Small car insurance groups
Quick answer
Small cars dominate the bottom of the 1–50 scale. City cars and superminis have modest performance, low new-car values and cheap, widely-available parts — the exact combination the Group Rating Panel rewards — which is why almost every car in groups 1–5 is a small hatchback.
Typical group range here
Groups 1–24
Typical annual estimate*
£175–£895
*Estimate only, not a quote — driver aged 30–49, medium-risk postcode, comprehensive cover. The midpoint (13) sits in the low band. How we calculate this.
Cheapest to insure here
| Model | Typical group range | Band | Typical cost* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen Up | 1–12 | Very low | from £175 |
| Fiat 500 | 1–12 | Very low | from £175 |
| Fiat Panda | 1–9 | Very low | from £175 |
| Kia Picanto | 1–10 | Very low | from £175 |
| Suzuki Alto | 1–6 | Very low | from £175 |
*Estimate only, not a quote — based on the lowest trim in each model's range.
Why small cars cluster in groups 1–10
Three factors do most of the work. Performance is low, so the crash-risk score stays down. Repair costs are low because panels are small, parts are mass-produced and almost any bodyshop can work on them. And the cars themselves are cheap to replace, which caps the insurer's maximum exposure. None of that is true of a large SUV or a performance hatch.
Trim matters more than you'd think on small cars
The spread within a single small model can be surprisingly wide. A base 1.0-litre supermini might sit in group 2 while the sporty flagship version of the same car sits in the high teens or twenties. If you're shopping on insurance cost, the trim and engine you pick matters as much as the badge on the back.
Highest-group models here
- Suzuki Swift — up to group 24 (medium band)
- Fiat 500e — up to group 24 (medium band)
- Ford Fiesta — up to group 20 (low band)
All 26 models we cover here
- Volkswagen Up (1–12)
- Fiat 500 (1–12)
- Fiat Panda (1–9)
- Kia Picanto (1–10)
- Suzuki Alto (1–6)
- Suzuki Celerio (1–7)
- Hyundai i10 (1–9)
- Ford Fiesta (2–20)
- Vauxhall Corsa (2–17)
- Dacia Sandero (2–11)
- Skoda Fabia (2–14)
- Smart ForFour (3–11)
- Mitsubishi Colt (3–10)
- Seat Ibiza (4–17)
- Toyota Yaris (4–15)
- Volkswagen Polo (4–19)
- MG 3 (4–11)
- Mazda 2 (5–14)
- Toyota Aygo (6–13)
- Vauxhall Adam (8–15)
- Nissan Note (8–15)
- Suzuki Swift (8–24)
- Peugeot 208 (8–20)
- DS Automobiles DS3 (9–19)
- Mini One (12–18)
- Fiat 500e (16–24)
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
Which small cars have the lowest insurance groups?
Entry-level city cars with 1.0-litre engines typically sit lowest — often groups 1–5. The table on this page shows the typical range for every small car in our dataset, lowest first.
Is a small car always cheaper to insure?
Usually, but not guaranteed. The group will be low, but your premium also reflects your age, postcode and history — a new driver in a group-3 city car can still pay more than an experienced driver in a group-20 family car.
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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.