Car insurance group 34

What is insurance group 34?

When it comes to car insurance, all vehicles are assigned an insurance group from 1 (cheapest) to 50 (most expensive), and this helps insurers to calculate your car insurance premiums.

With insurance groups ranging from 1-50, vehicles in group 34 are among the more expensive ones to insure. Vehicles in this group usually have higher market values, more powerful engines and higher repair prices. In some cases, they may be found lacking when it comes to safety and security features.

Car makes and models in insurance group 34

Here are some examples of popular cars in insurance group 34. These are likely to cost more than average to insure.

Cars in insurance group 34 and the average cost by driver’s age

This table will help you calculate how much you’re likely to pay for your car insurance based on your choice of vehicle and 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 34 categories

• 34E: Surpasses the security requirements for this type of car, leading to a lower insurance group rating.
• 34A: Meets the standard security requirements for this type of car.
• 34D: Falls short of security requirements for this type of car, resulting in a higher insurance group rating.
• 34U: Security standard is unacceptable. The insurer might require upgraded aftermarket security before providing coverage.
• 34P: Provisional status. Insufficient data is available at launch for classification. This will likely be updated once Thatcham can evaluate the new car.
• 34G: Grey import. Thatcham tests only officially sold UK cars, so imports are evaluated based on the insurer’s pricing.

Average insurance group 34e cost

To provide you with an idea of how much it may cost you to insure your insurance group 34 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 £125, or an annual sum of £1,258.

• 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 34 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

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Why are cars in group 34 more expensive?

Cars in insurance group 34 usually cost more to insure for the following reasons.

• Expensive to source parts and make repairs
• Market value is on the higher side
• Larger engine size
• Longer repair times

In some cases, they may be found to be lacking when it comes to safety and security features.

What other factors affect your car insurance premium?

Along with your car’s insurance group, these three factors have the biggest impact on the cost of your insurance:

• Engine type and capacity. The bigger your engine, the more you’re likely to pay for insurance. This is because larger engines cost more to replace or repair. On top of that, cars with more powerful engines may be seen as more likely to get involved in accidents.
• Driver location. Your location is considered when insurers calculate your likelihood of making a claim. If you live in an area where a lot of claims are made, your premium will rise. As an example, a 30-year-old in central London will pay £3,354 for insurance for a BMW 4 Series 428i Modern 5d, while the same 30-year-old in Newcastle may only pay £1,270.
• Driver age. Your age plays a huge role in determining the cost of your insurance premium. Insurers will factor in the likelihood of someone your age making a claim, based on previous claims data. This is why younger drivers tend to face high premiums. The average 20-year-old driver in London could pay £24,691 for the Ford Edge Vignale 2.0 TDCi 210PS AWD PowerShift auto 5d, while the average 40-year-old Londoner will only pay £2,848.

Here are some more factors that can also impact the price of your premiums.

• Your marital status
• Your credit history and job
• Your car’s safety rating, security and anti-theft precautions
• Likelihood of theft
• The model and age of your car
• Your driving activity
• Your driving history
• No claim discount

How can I save on my car insurance premiums?

Choosing a car in a lower insurance group is an intelligent way to reduce the price of your premium, but that’s not always a practical solution.

Thankfully, there are more things you can do to lower the cost of your car insurance:

• Drive safely. It may sound obvious but having convictions on your record will make your premium more expensive.
• Use telematics. A telematics box will track your driving activity and give the insurer proof that you are a safe driver.
• Use your car less. Your premium could drop if your annual mileage drops. That’s because those who use their car less are seen as less of a risk of getting into an accident.
• Pay annually. When you pay annually, you won’t have to pay interest on monthly instalments.
• Install extra safety precautions. The safer you make your car, the cheaper your premium will be.
• Shop around. Don’t blindly accept your insurer’s renewal quote. Instead, use price comparison websites to search for the cheapest deal. You’ll be surprised at how much you could save by switching insurers each year.

Frequently asked questions

• What is the lowest insurance group?

  Car insurance groups range from 1-50 with 1 being the lowest. Group 1 has the cheapest cars to insures, while group 50 has the most expensive.

• 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?

  Yes, in theory, but other factors surrounding your personal circumstances will also be considered.

• Are cars in insurance group 34 good for younger drivers?

  Not particularly. Most younger drivers are looking to reduce car insurance costs in any way possible. Cars in insurance group 34 cost a lot for younger drivers to insure. Younger drivers may therefore prefer to use a car in a lower insurance group.

• What do the letters mean in insurance groups?

  These represent the security features fitted as standard on the vehicle.

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

  In the UK, there are 50 car insurance groups with 1 being the lowest (cheapest) and 50 being the highest (most expensive).

• Who decides on the car insurance groups?

  In the UK, The Group Rating Panel, administered by Thatcham Research, assigns new car models to an insurance group from 1 to 50.

Written by

Danny Butler

Publisher

Danny is a publisher at Finder specialising in insurance and investing. He previously worked at the global insurer Aon and has appeared in national media giving advice on insurance. Danny holds a BA in International Business from the University of Plymouth and has undying loyalty to his average-poor football team, Portsmouth FC. See full bio

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