BMW 3 Series insurance group & cost

If you’re familiar with BMW, you’re almost certainly familiar with the BMW 3 Series of compact executive cars.

Around since 1975 and originally marketed as a range of sedan cars, the 3 Series has since expanded to include a wide range of models including hatchbacks, convertibles, and station wagons. The car has been and is the best-selling BMW model, accounting for around 30% of the brand’s annual total sales (excluding motorbikes). It won ‘Most Loved Car’ in the Auto Trader New Car Awards 2020 and Best Estate Car to Drive at the 2021 Which Car? Awards.

In this guide we’ll look at how much it costs to insure a 3 Series model and how to keep your premiums low.

BMW 3 Series insurance groups

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

BMW 3 Series models range from insurance groups 18 to 43, so the cost of insurance can vary significantly. For example, a 30-year-old driver in an average postcode could pay:

• around £722 for cover on a BMW 3 Series 316d ES 4dr, which is in insurance group 21
• or around £2,478 for a BMW 3 Series 330d xDrive M Sport Sport Automatic 4d, which is in group 36

That’s a difference of £145 to insure 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. A 20-year-old driver in London may have to pay around £4,919 for insurance for a 320i ES model, but a 40-year-old driver from the same location would only pay around £1,050.

That’s why, in the table below, we show you the insurance group for each BMW 3 Series 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: June 2024 (source: Confused)

BMW 3 Series insurance cost by location

The table above shows the average cost of BMW 3 Series insurance based on insurance groups and driver age. However, many other factors affect the cost of your car insurance premiums, and one of the biggest is where you are in the UK. Where you live helps determine the level of risk that your car may be stolen or that you’ll be involved in an accident, and this affects the cost of insurance.

To show you the power of the postcode, here are some average quotes for a 30-year-old living in three different locations. The quotes are for a 320i ES.

• Expensive: £1,220 (London SE1)
• Average: £585 (Newcastle NE1)
• Cheap: £625.65 (Galashiels TD1)

• How we got these rates

  These rates are based on the average cost of cover for cars in the locations shown. Our research suggests SE1 is one of the most expensive locations, NE1 represents an average cost location and TD1 represents one of the cheaperst locations. Updated: June 2024 (source: Confused)

How can I cut the cost of my BMW 3 Series insurance?

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.

• Park your car off the road. If you have the option, parking your car in a drive or a garage overnight can reduce your insurance fees.
• Set a higher voluntary excess. Setting a higher voluntary excess can reduce your insurance premiums: just make sure you can actually afford to pay it should you need to make a claim.
• Get a black box policy. Black box policies mean your insurance company puts a small device in your car to monitor your driving. The better you drive, the more you save. This does come with some restrictions though, so may not be a suitable option for everyone.
• 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.
• Install extra safety precautions. The safer your car is, the less of a risk it will be for companies to insure. By adding extra safety measures, you’re quite likely to lower your premium.
• Don’t just accept your renewal quote.The best way to find the best car insurance deal for you is to shop around and compare quotes.

What else could affect my insurance rate for a BMW 3 Series?

Finder insurance expert Danny Butler answers

As with any make of car, the cost of your insurance will depend on many things, including the model you go for and which insurance group it’s in. BMW 3 Series models range from insurance groups 18 to 43: look for models in lower insurance groups to keep your costs down.

Key factors influencing the insurance group a car is placed in include the size of the engine and how safe the car is.

In general, cars with smaller engines tend to cost less to insure, as they are considered to be a lower risk on the road. A 30-year-old may pay around £692 for the 318d SE 4dr, but could pay around £896 for the 325d SE 4dr.

And the safer your car is, the lower your premium is likely to be.

How safe is a BMW 3 Series?

There are several models of different types within the BMW 3 Series range, but an aggregated test by the ‘gold standard’ Euro NCAP in 2019 rewarded the series a perfect five-star rating for safety.

BMW offers the typical safety features as standard, including multiple airbags, electronic cruise control, and anti-lock braking. There are also a number of extra features you can add to the vehicle, including automatic low-speed braking technology and lane departure software, that warns the driver if they begin to drift between lanes. Ask your insurer what extra safety and security features you can add in return for lower premiums.

Find the best BMW 3 Series insurance

Most insurance providers will offer policies to cover your BMW 3 Series, and you can compare a range of insurance quotes from leading insurers by clicking on the button below. BMW also offers its own annual car insurance policies, as well as complimentary seven-day insurance.

BMW 3 Series Facts and Trivia

• The first edition of the vehicle was launched in 1975.
• The best-selling edition of this vehicle was the E46 BMW, which has sold well over 3 million units.
• The E46 edition also won the ‘World Car Of The Year’ award in 2005.

Bottom line

BMW cars are all synonymous with luxury. While they are not cheap to buy, you do get your money’s worth when it comes to performance, safety, technology and comfort. The 3 Series is the brand’s crowning glory. It’s a well built, sporty car; its size makes for an agile drive; the range of model options available means there’s something for everyone; and it comes with a long list of standard safety equipment.

The BMW is an expensive car with expensive parts, which brings the price of insurance up. Use the tips in this guide to help you to keep costs down as much as you can, 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

• At what mileage do BMWs start having problems?

  BMWs are well-built cars, and can easily do between 80,000-120,000 miles before any problems appear with the transmission. Some parts, like the water pump and timing belt, might start experiencing issues at around 60,000 miles.

  With good maintenance, your BMW should serve you well for a long time.

• How much does a BMW 3 Series cost?

  Prices start from £36,670. The cheapest BMW 3 Series model is the 318i SE 4dr Step Auto. It’s got a semi-auto gearbox, petrol engine and a top speed of 139 mph. Prices might vary depending on where you buy the car, but, generally speaking, this model tends to come in with the lowest retail price.

• Are BMW expensive to work on?

  BMWs are luxury cars, which means they’re naturally going to cost more to maintain and repair.

  In fact, research shows that BMW cars are the most expensive to run in the UK, with an average spend of £2,411 on running costs every year – 29% more than the average spend across all car types.

• Is a BMW 3 Series a sports car?

  The BMW 3 Series is a sports sedan, which makes it a bit bigger than most sports cars.

• Do BMWs break down a lot?

  Some people do complain that the complex electronics BMW implement in their models are prone to breaking down, and this can happen.

  BMW doesn’t usually rank well in reliability surveys, though the 3 Series models do tend to fare better than other offerings from the brand. Safety wise, it’s got the full 5-stars from Euro NCAP.

  Remember that BMWs are premium cars, and so need high levels of maintenance to keep faults at bay.

• Is the BMW 3 Series good on the motorway?

  The BMW 3 Series makes for a very smooth drive on A-roads and motorways.

  That said, while there isn’t much wind noise at motorway speeds, road and suspension noises can usually be heard (especially on models with run-flat tyres).

• Is the BMW 3 Series a good choice for young or new drivers?

  Even the cheapest of the BMW 3 Series models is not really cheap, so buying this car as a newer driver might not be the best idea. Don’t forget that 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.

  However, if your heart is set on a luxury car, the BMW 3 Series is smaller than many comparable vehicles and is considered a very safe car. It makes for a smooth ride and some of its models are very economical to run. All of these elements make it one of the better options for young and new drivers within the premium range.

• Is the BMW 3 Series being phased out?

  Not that we know of!

• Is a BMW 3 Series cheap to run?

  No BMW is especially cheap to run, but the costs of a BMW 3 Series depend on the model: if you choose a plug-in hybrid, for example, it will use less fuel and emit less CO2, which means spending less on fuel costs and potentially less on tax.

Compare insurance for other BMW models

The offers compared on this page are chosen from a range of products we can track; we don't cover every product on the market...yet. Unless we've indicated otherwise, products are shown in no particular order or ranking. The terms "best", "top", "cheap" (and variations), aren't product ratings, although we always explain what's great about a product when we highlight it; this is subject to our terms of use. When making a big financial decision, it's wise to consider getting independent financial advice, and always consider your own financial circumstances when comparing products so you get what's right for you. Most of the data in Finder's comparison tables has the source: Moneyfacts Group PLC. In other cases, Finder has sourced data directly from providers.

*Based on data provided by Consumer Intelligence Ltd, www.consumerintelligence.com (July ’24). 51% of car insurance customers could save £523.17