BMW insurance groups
Quick answer
BMW starts around group 20 at the bottom of the 1 Series range and climbs past 40 for the M-badged performance models. There is no genuinely cheap BMW on the insurance scale — the entry point is roughly where mainstream brands' performance models sit.
Typical group range here
Groups 18–43
Typical annual estimate*
£470–£1405
*Estimate only, not a quote — driver aged 30–49, medium-risk postcode, comprehensive cover. The midpoint (31) sits in the high band. How we calculate this.
Cheapest BMW models
| Model | Typical group range | Band | Typical cost* |
|---|---|---|---|
| BMW 1 Series | 18–36 | Medium | from £470 |
| BMW X3 | 21–35 | Medium | from £520 |
| BMW X1 | 21–36 | Medium | from £520 |
| BMW 3 Series | 22–43 | High | from £540 |
*Estimate only, not a quote — based on the lowest trim in each model's range.
How much does it cost to insure a BMW?
There is no single BMW insurance cost, because the range covers groups 18 to 43. So what is the average cost to insure a BMW? Across the models we cover it works out at roughly £650 a year for a driver aged 30–49 on comprehensive cover, with the cheapest entry trims near £585 and the highest-rated derivatives near £1,125. That average BMW car insurance cost is a midpoint rather than a prediction: it tells you where the brand sits against others, not what you will pay.
So is BMW expensive to insure? About average. BMW is neither a cheap nor an expensive brand to insure as a whole. How much does a BMW cost to insure in practice? That depends almost entirely on which one: the BMW 1 Series is the cheapest model here, starting at group 18, while the BMW 3 Series reaches group 43 at the top of its range. That gap matters far more than the badge, which is why a model-by-model comparison beats any brand-level average.
Treat these as comparison figures rather than a BMW car insurance price you can hold us to. The average cost of BMW car insurance in your own case will also depend on your age, postcode, mileage, claims history and excess, and for an actual BMW car insurance quote you will need to price the exact derivative. The fastest way to know which derivative you are looking at is to check the registration.
Compare it against the rest of the market in the insurance group prices table, or see how the group affects your premium across age bands. For everything outside the car, read what affects car insurance price.
Why no BMW is a low-group car
Three things stack up at once: new-car value is high, parts are manufacturer-specific and expensive, and even base engines are reasonably quick. The Group Rating Panel scores all three, so a base 1 Series lands near where a hot hatch from a mainstream brand sits. That's the premium-badge reality, not a quirk of one model.
The M-badge step
The jump to M Performance and full M models is the steepest in the range. An M135i sits well above a 118i despite sharing a shell, because power, brakes, tyres and desirability-driven theft risk all move together. If you want the badge without the rating, the SE and M Sport trims on standard engines are a materially different proposition.
How these ratings are set
Every figure here comes from the same ABI/Thatcham 1–50 scale used across the site — there is no separate scale for a body style or a brand. See how insurance groups are decided for the rating factors behind each number, or car insurance groups explained for the wider picture. For model ranges launched since August 2024, check our Vehicle Risk Rating guide — those cars are increasingly rated on a different framework.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest BMW to insure?
An entry-engine 1 Series in SE trim sits lowest in our data, around group 20. That's still higher than most mainstream family hatchbacks.
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Sources & further reading
- Thatcham Research — The motor insurers' automotive research centre. Co-runs the Group Rating Panel that sets UK insurance groups, and publishes the Vehicle Risk Rating (VRR) framework.
- Association of British Insurers (ABI) — The trade body for UK insurers. Co-runs the Group Rating Panel behind the 1–50 insurance group scale.
- DVLA — Get vehicle information — The official GOV.UK service for vehicle details by registration. Our checker uses the DVLA's Vehicle Enquiry Service API, the same underlying record.