Rating Groups
The Association of British Insurers, the trade body for some 430 insurance companies, operates a system of recommended group ratings for cars. Each model is allocated a group number, based on its characteristics - how likely it is to be involved in an accident.
Group rating is just one of the factors used in determining the premiums charged to policyholders. Other factors used by insurers include age and experience of the driver, location and type of policy required. There are 20 groups. The higher the group, the more expensive the insurance is likely to be.
The rating system is designed to take into account such factors as the cost of replacement parts for different models and the performance of the vehicle. Insurance statistics suggest that cars with fast acceleration and high top speeds often result in more frequent insurance claims.