Until January 2010, vehicles in the UK were divided into one among 20 insurance groups. The system was expanded to 50 groups in order to allow cars to be classified with greater precision. Insurance companies consider your car to be less risk if it is in a lower group than its previous classification. A car rated 12 would have a lower premium than a 35-rated car. Your insurance company will calculate how high you are risk and determine the amount you must pay for your premiums.
Groups and their Determination
When deciding which car insurance group to cover your car in, your insurer will consider the vehicle’s value, make, model, power, and other features. The insurer will consider how expensive it will cost to repair your car in the event of an accident. This includes parts prices and availability, as well as the labor costs. The car’s performance and security features are also important. You can bring a car from a higher category into a lower one by installing some safety devices.
How To Find Your Car’s Group
Before you buy a car, it is wise to research which car insurance group it falls into. Knowing the group will help you predict how much your premiums will cost. This information is often available from a car dealer. However, it can also be found online. Thatcham has a complete listing of all vehicles and the group they belong to.
Making Group Insurance Affordable
There are ways to lower your premiums even if your car falls within one of the higher-end car insurance categories. Talk to your agent about setting a mileage limit. This will make your car less at risk of being involved in an accident. You can qualify for a safe driver discount or no claims discount if you demonstrate that you are responsible and careful. Installing security devices in your vehicle will reduce your insurance premiums. This will make it less likely that it is stolen and makes it easier to retrieve it if it does happen. A car alarm will deter thieves from entering your vehicle, and an immobiliser will prevent it being stolen. A GPS locator will help authorities locate your vehicle immediately if it is stolen.
Savings Through Comparison Sites
You can get decent deals using comparison websites for car insurance. You can save quite some money even if your car falls into one of the high-end car insurance groups. It is possible to get quotes from many companies, and then choose the one that offers the most coverage. Before you buy a policy from a company, it is important to investigate the individual companies. You should not only know how trustworthy an insurance company is, but also how likely they will pay out on a claim without trying to get out.
