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Car makes and models

Compare car insurance for all the UK’s most popular makes and models.

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What are car makes and models?

A car’s make (also known as a marque) is the manufacturer of the vehicle. This company or brand will usually have a badge of its logo on the front and back of the car. Popular makes of car in the UK include Ford, Toyota, Nissan, Audi and Volkswagen (VW).

The car model is the name given to a range produced by that manufacturer. So Ford models include the Focus and Fiesta, which are among the UK’s most popular models. Likewise, Toyota produces models such as the Corolla and Prius, and Nissan models include the Micra and Qashqai.

There’s often variation within models too. You can usually choose between petrol, diesel, hybrid or electric cars, as well as different engine types and trim levels – which are features specific to that vehicle. So the Ford Fiesta has nine trim levels, including the Fiesta Style, Zetec and Titanium.

Father and young child looking in the boot of a car

How do I find my car’s make and model?

If you’re not sure of your car’s make and model, there are a few places you can find it:

  • Your logbook (V5C document) from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)
  • The car’s instruction manual
  • On the back of the car itself

How does my car’s make and model affect my car insurance?

Your car make and model is a key factor in pricing your car insurance – known as the premium. All models are placed into one of 99 car insurance groups, based on risk. The higher the group, the greater the risk presented to insurers – therefore the more expensive they are to insure. Car insurance providers consider the following:

  • Cost – The car’s value will affect how much you pay for insurance, with more expensive cars attracting higher premiums.
  • Engine performance – More powerful engines mean faster cars, which are more likely to be involved in collisions. This pushes up the price of insurance.
  • Repair cost and parts – Cars which are expensive to repair will be pricier to insure. For example, parts might be expensive and difficult to get hold of, which impacts repair costs.
  • Safety – If a car has sophisticated safety features, it’ll be less likely to be involved in a collision – and passengers will be safer if it is. Insurance prices could be lower.
  • Security – Secure cars with anti-theft features will be cheaper to insure than those more commonly stolen.

What insurance can I get for my model of car?

Typically, there are three levels of car insurance cover available for all car makes and models in the UK:

Comprehensive

Comprehensive car insurance, also known as fully comp, gives you the highest level of protection. It covers:

  • Damage to your vehicle and injuries sustained by you and your passengers
  • The cost of repairs or replacing your car if it’s stolen or damaged by fire
  • Injury to third parties, or damage to their vehicle or property

While it’s easy to assume that comprehensive cover is the most expensive option, it can often work out the cheapest. This is why it’s always important to compare car insurance cover before you commit.

Third party, fire and theft

Third party, fire and theft (TPFT) insurance does not cover you for injury or damage to your own vehicle if you’re involved in a collision. But it does cover:

  • Fire damage to your car
  • Theft or attempted theft of your vehicle
  • Damage to third party vehicles and property, as well as harm caused to third parties

Third party only

Third party only (TPO) car insurance only covers damage caused to third parties, including damage to their vehicles or other property, injury or death. This is the minimum level of car insurance required to drive legally in the UK. Essentially, it protects everyone but you, and you shoulder all the risk of damage to your car and injury to yourself.

TPO is not always the cheapest level of cover, despite what you might expect. Again, this is why it’s a good idea to compare different levels of car insurance before you buy.

Popular car manufacturers

Audi

German car manufacturer Audi has a reputation for high-end, well-built luxury vehicles. Its famous slogan “Vorsprung durch Technik” – progress through technology – sums up its proposition. Popular models include the A series (A1, A3, A4), Q series (Q2, Q3, Q5) and the sporty Audi TT.

Compare Audi car insurance >

BMW

BMW is one of the most prominent automakers in the world, manufacturing high-quality sports sedans and motorbikes. The BMW group also includes the MINI and Rolls-Royce brands. Popular models include the BMW i3, X2, X5, 4 Series and 2 Series Gran Coupe.

Compare BMW car insurance >

Ford

The original large-scale automobile manufacturer, Ford was founded in Michigan, USA in 1903. Nowadays it offers a wide range of different vehicles. The Ford Fiesta and Ford Focus hatchbacks are among the most popular cars in the UK, with other models including the Galaxy, Mondeo and Ka+.

Compare Ford car insurance >

Land Rover

Land Rover is a British brand of traditionally rugged, off-road capable 4x4 vehicles. It’s now best-known for SUVs, particularly the Defender. Other luxury SUVs include the Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, Range Rover Velar and Land Rover Discovery.

Compare Land Rover car insurance >

Toyota

Japanese automobile giant Toyota is the largest car manufacturer in the world, producing over nine million vehicles each year. It’s currently innovating in the eco-friendly vehicle market, with the ubiquitous Toyota Prius being the first mass-produced hybrid car. Popular models include the Toyota Corolla, Yaris, C-HR and Aygo X.

Compare Toyota car insurance >

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Alfa Romeo – Luxury Italian manufacturer.

Audi – High-end German cars.

BMW – A German institution, one of the largest manufacturers of luxury cars in the world.

Chevrolet – An American icon. The only new Chevrolet you can buy in the UK is the Corvette.

Citroën – Affordable cars from this French manufacturer.

CUPRA – A brand owned by SEAT, CUPRA makes electric and hybrid cars.

Dacia – Owned by Renault, Dacia makes some of Britain’s cheapest new cars.

DS – Luxury French cars, previously produced by Citroën.

Ferrari – The F1 team produces speedy sports cars that don’t come cheap.

Fiat – Italy’s largest car manufacturer produces models such as the Panda and 500.

Ford – The ever-popular original American manufacturer.

Honda – The Japanese manufacturer’s famous Honda Civic has been around for over 50 years.

Hyundai – All of the South Korean manufacturer’s new vehicles come with a five-year warranty, regardless of how many miles you clock up.

Jaguar – High-end luxury cars from British manufacturer Jaguar Land Rover (JLR).

Jeep – The rugged American 4x4.

Kia – An even longer seven-year warranty comes with all new cars from Kia, Hyundai’s sister company.

Lamborghini – Italian manufacturer Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. produces these sporty beasts.

Land Rover – One-time producer of rugged 4x4s, Land Rover is now synonymous with SUVs.

Lexus – A luxury arm of the Toyota Motor Corporation.

Lotus – An iconic British make, which now also produces sleek electric cars.

Mazda – Innovative car manufacturer Mazda produces, among other cars, the CX-5 large SUV - which won Auto Trader’s ‘best car for dog owners’ award in 2019.

Mercedes-Benz – The luxury, stylish German brand, immortalised in 1971 by Janis Joplin.

MG - Now owned by China’s largest car maker SAIC, MGs are still designed in the UK.

MINI – A manufacturer of premium cars, despite their diminutive stature.

Mitsubishi – Japanese manufacturer Mitsubishi is primarily a manufacturer of SUVs these days.

Nissan – Despite being a Japanese company, Nissan builds many of its best-selling vehicles in Sunderland.

Peugeot – The French manufacturer which traditionally made hatchbacks has recently branched out into good-quality SUVs with low running costs.

Porsche – The essential sports car producer.

Renault – Founded in 1899, Renault has moved into the hybrid and electric vehicle market, alongside its petrol and diesel options. It has an alliance with Nissan and Mitsubishi.

Saab – Swedish manufacturer Saab Automobile AB went bust in 2011, so you’ll only pick up second-hand Saabs now.

SEAT – Spanish manufacturer SEAT is experiencing a second wind, with help from now being a VW brand.

Škoda – Also part of the VW family, Czech manufacturer Škoda is known for reliable vehicles.

Smart – Smart produces compact cars which are an absolute dream to park.

Subaru – Japanese car maker Subaru produces a wide range of vehicles, including affordable sports cars and SUVs.

Suzuki – Mainly known for motorbikes, Suzuki also produces well-priced cars.

Tesla - Best known for putting electric cars – and CEO Elon Musk – in the limelight.

Toyota – The largest car manufacturer in the world, hailing from Japan.

Vauxhall – British car manufacturer Vauxhall is now a subsidiary of Stellantis, putting it in the same family as Citroën and Peugeot.

Volkswagen (VW) – This German manufacturer is synonymous with well-made cars, such as the ever-popular Polo and Golf.

Volvo – Swedish manufacturer Volvo makes premium executive cars, possibly best known for being safe. Very safe.

How can I find out how much a car make or model costs to insure?

If you’re researching how much certain models are likely to cost, a good starting place is to find out what car insurance group they’re in. You can use our handy tool, which tells you what group the model will fall into. Groups are numbered from 1-50, with the lowest groups being the cheapest to insure.

Make and model only paint part of the picture though. Find out the other important factors with our guide to how much UK car insurance costs. If you know the exact model, you can compare quotes with us.

How can I get cheaper car insurance?

Going for makes and models in lower insurance groups will usually lower the price, as these cars pose less risk to insurers. But there are plenty of other ways to get cheaper car insurance. These include:

  • Limiting the amount of miles you drive each year.
  • Pay annually rather than monthly, as monthly payments include interest.
  • Increase your voluntary excess, although always choose an amount you could afford to pay comfortably if you needed to make a claim.
  • Only take out the cover you need, ditching any bells and whistles.
  • Consider a telematics policy, which rewards you for driving safely. Especially if you’re a young driver.

Frequently asked questions

Yes, your car’s trim could affect how much you pay for car insurance. Your car’s trim describes its features, which are variations within the model. The differences might have a bearing on the car’s performance, safety, security or tech. For example, your model might have a sports edition, with more sporty features than the regular model.

Some of these features could affect the risk of the car being involved in an incident, or the repair cost if it is. A sportier engine might increase the risk of collisions, for instance, which can push up the cost. Alternatively, extra safety features such as parking assist could help to keep the cost down.

Yes, the car’s body type is also considered by your insurance provider. Powerful high-performance cars and sports cars are usually more likely to be involved in collisions, making them more expensive to insure. Similarly, 4x4s and jeeps can attract higher insurance prices.

If you build your own car, such as a kit car, this will likely need specialist insurance cover.

Car insurance groups are used to help insurers price drivers’ insurance. All models will fall into one of 50 groups, which are broadly ranked in terms of risk. Cars in the lowest groups are typically the cheapest to insure, whereas those in the highest groups are usually the most expensive. The exact cost will vary between providers, based on their own claims data.

Factors which determine the groups that cars fall into include:

  • How expensive they are
  • How costly they are to repair
  • How powerful the engine is, their top speed and acceleration
  • The car’s security features
  • Its safety features while driving

Yes, modifications will usually affect your car insurance. You should always tell your insurance provider if you make any modifications or amendments to your car. That way, your insurer can give you an accurate quote and give you the correct level of cover.

While most mods are likely to push up the price of your insurance, this is not always the case. Some might make little difference, such as roof racks or a towbar. And adding safety or security features such as immobilisers, parking sensors or cameras might even drive the price down.

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Page last reviewed: 26 September 2024

Page reviewed by Rhys Stringer