Convertibles cost more to insure, but we won’t let the sun go down on you says Hyperformance

As the summer starts to drift away and the nights start to draw in, there are one set of motorists that may be left to rue their choice of car throughout the winter months.

More and more motorists are buying convertible models, with purchases hitting their peak in the spring and summer. However, with the sun on your back and the wind in your hair it’s easy to overlook a single cloud on the horizon, which may well only hit home when the benefits of a soft top are negated by the weather; convertibles can be more expensive to insure.

That’s because they’re considered to be easier to break into and more desirable and thus at a greater risk from thieves; with long summer nights and lots of people around this may not seem such a risk, but once the nights draw in and the population retires to spend more time keeping warm inside, the risk is accentuated.

However, the premium you pay for the pleasure of driving with the roof down during the warmer days need not be over the top. Hyperformance, the leading insurance intermediary for young drivers and high performance vehicles, says there is a way for convertible owners to enjoy the sunshine and save money throughout the year.

The company is urging prospective buyers to consider shopping around for the most competitive quote to make sure they get the best insurance deal they can.

Hyperformance spokesman Steve McPherson says the key to getting the best price on insurance for soft tops, whatever the season, is to contact a broker or intermediary that specialises in non-standard risks; they will already be working with those insurers least likely to impose stringent penalties on those who want to make motoring a bit more fun.

Additionally, if the intermediary has the ability to treat every case on an individual basis, it may be possible to negotiate further discounts based on factors such as where the vehicle will be kept and what type of security it has.

Where a standard insurer may simply levy an extra loading upon a premium, a non-standard specialist is able to apply specific schemes to reduce the impact of such an increase.

For example, based upon a middle aged driver with a good driving record and a claim free history, the increase on a premium for a soft top option on a standard Mercedes CLK could be expected to equal roughly 15%. However a non standard intermediary would be able to explore the risk further and thus reduce such a loading.

Where the vehicle is garaged when not in use, this increase will fall to around 13% and if a Thatcham Cat 2 security system is fitted then a convertible Mercedes CLK could cost just 10% more to insure than a standard hard top version. Other factors could also bring the increase down further and the type of car in question obviously has a bearing.

By considering the five models of car in the enclosed table, it is possible to note that the increase in insurance relating to owning a soft top, can be reduced by as much as half, when a specialist is able to consider factors other than whether or not the car is a convertible.

"Owners will always have to pay a bit more to insure their convertibles but it can pay dividends to talk with your broker to try to identify special conditions that may encourage a lower premium," says Steve.

"Hyperformance provides this type of service as standard and we have found several ways to avoid hammering motorists. Whilst we make no promises as to the amount a premium might be reduced, customers can be sure that we will take note of all relevant information and will factor all the positives into every quote.

"Taking the time to find out the facts could save you money and will still leave you smiling even when the weather changes," he adds.