When it comes to buying a car, color is an important factor for many consumers. Certain colors tend to boost a car’s resale value and get a higher price on the used market. So what color car sells for the most money? Let’s take a look at the data and trends around car color preferences and pricing.
Most Popular Car Colors
White, black, gray, and silver tend to be the most popular car colors year after year. These neutrals appeal to buyers because they are sleek, sophisticated, and easy to match with other colors. White in particular has surged in popularity over the past decade. It is now the most common car color, making up roughly 20-25% of cars on the road.
More vivid colors like red, blue, and brown make up a smaller percentage of cars sold. But there are regional differences in color preferences. For example, browns are far more popular in the Midwest compared to coastal states. And states with sunny weather tend to favor lighter or brighter colors.
Factors That Impact Resale Value
So while white, black, and silver are prevalent new car colors, does that mean they get the highest resale value? Not necessarily. Many factors impact how well a car holds its value over time. Miles driven, mechanical condition, accidents, and brand reputation all play a role. But color is also an important piece of the resale equation.
Neutral colors tend to have broad appeal and a balanced resale value on the used market. Vivid or unusual colors may be polarizing to buyers. A bright orange sports car might not attract as many potential customers as a basic black model when it comes time to sell. Similarly, an unpopular color that was trendy for a short time may hurt value down the line.
Highest Resale Value Car Colors
According to automotive research firms like iSeeCars, these are the car colors with the best resale value:
| Color | 1-Year Retained Value | 5-Year Retained Value |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow | 70.4% | 32.4% |
| Orange | 69.6% | 29.4% |
| Purple | 69.5% | 29.9% |
| Red | 68.4% | 31.1% |
| Green | 68.1% | 30.2% |
Bright, vibrant colors like yellow and orange top the list for 1-year retained value. Over a 5-year period, red, purple, and green also hold up well. Neutrals like white, black, gray, and silver come in near the middle of the pack.
Why Vivid Colors Get a Premium
There are a few key reasons why flashy colored cars hold their value so well on the used market:
- Limited availability – Cars in common colors like white and black are easy to find. But bright oranges and greens are produced in fewer numbers.
- Desirability – Vivid colors attract attention and stand out on the road, appealing to buyers looking for something unique.
- Condition – Used car buyers assume brighter colors are better cared for with less visible wear vs darker colors.
- Affordability – Buying a formerly pricey car like a bright yellow sports car becomes an attainable way to get something fun and different.
The Weather Effect
Climate also plays a role in the value of car colors. In areas with abundant sunshine like California, vibrant colors perform well because they complement the environment. And in regions where winters are long and gloomy, colors like yellow and orange lighten things up.
On the flip side, black cars tend to hold their value better in temperate climates. Black hides flaws well and looks sleek in areas without intense sun. White cars hold up better in extremely hot climates since they reflect heat instead of absorbing it like darker colors.
Truck & SUV Color Trends
Looking beyond sedans and sports cars, pickup trucks and SUVs have their own color preferences. Truck buyers tend to favor more rugged, neutral colors:
- White
- Black
- Gray
- Silver
- Red
Vivid blues, greens, oranges, and purples are quite rare on trucks and SUVs. These larger vehicles are prized for utility and performance over flashy colors. And trucks used for work purposes are better served by neutral colors that hide dirt and flaws.
The Auto Industry Shift to Gray
In recent years, gray has become an increasingly dominant car color, overtaking silver in popularity. Almost a quarter of cars sold today are some shade of gray compared to just 10% fifteen years ago. Why the surge to bland gray tones?
For car companies, gray is an easy default color that appeals to a wide range of buyers. It also hides flaws well under different types of light. Car designers can get creative with different gray tints like charcoal, granite, or titanium. And it complements both lighter and darker accents colors used in interior and exterior detailing.
But while gray is hot for new car sales, it doesn’t boast exceptional resale value due to its ubiquity. Rare, vibrant colors still come out on top for retained value.
Electric Car Colors
The rise of eco-friendly electric cars brings new color considerations. Early electric models like the Nissan Leaf and Tesla Model S were only offered in drab colors like black, gray, and dark blue. But EV makers are now expanding options to stand out better and appeal to a wider demographic.
Bright metallic blues, greens, golds, and silvers help electric cars look sleek, modern, and futuristic. Tesla’s red Multi-Coat option has been a huge hit with buyers. And Mustang Mach-E offers vivid orange, red, blue, and yellow electric SUV models. Vibrant colors align well with the high-tech electric movement.
How Color Impacts Car Buying Decisions
Color is among the top factors shaping buyer decisions and willingness to pay. According to surveys, over 75% of car shoppers consider color important or highly important. And over 30% are willing to pay more for their preferred color option.
Buyers link certain colors to feelings like:
- Black = luxury, elegance
- White = modern, innovation
- Silver/Gray = balance, composure
- Red = excitement, passion
- Blue = trust, confidence
- Green = nature, wealth
And perceptions of car color can get ingrained from a young age, like red being seen as a fast “race car” color. Dealerships paint this psychology, asking higher prices for colors perceived as sporty or upscale.
Gender Differences in Color Selection
Interestingly, men and women tend to prefer different car colors when making purchases. A survey found these gender splits:
| Color | Male Buyers | Female Buyers |
|---|---|---|
| Black | 25% | 9% |
| White | 16% | 23% |
| Gray | 15% | 16% |
| Silver | 14% | 10% |
| Red | 10% | 14% |
| Blue | 8% | 12% |
Black cars appeal strongly to men, conveying a bold, sophisticated image. For women, white and red lead color preferences, looking modern and vibrant respectively.
Color’s Impact on Safety
Along with aesthetics and resale value, car color has safety implications. Bright, light colors like white and yellow are highly visible. This helps other drivers see the vehicle to prevent collisions. Dark-colored cars can seemingly blend into the surroundings at night.
According to accident data, the safest colors are:
- White
- Yellow
- Orange
- Silver
- Red
The most dangerous colors with higher crash rates are dark tones like black, gray, blue, brown, and green. So safety-minded buyers may gravitate toward lighter colors for road visibility.
Conclusion
While personal preference reigns supreme in choosing a car color, bright and vibrant colors tend to get a premium in resale value. Yellow, orange, red, purple, and green cars hold their value better than common blacks, grays, silvers, and whites. Rarity, condition assumptions, and strong desirability for bold colors support higher retained values.
But neutral colors still dominate new car sales, especially easy-to-match grays. Black and darker tones appeal to luxury and performance buyers. And white wins out with families looking for a sleek, safe option. So while color has a weaker impact on new purchases, it grows more important for used car pricing down the line.
