Tesla insurance groups
Quick answer
Every Tesla sits in the top band of the insurance group scale — the Model 3 and Model Y in the mid-to-high forties, the Model S and X at or near group 50. That isn't about safety, where Teslas score well; it's about what happens after a collision.
Typical group range here
Groups 44–50
Typical annual estimate*
£915–£1595
*Estimate only, not a quote — driver aged 30–49, medium-risk postcode, comprehensive cover. The midpoint (47) sits in the very high band. How we calculate this.
Cheapest Tesla models
| Model | Typical group range | Band | Typical cost* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tesla Model 3 | 44–50 | Very high | from £915 |
| Tesla Model Y | 45–50 | Very high | from £935 |
| Tesla Model S | 48–50 | Very high | from £985 |
| Tesla Model X | 48–50 | Very high | from £985 |
*Estimate only, not a quote — based on the lowest trim in each model's range.
How much does it cost to insure a Tesla?
There is no single Tesla insurance cost, because the range covers groups 44 to 50. So what is the average cost to insure a Tesla? Across the models we cover it works out at roughly £1,190 a year for a driver aged 30–49 on comprehensive cover, with the cheapest entry trims near £1,145 and the highest-rated derivatives near £1,275. That average Tesla 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 Tesla expensive to insure? Yes, relative to mainstream brands — Tesla models cluster in the upper half of the scale. How much does a Tesla cost to insure in practice? That depends almost entirely on which one: the Tesla Model 3 is the cheapest model here, starting at group 44, while the Tesla Model 3 reaches group 50 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 Tesla car insurance price you can hold us to. The average cost of Tesla car insurance in your own case will also depend on your age, postcode, mileage, claims history and excess, and for an actual Tesla 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.
Repairability, not safety, is what drives the rating
Teslas consistently score strongly on crash protection and crash avoidance, both of which pull a rating down. What pushes them up far harder is the repair side: structural castings that are difficult to section and repair, an approved-bodyshop network that has historically been stretched, long parts lead times and sensor calibration after almost any body work. Repair cost and repair time are the heaviest-weighted factors in the system, and Teslas score badly on both.
Performance and value compound it
Even the entry versions are quick by any historic standard, and replacement values are high. Add those to the repair picture and the result is a range with no low-group entry point — unlike most brands, there is no modest Tesla trim that lands in the teens.
What VRR means for newer Teslas
Because repairability is one of the five scored pillars under Thatcham's newer Vehicle Risk Rating framework, the factors that already push Teslas up the classic scale are assessed explicitly rather than blended into one number. If you're buying a very new Tesla, your insurer may be working from a VRR rather than a 1–50 group.
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
Why are Teslas so expensive to insure?
Repair cost and repair time, mainly. Structural repairs are specialist, parts and bodyshop capacity have been constrained, and sensors need recalibrating after body work. Performance and high replacement value add to it. Safety scores are strong and actually work in their favour.
Which Tesla is cheapest to insure?
The rear-wheel-drive Model 3 sits lowest in our data, in the mid-forties — the cheapest Tesla, but still near the top of the 1–50 scale.
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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.