Car colour popularity


The most popular car colours were greyscale colours, with over 70% of cars produced globally being white, black, grey or silver. Red, blue and brown/beige cars ranged between 6% and 10% each, while all other colours amounted to less than 5%.

Survey results (2012)

The results of colour popularity surveys conducted by American paint manufacturers PPG Industries and DuPont are shown in the table and chart below. Note that the results for silver and grey may be affected by discrepancies in how the companies classify these colours.
Color popularity

Financial impacts of colour choice

Silver is a popular colour for rental vehicles. Cars that are silver retain their value better than any other colour, reselling for around 10% more than white cars; this superior resale value has caused many UK police agencies to replace their standard white patrol cars with silver models.
A common belief is that red cars cost more to insure; in fact, insurers do not take colour into account.

Historical trends

Colour choice is subject to fluctuation and fashion, and historical trends shifted from dark neutral colours of early cars, through more vivid colours of 1950s and 1960s, back towards today's greyscale colours.

Gender differences

A 2013 survey in the United States found that men were 12% more likely to prefer a red car, while women were 9% more likely to prefer silver. The research suggested this may indicate that women are more likely to prefer practical cars, while men may be more likely to prefer less practical but more fast and fun cars.