RATING insurance groups are evaluations of risks faced by cars and light commercial vehicles in the United Kingdom. These ratings are decided by discussions between automobile manufacturers and representatives of the insurance industry, particularly the Association of British Insurers.

STRUCTURE OF THE GROUPS: Rating insurance groups are alpha-numeric, i.e., they have a number and a letter of the alphabet. The numbers range from 1 to 20, while the letters are: A, D, E, U, P, G.

MEANING OF THE GROUPS: The assessed risk facing a car is proportional to the numeric component of the group. A car in a group whose numeric component is '1' faces the lowest risk. The assessed risk increases with the numeric component and is the highest at 20. Given that the premium prices too are proportionate to the assessed risk, cars in groups with the numeric '1' attract the lowest premium. Premium increases with the numeric component of the group, it being the highest at 20.

Examples of Group rating 1 cars: As mentioned earlier in this report, representatives of the automobile industry and insurers meet from time to time to assign group ratings to cars and light commercial vehicles. Ratings may change with time, just as new models of cars may join existing models in a specific group rating. At the time of writing, however, the following car models were among those with group rating 1:

* Citroen C2

* Vauxhall Corsa 1.0

* Smart Fortwo

* Ford Ka

* Ford Fiesta

* Citroen Saxo 1.0

* C1 (from the Citroen car family)

Finally, please note that the group ratings are only indicative in nature and most insurers follow these ratings, though they are legally fee to deviate from them. If you are busying anew car, and insurance cost is an issue, get the insurance group rating of the car and check with an insurer the premium you would have to pay for the type of insurance you need.