A convertible suits drivers who want open-air journeys and can accommodate the roof, seating and luggage layout in everyday use. For a private driver or an SME director choosing a company car, the useful question is whether it works with the roof both raised and lowered. Check those two configurations before selecting the derivative.
Intelligent Vehicle Finance is a credit broker, not a lender, and receives a commission from the lender or funder when an agreement completes. A trading style of XLCR Vehicle Management Ltd, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 315268). Subject to status and availability.
Last updated: September 2026.
Editorial responsibility: Stacey Smith, Brand Director, Intelligent Vehicle Finance.
| Your requirement | What to check |
|---|---|
| Weekends away or business luggage | Check the boot opening and usable luggage space with the roof stowed. Confirm any luggage partition and loading restrictions. |
| Parking at home or work | Check roof operating clearance and door opening space. Review the manufacturer’s instructions for the actual roof mechanism. |
| Year-round driving | Try visibility, seating and cabin comfort with the roof closed. Confirm the care requirements and where the car will be kept. |
A soft top, folding hard roof and opening roof panel are not interchangeable designs. Check the model year and body on the written quote, including the actual seats and roof equipment. Do not assume a photograph of one version shows the car being offered. If the roof adds little to your regular journeys, compare a coupe as well.
Electric and combustion convertibles require different journey planning, but the roof style itself sets neither tax nor range. Verify the actual powertrain, wheels and insurance quotation. Check maintenance coverage for the roof and other equipment in writing, and follow the manufacturer’s roof care instructions throughout the agreement.
Confirm the model year, powertrain, trim, wheels and options on the written quote. Any range, charging, economy or carrying-capacity figure must relate to that exact derivative. Real-world results vary with conditions and use; a model page or category does not guarantee supply.
The car-tax information below applies to passenger cars. Confirm vehicle classification before applying it to quadricycles, camper vehicles or other specialist entries in the catalogue.
For an employer-provided car available for private use, the annual taxable benefit normally starts with the exact derivative’s P11D value multiplied by its appropriate BiK percentage. Your income tax rate is then applied, with adjustments where relevant. Commuting counts as private use. A personal contract does not by itself create company-car BiK; sole traders should confirm their business treatment with their accountant.
| Tax CO2 / official electric range | 2026/27 | 2027/28 | 2028/29 | 2029/30 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zero-emission company car | 4% | 5% | 7% | 9% |
| 1–50g/km, by official electric range | 4–16% | 5–17% | 18% | 19% |
| Above 50g/km, ordinary CO2 treatment | 17–37% | 18–37% | 19–38% | 20–39% |
For 1–50g/km cars, the 2026/27 percentages are 4%, 7%, 10%, 14% and 16% for official electric ranges of 130+ miles, 70–129, 40–69, 30–39 and under 30 miles respectively. Each rises by one percentage point in 2027/28. These are tax thresholds, not promised vehicle ranges. From 6 April 2028 that CO2 group moves to 18%, then 19% from 6 April 2029. Above 50g/km, use the exact emissions band, not the range in this summary.
PHEV exception: a plug-in hybrid first registered from 1 January 2025 to 5 April 2028, with recorded CO2 of at least 51g/km, at least one mile of official electric range and an emissions standard other than Euro 6d-ISC-FCM or Euro 6e can qualify for a tax CO2 figure of 1g/km. This changes company-car tax, not its catalogue CO2 or VED. For a qualifying car made available by 5 April 2028, relief can continue until variation or renewal of the arrangement, or 5 April 2031, whichever is earlier. It preserves the tax CO2 treatment, not a frozen percentage: the 18% and 19% annual rates still apply while it qualifies. Ask payroll or your accountant to check HMRC’s full easement conditions.
Diesel cars that do not meet RDE2 normally add four percentage points, subject to the applicable annual cap. The overall caps are 37% in 2026/27 and 2027/28, 38% in 2028/29 and 39% in 2029/30. See HMRC’s diesel rules.
Tax percentages checked 28 September 2026 against HMRC’s current table, the 2027/28 table and the 2028/29–2029/30 changes. Your circumstances, contributions and availability periods can affect the final calculation; ask your accountant to confirm it.
Vehicle Excise Duty (VED): for cars registered from 1 April 2017, first-year tax follows CO2 and the applicable fuel rules. The standard annual rate after the first year is £200 for a single annual payment in 2026/27, before supplements; older registration rules differ. A low-CO2 or electric car is not automatically road-tax-free. Confirm what the funder includes and who pays any later increase.
Expensive Car Supplement (ECS): in 2026/27 this is £440 a year for five years from the second vehicle-tax payment. It applies above a published list price of £40,000 for petrol, diesel and hybrid cars, and above £50,000 for qualifying zero-emission cars registered from 1 April 2025. The zero-emission threshold changed from 1 April 2026. Confirm list price including relevant options; a negotiated discount does not set this threshold. See current GOV.UK VED and supplement rules.
Planned eVED: the government’s July 2026 policy sets out an additional mileage charge from 1 April 2028, starting at 3p per mile for battery-electric and hydrogen cars and 1.5p per mile for plug-in hybrids. It is additional to VED and is not a current charge. Legislation and implementation are still to be completed, and rates are to rise with CPI from 2029/30. Ask how the funder would administer and pass on the charge if your agreement crosses April 2028; do not assume it is included. See the government’s eVED policy.
These are tax figures, not a vehicle-finance quotation. Confirm the agreed term, annual mileage, initial payment, ongoing payments, VAT basis, administration and other applicable fees, maintenance, insurance and road-tax responsibilities in the written quote. Tax rules and rates can change. General information checked 28 September 2026; take advice on your own circumstances.
Check the convertible you will live with
Tell us your seating and luggage needs, where you park and whether the car will be used throughout the year. We compare options from our panel of funders and put the choices in writing. Finance is subject to status, individual funder criteria and availability.
The rebuilt model pages below offer a closer look at relevant choices. Confirm the exact body, powertrain and CO2 on the quote; a model page may show other versions, and inclusion here does not guarantee availability.
Compare coupe leasing, sports car leasing, or explore car leasing.
For powertrain choices, see electric car leasing and hybrid car leasing. Compare business contract hire with personal contract hire to choose the right agreement route.
Inspect the seating, visibility and luggage space with the roof up and down. Check the exact roof type, operation and care instructions, plus your parking space and insurance, before accepting a quote.
It can, depending on the design. Check the actual model and any luggage partition rather than applying a single boot figure to both roof positions.
Decide from the actual car and your circumstances. Try roof-up comfort and visibility, check the manufacturer’s maintenance guidance and consider parking and insurance. A convertible label alone does not answer those questions.
No. Check the actual seat count and whether the seating is useful for your passengers. If child seats are needed, confirm approved positions and compatibility for the exact car.
Do not assume it is. Read the agreement and any maintenance package for coverage and exclusions, and follow the manufacturer’s care schedule. Ask for clarification before accepting the quote.
Not necessarily. Some model families include other bodies. Confirm that the quote identifies the convertible derivative, roof specification, model year and equipment you intended to choose.
Confirm the exact car and equipment, term, mileage, initial and ongoing payments, VAT basis and applicable fees. Check maintenance, insurance, road-tax responsibilities and any future tax increases in the agreement. Finance is subject to status, individual funder criteria and availability.
You normally return the car rather than own it. Mileage above the agreed allowance and damage beyond the applicable fair wear and tear standard can lead to charges. Ask about collection, early termination and any other contractual charges before signing.
Call 01752 429950 or request a callback. Tell us your journeys, annual mileage, passenger and luggage needs and preferred agreement term. We compare options from our panel of funders and put choices in writing. We are a credit broker, not a lender; finance is subject to status and availability.
Intelligent Vehicle Finance is a credit broker, not a lender, and receives a commission from the lender or funder when an agreement completes. A trading style of XLCR Vehicle Management Ltd, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 315268). Subject to status and availability.