety rating, security 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?

As well as choosing a car in a lower insurance group, there are a few other things you can do to lower the cost of your car insurance.

We’ve listed them below:

• Drive safely. Having convictions on your record will make your premium more expensive.
• Don’t use your car all of the time. A lower annual mileage can convince insurers to lower your premium.
• Pay annually. When you pay annually, you won’t be charged interest on your monthly instalments.
• Install extra safety precautions. The safer you make your car, the less of a risk you are to insure, the lower your premium will be.
• Shop around. Your renewal offer is rarely the best deal you can snap up. You’ll be surprised at how much you could save by shopping around and assessing your options.

Frequently asked questions

• What is the lowest insurance group?

  Car insurance groups range from 1-50 with 1 being the cheapest and 50 being 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?

  In theory, the lower your car insurance group number, the less you will pay for your car insurance. However, there are other personal factors involved, such as your age, your address and your driving history.

• Which age group are cars in insurance group 26 good for?

  Younger drivers typically face high insurance premiums and would usually be better off opting for a car in a lower insurance group. Older, more experienced drivers might be in a better position to afford cars in insurance group 26.

• 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.

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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