Determining the percentage of cars that are black requires looking at color popularity data for new car sales. Automotive manufacturers and industry organizations track color trends for new cars, providing insight into consumer preferences. By analyzing this data, we can estimate the overall percentage of black vehicles on the road today.
New Car Color Popularity
Each year, automotive paint supplier Axalta Coating Systems publishes a report on the most popular colors for new cars sold in North America. According to their 2022 report, the top colors were:
| White | 24% |
| Black | 19% |
| Gray | 15% |
| Silver | 12% |
| Red | 9% |
| Blue | 9% |
| Other | 12% |
This data shows black as the second most popular color, accounting for 19% of new car sales. White remains the top choice, making up 24% of sales.
Historic Color Trends
Looking at historic data can provide more context on long-term color trends. According to a DuPoint Automotive Color Popularity Report, the percentage of black vehicles has fluctuated over the past two decades:
| 2000 | 9% |
| 2005 | 16% |
| 2010 | 18% |
| 2015 | 19% |
| 2020 | 19% |
In 2000, black accounted for just 9% of new cars sold. The percentage has gradually increased over the past 20 years, peaking at 19% in 2015 and remaining steady at that level through 2020.
New vs. Used Car Sales
The color popularity data from auto manufacturers only looks at new car sales. However, used car sales account for about 3 times as many transactions each year. Used cars span model years, so their color breakdown is more reflective of historic trends.
According to market research firm iSeeCars.com, the percentage of used cars by color in 2022 was:
| White | 24.8% |
| Black | 12.8% |
| Silver | 11.6% |
| Gray | 11.4% |
| Red | 10.3% |
| Blue | 8.4% |
| Other | 20.7% |
For used vehicles, black represents 12.8% of sales – lower than the 19% for new cars. This shows how color preferences have shifted over time, as used cars include older model years.
Total Cars on the Road
To estimate the overall percentage of black cars currently on the road, we need to look at the full vehicle fleet. There are approximately 280 million registered vehicles in the United States. Applying the used car percentage of 12.8% black paint color, we can estimate there are about 35 million black cars on the road today.
That represents 12.8% out of the total U.S. fleet. However, this does not account for differences by vehicle type and age. We can further refine the estimate by looking at color distribution by vehicle segment and registration data showing the age mix of registered vehicles.
Color by Vehicle Type
Data from Axalta Coating Systems breaks down color popularity by vehicle segment for 2022 model year sales:
| Segment | Black Percentage |
| Compact Car | 14% |
| Midsize Car | 6% |
| Large Car | 13% |
| Luxury Car | 22% |
| SUV | 18% |
| CUV | 14% |
| Pickup Truck | 9% |
Luxury cars and SUVs have a higher percentage of black color, while midsize cars and pickup trucks are lower. This shows consumer color preferences differ across vehicle segments.
Registered Vehicle Age
New car sales account for around 5% of vehicles on the road. The average age of registered vehicles in the U.S. is approximately 12 years old. Older cars are more likely to use color palettes popular in their model year of manufacture.
According to IHS Markit registration data, the age distribution of vehicles in operation is:
| Vehicle Age | Percentage |
| 0-5 years old | 23% |
| 6-11 years old | 37% |
| 12-17 years old | 22% |
| 18+ years old | 18% |
This shows over 40% of registered vehicles are 12+ years old, dating to model years prior to 2010 when black paint was less popular.
Conclusion
Taking into account new car color data, used vehicle percentages, numbers of cars on the road, and distribution by type and age, we can estimate approximately 11-12% of all light vehicles currently registered are black. This percentage is lower than today’s 19% black paint popularity for new cars, reflecting the broader mix of older model years in the full fleet.
As older cars are retired and replaced by new models, the overall percentage of black vehicles may gradually increase. Consumer color preferences can also shift, impacting future popularity. But based on the most recent registration and sales data, black represents about 11-12% of cars currently on roads in the United States.
