How safe are convertible cars?

There isn’t much better than putting the top down on a convertible and enjoying a scenic drive on a lovely sunny day. Even though it’s hard to deny the pleasure afforded by driving a convertible, many people assume they’re dangerous because there’s nothing to protect the occupants in a crash without a roof.

But are these cars safer than people may think? First, we’ll cover how safe it really is to drive a convertible vehicle, and then we’ll highlight some of the safest convertibles. Finally, we’ll share tips on how to get convertible car insurance for the best price.

Convertibles and Safety

Convertibles don’t have a fixed roof. Even when the top is up, it doesn’t have the same structure as a traditional car, so it stands to reason that convertibles are far more dangerous.

You may be surprised to hear that the data doesn’t support that assumption. In an in-depth study of convertibles made between 2014 and 2018, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) concluded that convertibles are as safe as traditional cars.

The following are their data points to support that conclusion:

• Driver crashes – Driver-involved crashes per 10 billion vehicle miles traveled were 6% lower for convertibles.
• Driver deaths – The driver death rate per 10 billion vehicle miles traveled was 11% lower for convertibles.

Even though overall safety rates are better for convertibles, the risk of being ejected during a rollover crash is higher for convertibles than traditional cars. According to this same study, occupants in convertibles had a 43% likelihood of being ejected, while occupants in a traditional car had a 35% chance of being ejected during a rollover crash.

This statistic wasn’t enough to change the overall risk in a convertible, though, because rollover crashes are not common. Additionally, the percentage of deaths from rollover crashes was similar between convertibles and coupes.

Convertibles manufactured before 2014 are likely not as safe and may be more dangerous than standard vehicles of the same model years. That’s true for all vehicles, though, as the current safety technology wasn’t available in older cars.

Without the fear that convertibles are more dangerous to drive, you may be reconsidering purchasing one, especially if you’re planning an immersive experience traveling to a scenic city.

Safest Convertibles

Advances in technology continually make the world a more convenient place, and some of those advancements have revolutionized vehicle safety.

Even though you can’t say that convertibles are unsafe in general, some have more protective and advanced safety features than others. We’ll share some of the safest models next.

Chevrolet Camaro

The Camaro comes with basic standard safety features, but you can add additional features like forward-collision alert, blind-spot alert, and rear-vision camera for an additional cost. In addition, the engineering of the vehicle body helps keep occupants safe from injury. That and airbags come standard on all models.

Mercedes-Benz E-Class

This model has the option of adding some of the best preventive safety features available today, including automatic emergency braking and their own PRE-SAFE system that coordinates several actions to lessen the impact of a crash and keep occupants safer. Another item that contributes to their superior safety is their adaptive high beams.

Mustang GT

The Ford Mustang has safety features to help prevent crashes as well as protect occupants in the event of a crash. Unfortunately, many of the crash prevention features are only available as an option and don’t come standard. Since rollover crashes could potentially be problematic for convertible occupants, it’s important to note that the rollover rate for this model is low.

Porsche Boxter

Like the other models on our list, the Porsche Boxter has several standard safety features, but the best and most advanced features are only available for an extra cost. The options include blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high-beam headlights.

Insurance for Convertibles

Many times, insurance for convertibles costs more than insurance for sedans and coupes. One of the reasons for that is convertibles are usually sporty, and people tend to drive sporty cars more recklessly than other cars.

If you have a clean driving record, that will help you get lower rates, as that’s a primary factor affecting your car insurance premiums.

When you’re looking for car insurance for a convertible, check out the following tips to help you get the best deal.

Apply Discounts

One of the most popular discounts is for bundling home and auto insurance. Of course, it’s not always the best route, but it’s always worth considering and getting a quote from the insurer you have for your home.

You could get a military discount if you’re in or have been in the armed services.

If you’re planning to use your vehicle primarily for occasional pleasure driving, you may be eligible for a low-mileage discount.

Each insurance company develops its own list of discounts, so you’ll want to find out what’s available for your situation and apply all that you can.

Shop Around

Even though car insurance companies use the same factors to calculate insurance rates, they all use different formulas. So, while one company may charge you twice as much to insure a convertible, another may hardly charge more at all.

When you compare quotes, be sure to compare identical coverage and deductibles to make sure you get accurate quotes.

Drive Carefully

If you have speeding tickets and accidents on your record, you’ll pay higher insurance premiums, and if you get a DUI, your rates could go even higher. Fortunately, you can prevent rate increases by driving carefully and following traffic laws.

If you own a convertible, you can drive with confidence knowing that convertibles are as safe as their coupe counterparts. To further increase your driving pleasure, be sure to protect your convertible with adequate car insurance and drive safely to keep your rates low.

About Author:

Melanie Musson writes and researches for the car insurance site, CarInsuranceComparison.com. She enjoys helping others understand their insurance needs so they can protect their current and future financial stability.

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