BMW Car Insurance

BMW was established over a hundred years ago, and its vehicles have since become some of the most desirable and sought-after models on the market.

If you’re lucky enough to own one, you will, of course, need car insurance for your BMW before taking to the road in the UK.

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Before insuring your BMW, there are some things you should keep in mind, including the potential cost of covering the vehicle, how much cover you need, and certain specialist policies that may be worth considering.

What is BMW car insurance?

In order to drive a BMW – and any other vehicle – on UK roads, you must legally have a car insurance policy in place.

There are three main types of car insurance to choose from, including:

• Third-party only car insurance: The minimum level of insurance, covering damage to third parties and their vehicles but not your own.
• Third party, fire and theft car insurance: Covers damage to third parties, as well as theft and fire damage to your own vehicle.
• Fully comprehensive insurance: The most extensive level of insurance available, covering damage to third parties, your own vehicle and yourself.

The best car insurance for your BMW depends on your personal preferences, but we usually recommend that you take out fully comprehensive cover, because it protects you against all eventualities and is often the cheapest option as well.

BMW has a wide range of vehicles, but whether you have a luxury SUV, an electric car, a hatchback or an executive saloon, you will need motor insurance.

As you will undoubtedly need cover, it’s worth pricing up the cost of your premiums before purchasing the car, just to make sure that you will be able to afford the annual fee.

How much does BMW car insurance cost?

The cost of your BMW car insurance depends on a variety of factors, including (but not limited to):

• Your vehicle’s value and model

• Your age and driving experience

• Vehicle modifications

• The vehicle’s security features

• Previous claims made and driving penalties

• Any named drivers

• Your annual mileage

• Where you park the car overnight

• Your no-claims bonus

• Your voluntary excess

The best way to find out the exact price that you might pay for BMW car insurance is, of course, to get a quote.

One of the most important factors is what model you are covering, but there is a way to get a general idea of how expensive (or cheap) it may be to insure – by checking its car insurance group.

BMW insurance groups

Insurance groups are essentially categories ranging from 1-50 which indicate how expensive a vehicle might be to insure, with 1 being the cheapest and 50 being the most costly.

Here are some of the most popular BMW models and their insurance groups:

Data collected by Confused.com, sourced from Parkers.co.uk.

The more expensive and luxurious BMW models will typically be more expensive to insure, because they would cost more to repair or replace if ever you are involved in an accident and make a claim.

Specialist BMW policies

There are also specialist car insurance policies that you may want to consider, if regular cover does not suit your personal situation, or you want to explore your options in terms of cost.

There are even some BMW car insurance specialists in the UK, who are experts in providing cover exclusively for owners of BMWs. While they may not always be the cheapest option, it’s worth getting a quote before committing to another policy, as the cover will be tailored to your personal vehicle.

Depending on your vehicle and your personal situation, you may want to consider other specialist polices, such as: 

• 4x4 insurance

• Black box insurance

• Temporary car insurance

• Classic car insurance

• Modified car insurance

Temporary cover

If you only need insurance for a short amount of time, it can make financial sense to take out short-term or temporary cover.

Temporary BMW car insurance can last anything from one day, seven days, one month, or even longer, depending on your needs.

These policies can be particularly useful if you are, for example, a student only using the vehicle while home from university, sharing driving duties with a partner during a long journey, or if you plan on selling the vehicle soon.

Read more about this type of insurance in our full guide to temporary cover.

Classic BMW car insurance

If you own a classic BMW – such as a 328 Roadster, Isetta, 507 Roadster, 2002 Turbo, or Z3 M Coupé – then you might need to take out a specialist classic car insurance policy.

Chances are that your classic car is one of your most prized possessions, so it’s important that you protect it against the risk of damage or theft.

Generally speaking, in order to be considered a classic car, the vehicle should be over 15 years old and have a value of over £15,000, but this isn’t set in stone and each provider will have different requirements.

Check out our guide for more information on classic cover: Choosing Classic Car Insurance.

How to get cheap BMW car insurance

As a luxury brand, your BMW may not be the most affordable car to purchase, maintain or insure, but there are ways to reduce the amount you pay in premiums.

Some of the best methods of getting cheaper car insurance include:

• Build your no-claims bonus
• Choose a cheaper model to insure
• Improve your vehicle’s security using technological devices
• Park your car in a private drive or garage overnight
• Increase your voluntary excess
• Add an experienced named driver
• Shopping around, comparing quotes and switching providers

Car insurance is an expense that all motorists simply have to accept, but you should never simply accept the first price that you’re offered. Instead, shop around and compare quotes on comparison sites to find the best BMW car insurance deal for you.

Remember, the cheapest car insurance policy isn’t always the best one – your cover should be affordable, but it must always cover you against all relevant eventualities.

For more information on car insurance, be sure to check out our related guides:

• Audi Car Insurance
• Car Insurance Renewal: A Guide
• The Best, Cheapest Cars to Insure in the UK
• The UK’s Best Car Insurance Companies