20th Oct 2026 08:52
(Alliance News) - Sabre Insurance Group PLC on Tuesday confirmed its annual profit guidance, as the insurer reported double-digit premium growth in the first nine months of 2026, driven by its motor vehicle and motorcycle businesses.
However, the company warned about persistent claims inflation across the UK insurance market.
Shares in Sabre were 6.5% lower at 173.40 pence in London on Tuesday.
The Dorking, England-based motor insurance underwriter said gross written premiums rose 14% to GBP173.4 million in the nine months to September 30 from GBP151.7 million a year earlier.
Motor vehicle premiums increased 17% to GBP155.1 million from GBP133.1 million, while motorcycle premiums surged 53% to GBP13.3 million from GBP8.7 million, supported by the continued rollout of Sabre Direct motorcycle insurance.
Taxi premiums however fell 49% to GBP5.0 million from GBP9.9 million. Sabre didn't provide a reason for the nearly halving in taxi premiums. It said its motor vehicle and taxi business segments will be combined into a single motor vehicle segment with its 2026 full-year results, "better reflecting the group's strategic focus".
Sabre maintained its guidance that pretax profit for 2026 will be slightly higher than in 2025. Pretax profit was GBP51.0 million in 2025, up 4.9% from GBP48.6 million in 2024. Sabre is targetting annual pretax profit of at least GBP80 million by 2030.
The company also guided that undiscounted net insurance margins in 2026 will be within its target range of 18% to 22%.
Market-wide, claims inflation has remained between 6% and 7%, Sabre said. While its own claims inflation is being covered by pricing, premium increases in the broader market have not kept pace with rising costs, the company said. It expects further industry price increases will be needed to cover claims inflation, although the timing remains uncertain.
Chief Executive Geoff Carter said: "We have maintained pricing discipline, strong premium volumes and a robust solvency position despite continuing weak market conditions."
Sabre expects premium growth to moderate in the final quarter but remains on track to achieve its Ambition 2030 target of at least GBP80 million in annual pretax profit by 2030.
By Eva Castanedo, Alliance News senior economics reporter
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