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Hello everybody, I hope you’re all well. I have a question about the ABI grouping of cars. I’m interested in the A3 30 TFSI Sport S tronic, but it’s labeled as an ABI 17, which makes it unsuitable for drivers under 25. However, the previous model was ABI 15E, and the newer model should be ABI 16 after adding 6 brake horsepower to the car. They also labeled the TFSI35 as ABI 17, despite having 148 horsepower, which I find hard to believe should be in the same group as the slower model. Is there a way to discuss this with them and perhaps review the insurance grouping to lower it from 17 to 16? I only been using insurance websites to check the insurance group and some label the car as ABI 16 and some as 15E.
Thank You.
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The Association of British Insurers (ABI) grade vehicles on a scale of 1 to 50.
To make sure the Motability Scheme is affordable, drivers under 25 can only drive cars that meet these criteria:
- Petrol, diesel or hybrid cars with an ABI Insurance Group of 16 or lower
- A power output of 120 brake horsepower (BHP) or les
- Electric cars with an ABI Insurance Group of 21 or lower
- Electric cars with a power output of 140 brake horsepower (BHP) or less
I was looking at a Hyundai Kona 1.0 automatic. The advance was suitable for under 25 but the N-line was not. Apart from the trim the only difference was the N-Line had extra safety equipment which increased the insurance grouping.
The 2 Audi’s you looked at might have the same engine but check what difference there is with the equipment.
Check the insurance groups on Parkers or some of the insurance comparison sites. Don’t always trust Motability’s website as they had issues with some Skoda’s in Q1 where they were all listed as group 17 but some were as low as 13. If there is any discrepancy contact Motability.
I checked on parkers and moneysupermarket and they label the exact model as insurance group 15E or 16 but motability website lables it as 17. thats why I wanted to know if there is a way around it for them to review the ABI grouping and lower it maybe?
Thatcham oversee the insurance group, it’s a complex system. You used to be able to search directly on the Thatcham site but it appears no longer. https://www.thatcham.org/pf/group-rating/
This RAC link is interesting:
https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/buying-and-selling-guides/car-insurance-groups-explained/
I checked on parkers and moneysupermarket and they label the exact model as insurance group 15E or 16 but motability website lables it as 17. thats why I wanted to know if there is a way around it for them to review the ABI grouping and lower it maybe?
Even if Motability lower the the insurance group to group 16, you are still buggered, as the BHP limit for under 25’s is 120bhp or lower, as pointed out in my first comment.
Thatcham oversee the insurance group, it’s a complex system. You used to be able to search directly on the Thatcham site but it appears no longer. https://www.thatcham.org/pf/group-rating/ This RAC link is interesting: https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/buying-and-selling-guides/car-insurance-groups-explained/
As the op is under 25 they are also limited to 120bhp regardless whether the insurance is group 15 or group 17, as the 2024 A3 sport is 148bhp.
I checked on parkers and moneysupermarket and they label the exact model as insurance group 15E or 16 but motability website lables it as 17. thats why I wanted to know if there is a way around it for them to review the ABI grouping and lower it maybe?
I would give them a call and tell them their site is wrong and if they don’t take you seriously, escalate the matter to the chief exec. This is exactly what happened with the Skoda Fabia and Kamiq earlier this year.
sorry maybe I wasnt clear enoguh but the car model is A3 30 TFSI sport S tronic, its 114BHP(on their website) but its actually 116BHP(on audi webstie). Either way its less then 120 bhp. the dealer I spoke to told me the car used to be ABI15 but they changed it to 17 and had some awkward calls with some of the customers who ordered it since under 25s cant drive it no more. Either way I found it odd that insruance websites online label the car as insurance group 16 or 15E but motability labels it as 17.
Its already been on another discussion, the thing is that currently the new A3 is only available in a 35 and as mentioned in this thread, that version is to powerful to be in the under 25 choices. Some here will ridicule people who say there is no point in challenging the situation but I really cannot see where a challenge would go. Good thing is if you can wait Audi intend to release an A3 30 later in the year which hopefully will meet the criteria for under 25s
sorry maybe I wasnt clear enoguh but the car model is A3 30 TFSI sport S tronic, its 114BHP(on their website) but its actually 116BHP(on audi webstie). Either way its less then 120 bhp. the dealer I spoke to told me the car used to be ABI15 but they changed it to 17 and had some awkward calls with some of the customers who ordered it since under 25s cant drive it no more. Either way I found it odd that insruance websites online label the car as insurance group 16 or 15E but motability labels it as 17.
Sorry I miss-read you were looking at the 35 TFSI.
Have you looked on Direct Line as they supply Motabilty’s insurance.
I have, unfortunately, not been able to find any information on what insurance group the Audi belongs to.
I can only check the ones that are being sold in the market, like this one: https://www.vertumotors.com/new-car-deals/audi/a3/sport/250219/audi-a3-30-tfsi-sport-5dr-s-tronic-petrol-hatchback/
which are labeled as 15E.
I have, unfortunately, not been able to find any information on what insurance group the Audi belongs to. I can only check the ones that are being sold in the market, like this one: https://www.vertumotors.com/new-car-deals/audi/a3/sport/250219/audi-a3-30-tfsi-sport-5dr-s-tronic-petrol-hatchback/ which are labeled as 15E.
Motability aren’t known for their accuracy, especially at quarter change’s!
I suggest a call to DLM, to clarify the group the car is in and question, if you still believe it is wrong 🙂
A user in the thread I listed had the same situation with the same car:
‘When we placed the order the car was suitable for under 25s it was an Audi a3 s line 30 tfsi. With 110 bhp the car that has been delivered has 124bhp if I remember correctly. Everything else is still the same.’
Motability aren’t known for their accuracy, especially at quarter change’s! I suggest a call to DLM, to clarify the group the car is in and question, if you still believe it is wrong 🙂
There is no right or wrong, I guess, as the insurance company can label the car in any ABI group they want to. However, the car trim hasn’t changed; it’s still labeled as 114 bhp and has the same features. Yet, they removed it from the under-25 suitable cars.
here is a link of the same car from a dealrship advertising the car as suitable for under 25:https://www.swanswaygarages.com/motability/offer/audi-a3-sportback-s-line-30-tfsi-116ps-7-speed-s-tronic/
See the link @wmcforum posted earlier!
Specifically this post:
“My partner only has a provisional license so currently cannot drive. I turn 25 in 6 months .
When we placed the order the car was suitable for under 25s it was an Audi a3 s line 30 tfsi. With 110 bhp the car that has been delivered has 124bhp if I remember correctly. Everything else is still the same.
Not at one point did we get notified it would be updated and no longer be suitable for under 25s.
and problem is the car we had previously we sold thinking everything would be smooth sailing as the deposit and application went through okay. My partner is not able to get around easily so we are a bit stuck.
My partner is going to appeal it but not sure if we will have any luck.“
thanks for the replies, just an update I spoke to Audi and they said that trim used to be available for under 25s but they changed it and they didnt really know why, so I guess it is what it is.
I’ve tried replying to this topic before but I’m unsure if it went through. Does anyone know if the Audi A3 will be available for under 25’s again? Or if its even possible.
I’ve tried replying to this topic before but I’m unsure if it went through. Does anyone know if the Audi A3 will be available for under 25’s again? Or if its even possible.
Talk is they will release a 1.0 lower powered version of the 2024 model later this year BUT that’s just talk and its impossible to say that if correct Motability will put it on the under 25 list.
Thanks for letting me know. That’s really unfortunate, I was hoping to get the Audi A3 earlier when it was previously available. I’m just wondering, do you know where this rumor has come from, and if the later date this year has a more specific estimate? I hope it is true and if it so it’d be available in Motability.
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Thanks for letting me know. That’s really unfortunate, I was hoping to get the Audi A3 earlier when it was previously available. I’m just wondering, do you know where this rumor has come from, and if the later date this year has a more specific estimate? I hope it is true and if it so it’d be available in Motability.
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