Car insurance group 33

What is insurance group 33?

There are 50 car insurance groups in the UK, created by the Group Rating Panel and administered by Thatcham Research, to help insurers work out an appropriate cost for your car insurance premium.

All vehicles are assigned an insurance group from 1 (cheapest) to 50 (most expensive).

Vehicles in group 33 are among the more expensive vehicles to insure. The cars in this group usually score above average for various factors used to determine the group ratings, such as market value, repair cost and engine size. Car safety and security features are also considered.

In this guide, we will explore these factors used to place cars in insurance group 33, plus those that determine the cost of your car insurance.

Car makes and models in insurance group 33

There’s a number of well-known vehicles in insurance group 33 that are likely to fall on the more expensive side when it comes to your car insurance premium.

Cars in insurance group 33 and the average cost by driver’s age

The table below will help you work out how much you’re likely to pay for your car insurance, based on the make and model of your car and 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 33 categories

• 33E: Surpasses the security requirements for this type of car, leading to a lower insurance group rating.
• 33A: Meets the standard security requirements for this type of car.
• 33D: Falls short of security requirements for this type of car, resulting in a higher insurance group rating.
• 33U: Security standard is unacceptable. The insurer might require upgraded aftermarket security before providing coverage.
• 33P: Provisional status. Insufficient data is available at launch for classification. This will likely be updated once Thatcham can evaluate the new car.
• 33G: Grey import. Thatcham tests only officially sold UK cars, so imports are evaluated based on the insurer’s pricing.

Average insurance group 33e cost

To provide you with an idea of how much it may cost you to insure your insurance group 33 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 £76.10, or an annual sum of £761.

• 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 33 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 33 more expensive to insure?

Cars in insurance group 33 usually possess the following characteristics:

• Expensive to source parts and make repairs
• Market value is on the higher side
• Larger engine size
• Longer repair times

In some cases, they will also be found lacking when it comes to security and safety features.

What other factors affect your car insurance premium?

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

• Engine type and capacity. The larger your engine, the more you’re likely to pay for insurance. This is due to repair costs and potentially the likelihood of your vehicle being involved in an accident.
• Driver location. Your location will be considered when calculatng the likelihood of you making a claim. If you live in an area where a lot of claims are made, your premium will be higher. As an example, a 30-year-old in central London will pay £1,391 for insurance for a Volvo S60 D5 (215bhp) SE Lux (Start Stop) 4d, while the same 30-year-old in Newcastle may only pay £761.
• Driver age. Like location, the age of the driver plays a huge role in determining the cost of your insurance premium. Insurers will use previous claims data to determine the likelihood of someone your age making a claim. This works against younger drivers in particular. The average 20-year-old driver in London could pay £27,686 for the Audi TT 1.8T FSI S Line 2d, while the average 40-year-old Londoner will only pay £1,682.

However, there are a lot of other factors that can also impact the price of your premium. These include the following:

• Your marital status
• Your credit history
• Your occupation
• Your car’s safety rating
• Your car’s security features
• The likelihood of your model being stolen
• The model and age of your car
• Your driving activity
• Your driving history
• Your no-claim discount

How can I save on my car insurance premium?

Choosing a car in a lower insurance group is a great way to reduce the price of your car insurance.

Here are some more things you can do to lower the cost of your premium.

• Avoid convictions. Having driving convictions on your record will make your premium more expensive. Criminal convictions could also have an impact.
• Reduce your annual mileage. Drivers with a lower annual mileage are considered lower risks by insurers. So, consider if there are journeys you could complete by public transport or by walking.
• Pay annually. By paying annually, you avoid having to pay interest on your 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, make sure you compare your options – you’ll be surprised at how much you could save by switching providers.

Frequently asked questions

• What is the lowest insurance group?

  Car insurance group 1 is the lowest. It has the cheapest vehicles 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?

  Yes, in theory. However, insurers will also consider your personal circumstances when making a quote.

• Are cars in insurance group 33 good for younger drivers?

  Younger drivers tend to face extortionate car insurance premiums, and many will be looking to take whatever steps they can to lower their costs. Many will find that cars in lower insurance groups are more suited to their budget.

• 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).

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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