Mini Cooper insurance group & cost

Stylish, classic and indisputably iconic, the Mini Cooper (also known as the Mini Hatchback) was first made in 1959, and is now in its third generation. The Mini Cooper is one of the most popular cars in the UK, with 31,792 being sold in the UK in 2021.

In this guide we’ll look at Mini Cooper Hatchback car insurance costs and how you could save on your premiums.

Mini Cooper insurance groups

Vehicles in the UK are categorised into insurance groups, ranging from group 1 (cheapest) to group 50 (most expensive), which helps determine the cost of your premium.

Mini Cooper models range from insurance groups 11 to 33, so the cost of insurance can vary significantly. For example, a 30-year-old driver in an average postcode could pay…

• around £692 for cover on a Mini Cooper 1.5 One D Hatchback Sport Pack 5d (insurance group 11)
• or around £761 for a Mini Cooper 2.0 Challenge 210bhp Edition 3d Auto (insurance group 33)

That’s a difference of £168 across insurance groups for the same make of car. The insurance group a particular model is placed in depends on a number of different factors, including the car’s price.

However, the insurance group isn’t the only factor determining the cost of your car insurance; one of the most important other factors is your age.

The younger you are, the more risk you represent to insurers, and the more you’re likely to pay for insurance. That’s why, in the table below, we show you the insurance group for each Mini Cooper model and also the likely cost at a few different ages.

• 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)

How much does it cost to insure a Mini Cooper?

To give you an idea of how much it could cost you to insure your Mini Cooper, we ran several quotes to find an average figure. Our results estimated that, on average, you could insure a Mini Cooper hatchback 3-door with comprehensive cover for monthly payments of £85.56 or a single annual payment of £792.93.

• How we got this rate

  We generated these quotes using the following assumptions.
  The vehicle is/has:

  • a 2018 model
  • Manual transmission
  • Petrol
  • Factory fitted alarm system
  • The car is not modified
  • Used for social, domestic and commuting purposes
  • 10,000 mileage per year
  • The car is parked in a car park during the day
  • The car is parked on a driveway at night

  The driver is/has:

  • Owner is a 30-year-old teacher from London
  • Five years no claims discount
  • No driving or other convictions in the last 5 years

What other factors affect my Mini Cooper insurance rate?

We’ve covered insurance groups and age. Here are some of the other factors that affect your insurance premium costs:

• Your age, marital status, job and where you live
• Your credit history
• The model and age of your car
• Your car’s safety rating, security and any anti-theft precautions
• Annual mileage
• Your driving history and activity
• The size of your car’s engine
• No claims discount

How can I save on my Mini Cooper premiums?

When searching for insurance, you’ll want to find the best deal for a price that’s within your budget. We’ve uncovered some tricks you can try to lower the cost of your premium: take a look below.

• Pay annually rather than monthly. Whilst it might be scary to part with a large sum of money in one go, if you’re able to pay annually you can save an average of £234 a year.
• Limit your car usage (where possible). Occasionally deciding to walk or get public transport, rather than using your car, can help to save on your premiums.
• Don’t just accept your renewal quote. When it’s time for renewal, it’s worth investing a couple of hours to shop around: there may be cheaper options out there.
• Install extra safety precautions. Providers don’t like to insure risks, so by investing in extra safety measures, you are more likely to save money on your premiums.

Is a Mini Cooper cheap to insure?

Finder insurance expert Danny Butler answers

Let’s say you’re doing everything you can from the list above: you’re driving less, you’re paying annually, you’re shopping around for insurance quotes. Does that mean you’ll find a Mini Cooper cheap to insure?

As with any make of car, it depends on the model you go for. Key factors include the insurance group the car is in, and how safe the car is – see below for information about Mini Cooper safety.

The Mini Cooper can be found in insurance groups ranging from 11 to 33. That means the cost of insuring this vehicle will depend highly on your choice of model. Look for models in lower insurance groups to keep your costs down.

How safe is a Mini Cooper?

When tested by the crash-test expert body Euro NCAP in 2014, the Mini Cooper received a 4/5 safety rating. The Mini Cooper scored well with both adult and child occupant safety, achieving 79% and 73% respectively. (Child occupant safety ratings look not only at the car’s protection from impact but also how well the car is able to accommodate “child safety provisions” such as car seats.)

Additionally, the Cooper’s safety features merited a decent score of 56% for its safety assist functions. In the comments that accompanied the Mini Cooper’s test scores, it was noted that the dummies used in the crash test seemed well protected by the vehicle.

As standard, the safety features of the Mini Cooper are fairly basic. It comes with electronic stability control, or ESC, which is designed to prevent your vehicle from skidding, as well as seat belt reminders.

Extra safety measures can cut your premium: it may be worth asking your insurer what extra safety and security features would help you access lower premiums. The Mini Cooper comes with a selection of optional extra safety measures. AEB City and AEB Inter-urban are safety features designed to prevent any rear-ending or low speed collisions by monitoring the distance between your car and the vehicle in front, and alerting you if you’re too close. These features can also trigger an emergency brake if they detect an obstacle or collision.

Another feature offered for the Mini Cooper is a speed assistance system. This feature functions to maintain your car’s speed at the legal speed limit, and avoid any use of excessive speed that may result in a collision.

Bottom line

Everybody recognises this popular car when they see it on the road. To stay savvy as well as stylish, use the tips in this guide to help you to keep costs down, and be sure to compare car insurance (and car finance, if applicable) before you buy, so you don’t pay any more than you have to.

Frequently asked questions

• What is the top speed of a Mini Cooper?

  Depending on the model version, you can expect a Mini Cooper to reach a top speed of 144 miles per hour.

• How much car tax do I have to pay for the Mini Cooper?

  The UK standard car tax rate sits at £150 per year. However, you might pay more or less depending on your car’s emissions.

• Where can I buy a Mini Cooper?

  You can buy a Mini Cooper at dealerships, using online sellers or from a current owner.

• Where can I find Mini Cooper car insurance?

  You can compare the costs of Mini Cooper car insurance using any price comparison website. Hit the green box below to get a quote.

• Is a Mini Cooper a good first car?

  People often opt for a small hatchback like the Mini Cooper for their first car because – depending on the model – it is easy to drive, fuel-efficient, and inexpensive to insure. Remember to opt for one of the models from lower insurance groups to keep your premiums down: younger drivers already pay more for their insurance, which could be exacerbated if you go for a car in one of the more expensive insurance classes. You may also be able to find similar hatchbacks for a lower price offered by another make of car.

• Is a Mini Cooper cheap to run and maintain?

  This depends on the spec and model you choose. For example, petrol cars are usually high on running cost and low on maintenance cost, whereas diesel cars are low on running cost and high on maintenance.

• Do Mini Coopers hold their value?

  As with so many things, it depends on the model, but in recent years at least some models have held their value well. In 2014 Mini was the top brand for residual car values in the UK.