What affects the price of car insurance?
Insurers use a variety of factors to determine insurance costs, including:
Your age: Generally, younger drivers are considered higher risk by insurers. This is because they normally have less experience on the roads than older drivers, meaning they are statistically more likely to be involved in an accident.
Where you live: Living in built-up areas with higher rates of vehicle theft will mean you're likely to pay more for insurance than rural areas that have less risk.
Your occupation: Insurers consider some jobs to be more risk than others. This could be because of how much time you spend on the road, the types of people you're likely to associate with, or where your car is likely to be kept while you're working.
Your car: Insurers rank vehicles from insurance groups 1 to 50, with 1 being the cheapest to insure and 50 being the most expensive. Mini insurance groups range from 11 to 40. The more powerful and expensive models in group 40 will cost more to insure.
Your driving history: Any previous claims or driving convictions will impact how much you pay.
What insurance group is my MINI in?
Car insurance group checker
The car
Insurance group
Group
9/50
How can I save on my Mini car insurance?
The price you pay to insure your Mini will depend on several factors, such as your age, location and driving history. However, there are still things you can do to try and help bring down the cost:
Shop around and compare quotes
Comparing car insurance quotes is one of the best ways to insure you're getting the best deal for the cover you need. Our data suggests the best time to buy your policy is around 20 days2 before your renewal date.
Estimate your mileage accurately
Typically, the more miles you drive, the more your insurance will cost. This is because driving more puts you at a higher risk of making a claim. Our customers drive around 6,574 miles per year, on average2. If you don't drive many miles, you might benefit from a pay-as-you-go policy.
Improve your car's security
Adding things like a steering wheel lock, car tracker, or immobiliser to reduce the chances of car theft. Parking in a secure garage rather than on a dimly lit street can also help reduce the likelihood of your Mini being stolen.
Build up your no-claims bonus (NCB)
Each year you're insured without making a claim, your NCB increases. Insurers offer discounts for each year of no-claims you build up. Some policies allow you to protect your no-claims discount, so you can make a certain number of no-fault claims in a year and not lose your NCB.
Pay annually rather than monthly
By paying annually, you can save on your car insurance. This is because when you pay monthly, insurers add interest onto the cost.
Add a named driver
Adding a driver with a good driving history can be especially helpful if you're a young driver. Just make sure you're honest about who the main driver is, otherwise this is known as 'fronting', which is illegal and can result in your insurance being invalidated.
Increase your voluntary excess
Generally, the higher your excess, the lower your insurance could be. Just make sure you set it at a level that you can afford to pay if needed.
(2)Confused.com data, Q4 2024.
What insurance can I get for my Mini?
There are 3 levels of car insurance you can choose from:
Car insurance guides
Page last published: 13 Jan 2025
Reviewed by: Rhydian Jones