When it comes to avoiding traffic tickets, the color of your car does matter. According to studies, vehicles in certain colors tend to get pulled over less frequently than others. So if you’re looking to avoid unwanted attention from the police, you may want to take color into consideration when purchasing your next car.
How Color Affects Your Chances of Getting a Ticket
Research has shown that both the exterior and interior colors of a car can influence the likelihood of getting a ticket. Here are some of the key findings:
- Silver, gray, blue, and red cars tend to get fewer tickets than other colors.
- Black, white, and bright yellow cars are more likely to get pulled over.
- Vehicles with a lighter interior color are less likely to get ticketed than those with dark interiors.
- Odd or unusual color choices tend to attract more attention from police.
There are a few potential reasons why this color bias exists when it comes to traffic stops:
- Bright colors and unusual hues stand out more, attracting visual attention from officers.
- Drivers of cars in “hot” colors may be more likely to speed or drive recklessly.
- Light interiors make it easier for police to observe drivers/passengers in plain view.
So the consensus from the data suggests that choosing neutral, common car colors like silver, gray, and blue can help avoid attracting attention from cops on the road.
The 5 Colors That Get Ticketed the Least
Based on assessments of traffic stop and citation data over the years, the following 5 exterior car colors have proven to have the lowest ticket rates overall:
| Rank | Color | Ticket Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Silver | Least likely |
| 2 | Gray | 2nd least likely |
| 3 | Blue | 3rd least likely |
| 4 | Red | 4th least likely |
| 5 | Beige | 5th least likely |
Silver cars almost always rank as the least likely color to get pulled over in studies year after year. The neutral, non-flashy metallic hue blends into traffic and rarely stands out. Following close behind are other common shades like gray, blue, red, and beige.
The 5 Colors That Get Ticketed the Most
On the flip side, these exterior colors tend to experience higher rates of traffic stops and citations:
| Rank | Color | Ticket Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bright yellow | Most likely |
| 2 | White | 2nd most likely |
| 3 | Orange | 3rd most likely |
| 4 | Bright green | 4th most likely |
| 5 | Purple | 5th most likely |
Bold shades like bright yellow and loud hues like purple clearly attract the most law enforcement attention. Additionally, some studies have found white cars to be pulled over more frequently as well. This may be due to the long-standing assumption that white vehicles are more likely to be driven by reckless drivers.
How Car Color Can Influence Driving Habits
An interesting factor that may contribute to differences in ticket rates by color is the theory that car color subconsciously influences driving behavior. Some studies have looked at whether certain car colors make drivers more likely to speed or drive aggressively. Here’s an overview of those findings:
- Drivers of black cars were most likely to be perceived as aggressive or dangerous in surveys.
- Drivers of bright red and bright green cars sped 9% more on average in one study.
- Drivers of silver cars showed no significant tendency toward aggressive driving.
Researchers hypothesize that personality stereotypes associated with bold vs conservative colors may reinforce corresponding driving habits. However, more study is needed to confirm a direct behavioral link.
How Car Color Can Bias Police Officers
Another factor at play is that a police officer’s perception of a car’s color may unintentionally bias their decision to pull it over. A study on color bias among officers on patrol found:
- Cops were more likely to “guess” silver or blue cars were speeding compared to red, black, or yellow cars when viewing recorded traffic.
- But objectively, the silver and blue cars were not speeding more than other colors.
- This suggests an assumption that cars in certain “safe” colors are more likely speeding.
So in reality, while silver and blue cars get fewer tickets overall, they may still get unfairly targeted for stops based on color associations among police. Officers should receive training to curb this potential bias that could lead to racial profiling issues as well.
Exterior Color vs Interior Color
Looking beyond just the exterior paint color, research has uncovered some interesting connections between interior color and traffic citations too:
- Cars with black interiors get ticketed more than those with lighter colored interiors like tan or gray.
- Lighter cabins improve visibility, making officers more likely to spot infractions.
- Black interiors were associated with stops involving arrests or the discovery of contraband items.
So along with choosing a ticket-reducing exterior color, going with a lighter interior can potentially limit unwanted police interactions even further.
Common Car Colors by Category
While personal color preference will play a big role when picking your vehicle color, reviewing the most popular shades by car category can also be helpful. Here are some of the most commonly seen colors on today’s roads among popular vehicle types:
| Vehicle Type | Most Popular Colors |
|---|---|
| Small/compact cars | White, black, silver, gray |
| Sedans | White, black, silver, gray |
| SUVs | White, black, silver, gray |
| Luxury cars | Black, white, silver, gray |
| Sports cars | Red, black, silver, white |
As seen above, mainstream cars like sedans and SUVs are commonly white, black, silver, or gray. Sports cars have more bold red hues. But overall neutral tones dominate across most auto segments, likely thanks to their timeless appeal and resale value.
Safety Stats by Color
Aside from ticket frequency, research has investigated whether car color correlates to crash rates in any way. Here are some of the notable findings on color and collision safety:
- Black cars are 12% more likely to be involved in crashes resulting in serious injury.
- White and yellow cars have a slightly higher incidence of multi-vehicle crashes.
- Gray, blue, red, and silver cars have the lowest accident rates overall.
Visibility seems to play a role, with black cars being less easy to see. But brighter colors like white and yellow are no safer. Again, shades like gray and silver appear to offer the optimal safety advantage.
How Color Affects Resale Value
If you plan to sell your vehicle someday, color can also have an impact on its resale value. Here are some useful guidelines on color and depreciation:
- Bold colors like lime green don’t retain value well and are harder to resell.
- Black, white, and silver retain the most value over time.
- Gray is gaining popularity for better resale, replacing gold as the new “neutral.”
Since more unique colors appeal to a smaller group of buyers, mainstream shades continue to win out when determining used car value. Black, white, and silver have proven to be safe bets decade after decade.
Speciality & Custom Colors
While common automotive paint colors are always prevalent, there are also some interesting specialty and custom color options out there. A few examples include:
- Matte wraps – Satin or matte wraps in grey, blue, purple have become trendy customizations.
- Pearlescent paints – Manufacturers like BMW use pearlescent paints that shift color in sunlight.
- Chameleon paints – Aftermarket chameleon paints change between two colors based on viewing angle.
These specialty finishes differentiate vehicles through unique visual effects. But some states prohibit certain types of tinting that can obscure the vehicle color too far.
Subtle Factors that Influence Perceptions
While the overall color makes the biggest impact, smaller factors like trim accents and styling can also influence perceptions:
- Blacked out trim may give a “sporty” vibe vs chrome giving a “luxury” vibe.
- Brighter work truck colors like white suggest “contractor” more than “personal.”
- Cohesive colors between body panels and bumpers looks more uniform than mismatched shades.
So consider how things like black vs chrome trims and accent colors enhance or detract from the overall look you want to achieve.
How Culture & Age Influences Color Appeal
Demographics also show some interesting patterns in car color preferences:
- Hispanic buyers prefer bright, vibrant colors more than white or black.
- Asian markets have greater preference for white and silver vehicles.
- Younger buyers are more open to bold colors than older generations.
So cultural norms and generational trends have an impact on the popularity of certain shades. These factors may shift color preferences at a regional or national level over time as demographics change.
Picking Colors for Brand Image
For major automakers, color choice is an important part of cultivating a brand image:
- Luxury brands like Mercedes use black and silver to convey class.
- Mainstream brands like Honda rely on popular grays, blues, and silvers.
- Performance brands like Porsche offer vibrant reds and greens.
So while catering to consumer demand, automakers strategically employ color to align with brand identity. This reinforces visual styles that resonate with target customer demographics.
Future Auto Color Trends
As consumer tastes evolve and technology advances, future auto color trends include:
- More environmentally friendly water-based paints.
- Matte/satin finishes gaining prominence.
- Neutral grays becoming more popular than beige.
- Shifting preferences among younger buyers.
- Bolder colors on electric vehicles.
Expect to see automakers test new finishes along with subtle shifts in the popularity of certain hues. But standards like black, white, silver, and gray will likely dominate for years to come.
Conclusion
While subjective factors will always influence someone’s choice of car color, data clearly shows certain shades repeatedly attract more police attention and citations. Silver is objectively the safest bet for avoiding tickets, though common colors like blue and gray are also good choices. Consider what’s revealed about color trends, perceptions, and statistics as you think about your next vehicle purchase. A small aesthetic choice can have practical impacts.