| Car Life
different color cars and what they mean for you

It’s time for a new vehicle, so you start browsing online and visiting dealerships. After researching gas mileage, safety features, and completing a series of test drives, you’ve found your ideal ride. But what color car should you buy? Are some options better than others? Well, depending on what’s important to you as a driver, you might prefer certain color choices. So, sit back, relax, and read on to find out what your car color says about you, if it affects your insurance, how it impacts your safety, and more!

What is the safest color for a car?

 

Previous studies have shown that white is the safest color you can pick for your car. You’re 12% less likely to be in a crash driving a white car than the worst color car for accidents (black vehicles), according to Monash University. Dr. Stuart Newstead, the lead researcher for the Monash study, concluded that darker colors without much contrast to the road environment were associated with a higher risk of accident involvement, particularly in the daytime (since headlights are on at night, evening the playing field).

While a car color’s link to safety is something to consider when purchasing a vehicle, it’s worth noting that being a cautious driver is the most important thing. By removing distractions, driving defensively, and obeying all traffic laws, you can lower your chances of being in a car accident, no matter what year, make, model, or color you drive.

Best car color to keep clean?

If you want to keep your car’s exterior clean, most experts will tell you to avoid black and other dark colors. Darker vehicles tend to show water spots after rainfall and make it pretty much impossible to hide bird droppings or pollen. If it gets your car dirty, it will almost certainly show up on dark paint. Also, scratches tend to be more noticeable on such vehicles.

Typically speaking, lighter-colored vehicles are your best bet for a clean-looking car. You could opt for a white car. However, while they will hide dust and light-colored dirt, white cars will put mud on full display. White vehicles do an excellent job hiding scratches or water spots, though. If you’re looking for the easiest option, your best is probably in the gray, silver, or beige family. You get many of the benefits of a white vehicle, but the slightly darker shade will hide mud and debris a bit better.

But no matter what color car you choose, you can always keep it clean if you properly care for it. Learn how to wash and wax your vehicle, and you should be able to avoid having dirt, grime, and droppings eat away at your paint. Even if your car comes into contact with bugs, sap, or tar, you can still get it clean.

What color car has the best resale value?

We all know when you drive a new car off the lot, it instantly loses value. And as you put more miles on the vehicle, the more it depreciates. However, do specific car colors hold their value better than others? For example, by buying blue over green now, could you help your future self get more money in a used car sale later on?

Well, according to a recent study from iSeeCars, there is a correlation between the color of your car and how much you can expect to see it sell for on the resale market. They compared the prices of more than six million cars, both new and used, for several years (2017-2020) to determine that vehicles in the following colors depreciated at the lowest rate during the span of the study.

  1. Yellow (20.4%)
  2. Beige (22.8%)
  3. Orange (27.1%)
  4. Green (31.3%)
  5. Gray (36.4%)

But before you rush off to buy a yellow ride that depreciates 45.6% less than the average car, it is worth noting that the resale value for different colors varies depending on whether the vehicle is a sedan, convertible, SUV, truck, or minivan. Also, iSeeCar’s Executive Analyst Karl Brauer notes that many of the surprising colors at the top of the list are seen on sports cars or low-quantity vehicles that retain their value well on their own. So, perhaps hold off on purchasing a yellow minivan and look specifically at the make and model you’re interested in buying to see which colors resell at a higher price.

Does car color affect insurance?

If you’ve ever wondered are red cars more expensive to insure, you’re not alone. This is one of many myths surrounding car insurance, but the color of your vehicle does not impact your insurance rate. Several factors determine your auto insurance premium:

  • The year, make, and model of your car
  • Where you live and work
  • The types and amounts of coverage you choose
  • Your driving record
  • How much you drive
  • Credit history

So, if you’ve dreamed of owning a bright red or yellow car, don’t let the fear of higher insurance rates stop you.

Have any lingering questions about car color or any cool facts you’d like to share? We’d love to hear them in the comments below. And remember, no matter what color car you drive, you need car insurance. Give us a call or stop by one of our nearby locations, where a friendly agent can help you find the right coverage at the right price.