List of cars in insurance group 16

Cars in insurance group 16 are usually on the cheaper side to insure in comparison to other makes and models. Group 16 is on the lower end of the insurance groups and the cars that fit in this category score well for various factors used to determine the group ratings. These include having powerful safety features, being inexpensive to repair and possessing less powerful engines.

Car insurance groups explained

All vehicles on the road are assigned an insurance group from 1-50. These group help to determine the cost of your premiums.

Group 1 has the cheapest cars to insure, while group 50 has the most expensive. The group a particular car model fits into is usually determined by its market value, safety features and security features and the cost of part replacement.

Car makes and models in insurance group 16

There’s a number of popular cars in insurance group 16. These are likely to be cheaper to insure than cars in higher groups.

Insurance group	Car make/model	Details
16	DS 3	The DS 3 has a 1.2ltr engine, as well as top safety features like automatic emergency braking and lane-keeping assistance.
16	Volkswagen Polo	This car won the Best Small Car Of The Year At The 2020 What Car? Awards. Motorists love its nimble handling and precise steering.
16	BMW 1-Series	This premium hatchback has strong and sturdy craftsmanship. It won the Best Family Car at the What Car? Awards 2020.
16	Mercedes-Benz B Class	The B Class is a small MPV/hatchback which offers a very smooth and quiet drive with excellent suspension and inexpensive petrol and diesel engines.
16	Honda Insight	This hybrid electric vehicle is highly-efficient, safe and fun to drive.
16	Toyota Yaris	This sub-compact car has been available for decades. It has won various awards for its all-round performance.
16	Mazda 6	The model was awarded a five star safety rating from Euro NCAP and comes with a first-rate safety kit included.
16	Hyundai ix35	This vehicle has loved for its spaciousness and affordable running costs. It provides good value for money, especially when you consider its broad range of safety features.

Cars in insurance group 16 and the average cost by driver’s age

Using the table below, you can discover the make and model of your car, then work out how much you’re likely to pay for your car insurance, based on your age.

• 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).

Insurance group 16 categories

• 16E: Surpasses the security requirements for this type of car, leading to a lower insurance group rating.
• 16A: Meets the standard security requirements for this type of car.
• 16D: Falls short of security requirements for this type of car, resulting in a higher insurance group rating.
• 16U: Security standard is unacceptable. The insurer might require upgraded aftermarket security before providing coverage.
• 16P: Provisional status. Insufficient data is available at launch for classification. This will likely be updated once Thatcham can evaluate the new car.
• 16G: Grey import. Thatcham tests only officially sold UK cars, so imports are evaluated based on the insurer’s pricing.

Average insurance group 16e cost

To provide you with an idea of how much it may cost you to insure your insurance group 16 car, we ran several quotes to find an average figure. Based on our results, on average, you could insure your car with a comprehensive policy for the monthly price of £63, or an annual sum of £639.

• How we calculated this price

  We generated these quotes using the following assumptions about the vehicle and the driver.

  The vehicle is/has:

  • Insurance group 16 model
  • Factory fitted alarm system
  • Not modified
  • Used for social, domestic and commuting purposes
  • 10,000 mileage per year
  • Parked in a work car park during the day
  • Parked on a driveway at night

  The driver is/has:

  • A 30-year-old, single teacher from London
  • A homeowner
  • Five years no-claims discount
  • No driving or other convictions in the last 5 years

Why are cars in group 16 on the cheaper side?

Cars in insurance group 16 score well in a number of factors that determine which group the car will fall under. These include:

• Low market value
• Good security features
• Good safety features
• Inexpensive to source parts
• Inexpensive to make repairs
• Smaller engine size
• Quick repair times

That’s why these cars are usually the cheaper cars to insure.

Which other factors affect your car insurance premium?

These three factors have a huge impact on the cost of your insurance:

• Engine type and capacity. The more powerful your engine is, the more you’re likely to pay for insurance. Smaller less powerful engines are cheaper to repair or replace, so you’re likely to be seen as less risk to an insurer. In most cases, this is reflected with a lower premium.
• Driver location. Insurers consider the likelihood that your car will be stolen or involved in an accident, based on your location. As an example, a 30-year-old in central London will pay £1,059 for insurance for a DS 3 1.6 VTi 16V DStyle 3d, while the same 30-year-old in Newcastle may only pay £646.
• Driver age. Insurers will use previous claims data to consider your likelihood of claiming, based on previous claims data. This can have a huge impact on your premium. The average 20-year-old driver in London could pay £3,286 for the Mercedes B Class B180 SE 5d, while the average 40-year-old Londoner will only pay £901.

Here are some of the other factors that can also affect the price of your premiums.

These include:

• Your marital status
• Your credit history and job
• Your car’s safety rating, security and anti-theft precautions
• The likelihood of your car being stolen
• The model and age of your car
• Your driving activity and driving history
• The length of your no-claims discount

How can I save on my car insurance premiums?

Choosing a car in insurance group 16 (or lower) will help to reduce the price of your premium. On top of that, there are a handful of other things you can do to cut the cost of your car insurance premium. We’ve listed some ideas below:

• Avoid any driving convictions. If you have driving convictions on your record, insurers will consider you as less safe driver and a bigger risk to them. As such, they will make your premium more expensive.
• Be economical about your car usage. You could cut the cost of your premium by being more sparing with your car usage. Perhaps there are some journeys you can make by public transport or walking instead.
• Pay annually rather than monthly. By paying annually, you’ll skip paying interest on your monthly instalments.
• Install extra safety precautions. The safer you make your car, the cheaper it will be to insure.
• Don’t just accept your renewal quote. Renewal quotes from your existing company tend to be higher than deals offered to new customers. Shop around for the best deal.

Frequently asked questions

• What is the lowest insurance group?

  Car insurance groups range from 1-50. Group 1 is the lowest and includes the cars that are cheapest to insure. Group 50 is the highest and contains the cars that are most expensive to insure.

• What does Thatcham Research analyse?

  Thatcham Research analyses a number of criteria to calculate a car’s group rating. One of its key tests is a 15km/h crash impact assessment, based on an internationally recognised insurance standard. Following the crash, Thatcham’s engineers work out the cost of the time and parts to return the car to its pre-accident condition. The group rating also takes into account new car values, car performance (including top speed and acceleration time), parts pricing, safety and security features, and the alignment and structure of a car’s bumpers.

• Does a lower insurance group mean cheaper car insurance?

  That’s how it works in theory. However, there are also a lot of personal factors that can influence the cost of your car insurance.

• Are cars in insurance group 1 good for younger drivers?

  Yes, because they are cheaper to insure. Young drivers often face extortionate insurance charges, but an insurance group 1 can help to keep their premiums manageable. Group 1 cars have less powerful engines too, making them a safer option for inexperienced drivers.

• What do the letters mean in insurance groups?

  The letters refer to the security features on the vehicle that are fitted as standard.

• How many car insurance groups are there in the UK?

  There are 50 car insurance groups with 1 being the lowest (cheapest) and 50 being the highest (most expensive).

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