Car insurance group 36

What is insurance group 36?

Every vehicle you see on the road has been assigned an insurance group. These are numbered from 1 (cheapest) to 50 (most expensive).

These groups help insurers work out the cost of your car insurance premium. The factors used to determine a vehicle’s insurance group include market value, vehicle performance, safety features, cost of repairs and security features.

Vehicles in group 36 are among the more expensive cars to insure. The cars that fall in this group usually have a higher market value and cost more to repair.

Car makes and models in insurance group 36

There are many popular cars in insurance group 36 that are likely to be more expensive to insure.

Cars in insurance group 36 and the average cost by driver’s age

Using the table below, you can work out how much it will cost to insure your chosen model of 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: April 2024 (source: Confused).

Insurance group 36 categories

• 36E: Surpasses the security requirements for this type of car, leading to a lower insurance group rating.
• 36A: Meets the standard security requirements for this type of car.
• 36D: Falls short of security requirements for this type of car, resulting in a higher insurance group rating.
• 36U: Security standard is unacceptable. The insurer might require upgraded aftermarket security before providing coverage.
• 36P: Provisional status. Insufficient data is available at launch for classification. This will likely be updated once Thatcham can evaluate the new car.
• 36G: Grey import. Thatcham tests only officially sold UK cars, so imports are evaluated based on the insurer’s pricing.

Average insurance group 36e cost

To provide you with an idea of how much it may cost you to insure your insurance group 36 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 £182, or an annual sum of £1,820.

• 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 36 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 36 more expensive to insure?

Cars in insurance group 36 are usually:

• Expensive to buy
• Expensive to repair, with long repair times
• Powered by large engines

In some cases, they may also be lacking when it comes to safety features, although this is less likely with more expensive models.

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 bigger your engine, the more it will cost to replace or repair. That’s one reason why more powerful cars cost more to insure.
• Driver location. If a lot of car insurance claims are made in your home town, insurers will raise your premium to compensate for that extra risk. A 30-year-old in central London will pay £12,250 for insurance for a BMW 1 Series M135i (Nav) 5d, while the same 30-year-old in Newcastle may only pay £1,820.
• Driver age. The youngest drivers are likely to pay more, because they are statistically most likely to make a claim. However, your premium will drop as you get older, especially if you begin to build a lengthy no-claim bonus. The average 20-year-old driver in London could pay £22,300 for the Ford Focus ST 2.0T ST-3 Estate 5d, while the average 40-year-old Londoner will only pay £3,329.

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 and job
• Your car’s safety rating, security and anti-theft precautions
• The model and age of your car
• Your driving history

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 premium.

Below are some more ideas for reducing the cost of your car insurance.

• Drive safely. Making a claim or having driving convictions on your record will make your premium more expensive.
• Don’t use your car all of the time. If you reduce your annual mileage, you can often reduce your premium.
• Pay annually. By paying annually, you’ll avoid paying 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, make sure you compare your options. Often, you’ll find a better deal from a competitor, as opposed to accepting your renewal quote.

Frequently asked questions

• What is the lowest insurance group?

  Car insurance group 1 is the lowest, with 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, the lower your car insurance group number, the less you will pay for your car insurance. However, insurers will also consider a lot of your personal circumstances when assessing how much to charge.

• Are cars in insurance group 36 good for younger drivers?

  These vehicles will be very expensive for younger drivers to insure. A lot of younger drivers may prefer to buy a car in a lower insurance group.

• 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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