Car insurance group 49

What is insurance group 49?

Insurance group 49 cars are among the most expensive cars to insure.

With insurance groups ranging from 1-50, vehicles in group 49 will cost you a lot to insure. The cars that fall into this group usually have a high market value, large powerful engines and parts that are expensive to replace.

However, there are also a number of other factors that insurers take into account, such as your age, driving history and location.

Car makes and models in insurance group 49

Here are some of the more popular cars in insurance group 49. These are among the most expensive vehicles to insure.

Cars in group 49 and the average cost of insurance by driver’s age

With the table below, you can find your chosen model of car and estimate how much it will cost to insure, 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 49 categories

• 49E: Surpasses the security requirements for this type of car, leading to a lower insurance group rating.
• 49A: Meets the standard security requirements for this type of car.
• 49D: Falls short of security requirements for this type of car, resulting in a higher insurance group rating.
• 49U: Security standard is unacceptable. The insurer might require upgraded aftermarket security before providing coverage.
• 49P: Provisional status. Insufficient data is available at launch for classification. This will likely be updated once Thatcham can evaluate the new car.
• 49G: Grey import. Thatcham tests only officially sold UK cars, so imports are evaluated based on the insurer’s pricing.

Average insurance group 49e cost

To provide you with an idea of how much it may cost you to insure your insurance group 49 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 £199.73, or an annual sum of £2,506.

• 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 49 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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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. Cars with larger more powerful engines are perceived as a higher risk by insurers. They are statistically more likely to get in an accident, plus the engines cost more to repair or replace.
• Driver location. Insurers will consider the likelihood of you making a claim, based on your location. If you live in an area where a lot of claims are made, this will result in a higher premium. As an example, a 30-year-old in central London will pay £5,637 for insurance for a BMW X6 xDrive30d MHT Sport Step Auto 5d, while the same 30-year-old in Newcastle may only pay £2,531.
• Driver age. Your age plays a huge role in determining the cost of your insurance premium. The youngest drivers have to pay more, because they are statistically more likely to make a claim. The average 20-year-old driver in London could pay £38,774 for the Lexus LS 500h Luxury AWD auto 4d, while the average 40-year-old Londoner will only pay £4,600.

Here are some of the other factors that can also impact the price of your premium.

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

How can I save on my car insurance premium?

Choosing a car in a lower insurance group will save you a lot of money on your car insurance.

Thankfully, there are other things you can do to decrease your premium. We’ve listed them below.

• Drive safely. It may sound obvious but making a claim or having convictions on your record will make your premium skyrocket.
• Don’t use your car all of the time. You could save money on your insurance by reducing the number of miles you drive in your car. That’s because when you reduce your annual mileage, insurers perceive you as less of a risk.
• Pay annually. By paying annually, you avoid having to pay interest on monthly instalments.
• Install extra safety precautions. The safer you make your car, the cheaper your premium will be. Again, this is because you’ll be perceived as less of a risk of making a claim.
• Shop around. When it’s time for renewal, make sure you compare your options. You’ll be surprised at how much you could save by switching providers.

Frequently asked questions

• What is the lowest insurance group?

  Car insurance groups range from 1-50. Group 1 is the lowest and has the cheapest vehicles 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?

  Yes, but insurers will also consider various personal circumstances.

• Are cars in insurance group 49 good for younger drivers?

  Most younger drivers will find these vehicles too expensive to insure. Many may prefer to initially drive a car in a lower insurance group, and upgrade once they are older with more driving experience under their belt. At this point, they may be offered a reasonable premium on a group 49 car.

• What do the letters mean in insurance groups?

  The letters refer to 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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