What cars are in car insurance group 1?

Cars are categorised into groups 1-50 by the Association of British Insurers based on factors such as repair costs, performance and value. Group 1 contains inexpensive city cars that are the most affordable to insure, while group 50 houses high-performance supercars with expensive premiums.

The driver’s personal factors matter, too. A lower-group car driven by an inexperienced young motorist can still have a high premium. Location and mileage also affect costs.

In this article, we explore group 1, the cheapest car insurance category. We’ll look at which cars are included and who they might suit best.

What cars are in insurance group 1?

Car insurance group 1 contains the cheapest cars to insure. These are primarily small city cars, including the following models:

Vauxhall Corsa
Volkswagen Polo
Nissan Micra
Skoda Citigo
Kia Rio
Citroen C1
Fiat Panda
Hyundai i10

Group 1 cars tend to be smaller hatchbacks and city cars from mainstream manufacturers. Their small engine sizes, modest specifications and widely available parts make them inexpensive to repair, so they cost very little to insure.

What factors differentiate group 1 insurance cars?

Factor	Description
Engine size	Group 1 cars have small petrol engines with typically less than a 1.0-litre capacity. Smaller engines substantially reduce insurance costs compared to larger ones.
Repair costs	Their cheap, readily available parts and basic construction mean insurance group 1 cars cost little to repair. This keeps premiums low.
Safety features	Most group 1 models only offer essential safety equipment such as airbags and anti-lock braking systems.
Performance	Group 1 cars aren’t performance vehicles: they have top speeds under 100mph and go from zero to 60mph in over 13 seconds. Modest specs mean a lower insurance premium.
Threat of theft	Small city cars have little appeal to thieves looking for luxury vehicles to steal. However, some common models, such as the Vauxhall Corsa, do feature on lists of the most frequently stolen cars in the UK.
Driver profile	Insurers associate group 1 cars with young, new and low-mileage drivers. More experienced motorists in higher groups would pay lower premiums for the same car.

Who are insurance group 1 cars most suitable for?

Group 1 cars are best suited for:

Young drivers: the low cost of these vehicles makes them affordable first cars for young drivers and students
Low-mileage drivers: these cars are ideal for those who drive locally or have a short regular commute, as their small engines are efficient for city driving
Older motorists: insurance costs come down for over-50s, making group 1 premiums very affordable for more experienced drivers
Learners: provisional licence holders need insurance to practise, and group 1 cars provide affordable learner driver cover to get them through lessons and tests
Motorists on a budget: group 1 cars’ low prices match their low running costs. These cars are cheaper to tax, fuel and maintain

Group 1 cars are the most affordable on the market and are ideal for drivers who value cheaper insurance, ownership and running costs over performance and specs.

Which car insurance group am I in?

You can find your car’s insurance group by entering your vehicle’s make, model and registration year in a free car insurance group checker.

Your insurer will also be able to provide your car’s exact insurance group. Knowing your group helps you compare premium quotes, as higher insurance groups mean more expensive premiums.

One thing to note is that cars are continually reassessed, and their groups can change over time. For example, the Fiat 500 moved from group 2 to group 3 in 2022. Make sure to check your group when renewing insurance to get accurate quotes.

In summary, cars in group 1 come with the most affordable insurance costs. While they’re not the most exciting vehicles, their small engines and modest specs mean that premiums are budget friendly. If you want the cheapest possible insurance without compromising on safety or reliability, group 1 is the place to look.