Insurance groups 16 to 20 explained
Low to middling groups on the UK's 1 to 50 scale, where 1 is the cheapest to insure. They hold well-equipped family cars and entry premium models, and each group is explained below.
What each group from 16 to 20 means
The number is the group, and the letter after it records how the car's security affected the rating. E means it beat the requirement and dropped one group. D means it fell short and went up one. A means it met the requirement, and P marks a group that is still provisional.
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Insurance group 16
Group 16 sits about 31% of the way up the scale, with 15 groups cheaper and 34 dearer. A 16E car scored as group 17 and was cut to 16 for above-standard security. A 16D car scored as group 15 and was raised to 16 because its security falls short. A 16A car's security met the requirement, so its group was not adjusted, and 16P means the group is provisional, set before full rating data was available at launch.
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Insurance group 17
Group 17 sits about 33% of the way up the scale, with 16 groups cheaper and 33 dearer. A 17E car scored as group 18 and was cut to 17 for above-standard security. A 17D car scored as group 16 and was raised to 17 because its security falls short. A 17A car's security met the requirement, so its group was not adjusted, and 17P means the group is provisional, set before full rating data was available at launch.
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Insurance group 18
Group 18 sits about 35% of the way up the scale, with 17 groups cheaper and 32 dearer. An 18E car scored as group 19 and was cut to 18 for above-standard security. An 18D car scored as group 17 and was raised to 18 because its security falls short. An 18A car's security met the requirement, so its group was not adjusted, and 18P means the group is provisional, set before full rating data was available at launch.
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Insurance group 19
Group 19 sits about 37% of the way up the scale, with 18 groups cheaper and 31 dearer. A 19E car scored as group 20 and was cut to 19 for above-standard security. A 19D car scored as group 18 and was raised to 19 because its security falls short. A 19A car's security met the requirement, so its group was not adjusted, and 19P means the group is provisional, set before full rating data was available at launch.
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Insurance group 20
Group 20 sits about 39% of the way up the scale, with 19 groups cheaper and 30 dearer. A 20E car scored as group 21 and was cut to 20 for above-standard security. A 20D car scored as group 19 and was raised to 20 because its security falls short. A 20A car's security met the requirement, so its group was not adjusted, and 20P means the group is provisional, set before full rating data was available at launch.
Groups are set by the Group Rating Panel of insurers, with Thatcham Research assessing each car, and the rating is advisory, so insurers can depart from it. In Thatcham's own example, a group 9 car with better-than-required security is listed as 8E, and one whose security falls short is listed as 10D. The full scale lists every letter, and our guide to how insurance groups work covers the system end to end.
Cars rated in groups 16 to 20
Which cars are in insurance groups 16 to 20?
- Audi A1
- BMW 1 Series
- Mercedes A-Class
- Mini Hatch
- Ford Puma
- Volkswagen T-Roc
Groups 16 to 20 hold higher-spec family cars and the first rung of the premium brands, where parts prices start pushing groups up. Each engine, trim and security combination is rated on its own, so one model can span many groups.
For a new driver
Are groups 16 to 20 good for a new driver?
Groups 16 to 20 are on the high side for a new driver. Groups 1 to 10 keep a first premium lower.
Our reading of the scale, not an insurer's rule. MoneySuperMarket's band medians cover drivers of every age, and new drivers usually pay well above them.
Finding a car's group
How can I find a specific car's insurance group?
Many insurance quotes state the group, and most manufacturers' UK price lists show it for new cars. Comparison sites and motoring publishers list groups by model and trim, and some look them up by registration using licensed industry data. It is not on the V5C logbook or the DVLA record, so our report does not show it.
Buying a car in groups 16 to 20?
Check its history before you pay
Our report confirms the exact engine, fuel and model the rating hangs on, and every MOT and mileage reading, from £5.
Insurance groups 16 to 20: common questions
Are insurance groups 16 to 20 high or low?
Groups 16 to 20 are low to middling on the 1 to 50 scale, where 1 is the cheapest to insure. They broadly cover well-equipped family cars and entry premium models.
How much is insurance for groups 16 to 20 per month?
About £40 a month for groups 16 to 20, based on the £485 median annual price of policies sold for groups 11 to 20 through MoneySuperMarket in July 2026. MoneySuperMarket publishes ten-group bands, so there is no separate figure for each group, and your age, postcode and claims record move the price far more than the group does.
Which cars are in insurance groups 16 to 20?
Versions of the Audi A1, BMW 1 Series, Mercedes A-Class, Mini Hatch, Ford Puma and Volkswagen T-Roc are typical of groups 16 to 20. Each engine, trim and security combination is rated on its own, so one model can span several groups.
Is the 1 to 50 insurance group system being replaced?
Yes, for brand-new models. Thatcham Research's Vehicle Risk Rating, launched in September 2024, scores new model ranges from 1 to 99 in five areas, while cars already rated keep their 1 to 50 insurance group.
Figures last checked against the official source on . Check the source yourself.