Insurance Group 49
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Finding the right insurance for your car can feel overwhelming, especially since there are so many variables that affect car insurance premiums. Ultimately, monthly insurance costs will be different from individual to individual, but there are a couple of guidelines that might help you along the way.
The Association of British Insurers has set out a standardised list for insurers across the UK. This list categorises every type of car out there to help insurance companies arrive at a fair insurance premium for their clients.
Cars are categorised into one of fifty groups. The lowest groups would be the cheapest cars on the road with the lowest purchase and maintenance costs. The highest groups are where you’ll find the expensive luxury cars.
Cars in group 49 are typically high-performance vehicles. They are luxurious, and likely cost a lot to buy. Owning a Group 49 car probably means you’re going to pay a lot more for car insurance than those with vehicles in lower insurance groups.
What’s the difference between Group 49 insurance and Group 49e insurance, and does it affect the cost?
Group 49e insurance and Group 49 insurance are similar but not quite the same. Cars in these groups would have a similar level of performance and luxury. Both are expensive to buy as they are in the top range for car insurance.
The main difference is that cars in insurance group 49e cost a bit more as this group is particularly focused on cars with special features. Typically, the ‘e’ indicates that the vehicle’s security features have ‘exceeded’ the requirements for cars in Group 49.
If the car falls in Group 49e because of its extra security features, insurance costs may be lower. When considering which car to buy, you would do yourself a favour by comparing quotes from as many insurers to get the best price for your car.
How much does Group 49 car insurance cost, on average?
The cost of Group 49 car insurance is hard to pin down exactly as insurance premiums are not one size fits all. Many factors contribute to the final quote you’ll get from an insurance company, it’s not just about the car.
Your age, driving history and address will have a significant effect on the outcome of your insurance premium. As a starting point, however, a Group 49 car is in one of the most expensive insurance groups, which from the get-go means you’ll be looking at a higher annual premium as compared to cars in lower groups.
If you’re searching for cheaper premiums, visit Quotezone.co.uk to compare Group 49 insurance. Comparing quotes from over a hundred insurance companies could help you find the lowest premium for your unique situation.
Why is Group 49e insurance so expensive?
Group 49e insurance is expensive because it is the second-highest group for car insurance. There are fifty insurance groups in all. The lower the group, the lower the risk the car is to insure, and therefore, the lower the insurance premium.
So for starters, the fact that the car is in a high insurance group means it’s going to be costly. 49e Insurance group is for cars that have exceeded the security requirements for Group 49 cars. These cars are typically equipped with advanced technology that ensures high performance and efficiency, but should they ever break, you’ll be paying a lot for repairs. Insurance companies consider these facts when determining your insurance premiums.
You could lower your monthly premium over time by maintaining a clean driving record or by parking your car in a lock-up garage at night. You might also want to consider taking an advanced driving course.
Insurance companies often give discounts to clients who prove that they are low-risk candidates. Insurance companies may have slightly different policies. so make sure to compare insurance Group 49e quotes before signing on the dotted line.
Do all cars in insurance Group 49 have powerful engines?
Since cars in insurance Group 49 are by nature, high-performance luxury cars, it is common for these cars to have very powerful engines. However, there could very well be an exception to the rule since insurance groups are not only based on the engine size of a car.
Things like safety features, repair costs and the trim of the car also add to its grouping. In most instances, insurance Group 49 cars are likely to have a powerful engine, which lends itself to more risk. You can expect to pay higher premiums for these cars.
Are all cars in insurance Group 49 sports cars, or are there any SUVs in this insurance group?
Insurance Group 49 is not exclusively for sports cars. But having said that, most cars in this group are typically high-performance sports cars. However, there are very nice SUVs that combine the power of a Group 49 engine with the spaciousness of SUVs in lower insurance groups.
For families that can afford the car and the insurance premiums of a Group 49 SUV, these cars are a luxurious option. You get the power, safety features, spaciousness and comfort all in one.
Make sure to shop around for the best insurance quotes. Quotezone.co.uk can compare quotes from over a hundred insurance companies in the UK. You could enjoy driving around in your Group 49 SUV while feeling good about the fact that you have done your research to secure suitable cover for your vehicle.
How can I get cheaper insurance for a Group 49e car?
Cars in insurance Group 49e are not cheap to buy. They are mostly high-performance sports cars that pose a great risk to an insurance company should they be stolen, damaged or written off.
There are ways that you could potentially minimise the insurance costs for these cars. Here are a couple that you could consider:
- Compare quotes – It is good practice to compare as many quotes for your car as possible since different insurance companies might have slightly different policies regarding Group 49 cars. Quotezone.co.uk can make this a quick and easy task.
- Increase safety and security – Group 49 cars typically have very good safety and security features already fitted. If you can find ways to increase the safety of the car even more, you could get a discounted price from the insurer.
- No-claims bonus – Keep a clean driving record year-by-year to lower your insurance premiums. Insurance companies look favourably on individuals with a good driving history.
- Increase voluntary excess – You can choose to pay a higher excess in the event of a claim. This usually lowers the monthly premium. Make sure that it is an amount that you would be able to cover should anything happen, especially since it is a Group 49 car.
- Limit mileage – By limiting your annual mileage you could qualify for a discount. Be sure to ask your insurer about the specific threshold for Group 49 cars.
Cars in insurance group 49: example models
Group 49 sits one band below the maximum and typically covers high-performance luxury saloons, hot SUVs, and powerful sports cars. The Group Rating Panel administered by Thatcham Research on behalf of the ABI updates these ratings quarterly (Thatcham Research, Insurance Group Rating), so a car in group 49 today may move up to group 50 or down to group 48 at the next review. The example cars below are typical group 49 models — confirm your exact group with the Quotezone reg-based quote form above.
BMW M3 (competition trims)
The BMW M3 Competition variants typically sit in groups 48-50. The all-wheel-drive xDrive trim and the higher-output Competition Sport models often land in group 49 specifically.
BMW X5 M50i
The high-output petrol X5 sits in groups 47-50 depending on year and trim. The M50i with the 4.4-litre V8 typically falls into group 49.
Audi RS4 Avant
The RS4 Avant 2.9 V6 biturbo is a group 47-50 car. Recent model years with the carbon ceramic brake option often push into group 49.
Audi S6 (V8 trims)
The pre-facelift V8-powered S6 sits in the upper-40s. Group 49 placements are typical for the S6 Avant with adaptive air suspension.
Mercedes-AMG E53
The AMG E53 4MATIC+ sedan and estate variants sit in groups 47-50. The E53 with the AMG performance pack is commonly group 49.
Porsche Cayenne (S and GTS trims)
The Porsche Cayenne S and GTS petrol variants are group 47-50 cars. Cayenne S Coupe trims often sit specifically in group 49.
Tesla Model S (Long Range)
Tesla’s flagship saloon typically falls into groups 48-50 in the UK. The Long Range AWD trim is commonly placed in group 49 due to high replacement cost and fast acceleration.
Range Rover Sport SVR
The discontinued SVR variant of the Range Rover Sport sits in groups 48-50. Pre-2022 SVRs are often group 49 cars in the UK.
Insurance group 49 model comparison table
| Model | Engine | Typical group | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| BMW M3 Competition xDrive | 3.0L S58 twin-turbo | 49 | All-wheel drive variant |
| BMW X5 M50i | 4.4L V8 twin-turbo | 49 | High-output petrol SUV |
| Audi RS4 Avant | 2.9L V6 biturbo | 49 | With carbon ceramic brakes |
| Audi S6 V8 (pre-facelift) | 4.0L V8 biturbo | 49 | Avant with air suspension |
| Mercedes-AMG E53 | 3.0L inline-6 + EQ Boost | 49 | 4MATIC+ saloon and estate |
| Porsche Cayenne S Coupe | 2.9L V6 biturbo | 49 | Sport-styled SUV variant |
| Tesla Model S Long Range | Dual-motor electric | 49 | Higher group than Plaid in some bands |
| Range Rover Sport SVR (pre-2022) | 5.0L supercharged V8 | 49 | Discontinued SVR trim |
How insurance group 49 compares to groups 48 and 50
Insurance group 49 sits between group 48 and group 50 on the 1-50 scale. The premium gap between adjacent groups in the high band is smaller than people expect — driver and postcode factors usually move the price more than the group itself.
Group 48 — one band lower
Group 48 typically covers slightly less powerful or less expensive variants of the same nameplates: standard-trim Audi RS5, BMW M5 Competition without the more recent performance pack, or older Range Rover Sport SVR models. Premiums sit slightly below group 49 cars but the difference is rarely large.
Group 50 — the maximum band
Group 50 covers the very top of the scale: McLaren, Lamborghini, Ferrari, top-spec Bentley and Rolls-Royce, Aston Martin, and a handful of extreme-performance variants of mainstream luxury cars. Premiums are noticeably higher than group 49 because the replacement values, repair costs, and theft risks are all higher.
Why moving one band up doesn’t double your premium
Insurance pricing is shaped by many factors. Driver age, postcode, mileage, claim history, and any modifications typically shift the final quote more than the group rating itself. A 50-year-old in a group 50 car with a clean licence often pays less than a young driver in a group 49 car.
What the 49E and 49P letter suffixes mean for your premium
The 1-50 number tells you the insurance band. The letter suffix tells you how the car’s standard security compares to the panel’s expected level for that band. On a high-value group 49 car, the letter often makes a meaningful difference to the premium because security and theft risk weigh heavily at this band.
49E — security meets the expected level
The “E” suffix means the standard-fit security on a group 49 car meets what the Group Rating Panel expects for that band. Most modern group 49 cars (BMW M3, Audi RS4, Tesla Model S Long Range) are 49E cars when sold new with the manufacturer’s standard security suite.
49A — security falls below the expected level
The “A” suffix means the standard security falls short of the panel’s expected level for that band. Older group 49 cars without modern alarm/immobiliser systems or aftermarket security retrofits are sometimes 49A. Premiums on 49A cars are typically higher than 49E equivalents because the theft risk is higher.
49P — provisional rating
The “P” suffix means the rating is provisional, usually because the car is new to the market or has been recently re-tested. A 49P rating may be revised at the next quarterly Group Rating Panel review. The premium impact is small but the rating can shift later.
49U, 49G, 49R — less common suffixes
“U” means unacceptable security (rare; usually triggers a manual review by the insurer). “G” means guaranteed (the rating is confirmed across the model range). “R” means revised (the car has been re-tested and the score has changed). These appear infrequently on group 49 cars.
Compare cheap insurance group 49 quotes from UK providers
Group 49 cars carry higher-than-average premiums by design, but five practical steps can help keep the quote competitive. Quotezone compares quotes for group 49 cars from over 130 UK providers, including specialist performance car insurers who don’t always appear on standard comparison searches.
Compare specialist as well as mainstream insurers
Group 49 cars are often quoted more competitively by specialist performance and prestige insurers (Adrian Flux, Sky Insurance, A-Plan Performance) than by mainstream insurers. Quotezone includes both panels in a single search.
Mind the trim level when buying
A BMW M3 Competition is in a different group to an M3 Competition xDrive. A few thousand pounds of trim difference can shift the group, the premium, and the resale value. Always check the exact group for the spec you’re buying.
Don’t add modifications without declaring them
Aftermarket performance parts, exhaust upgrades, body kits, and ECU remaps must all be declared. On a group 49 car the premium uplift for declared modifications can be substantial — undeclared modifications can void the policy entirely.
Park securely and use approved trackers
Cars in groups 47-50 are theft targets. Quoted premiums are typically lower if the car is kept in a locked garage or fitted with a Thatcham category 5 or 6 tracker. Some specialist insurers require this for cover at all.
Build no-claims discount on a daily-driver first
Insurers price group 49 cars more competitively for drivers with multiple years of no-claims discount. If group 49 is your second car, building NCD on a lower-group daily driver first reduces the eventual group 49 premium.
Frequently asked questions about insurance group 49
What does insurance group 49 mean?
What is the difference between insurance group 49 and 49e?
Why is insurance group 49 so expensive?
Are all insurance group 49 cars sports cars?
Will the Vehicle Risk Rating system replace insurance group 49?
How can I check if my car is in insurance group 49?
Can a car move out of insurance group 49 at the next review?
Why do group 49 quotes vary so much between insurers?
Reviewed by: Greg Wilson
Founder & Insurance Expert
Written by: Katie Gawley
Insurance Content Writer
Fact-checked by: Quotezone Editorial Team
This content follows our Editorial Guidelines
Last Updated: 27 April 2026
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