The UK's most popular car colours?

There’s a lot to consider when buying a new car. From the number of seats you need to its fuel efficiency, reliability, and safety. And then, of course, there’s picking your new vehicle’s colour.

Although the colour of a car doesn’t affect its performance, it can still have a big impact on its desirability. In some cases, the colour of your chosen car may even increase its price!

To see how popular your pick is, and whether or not it may affect the price of your next purchase, we’ve revealed the UK’s most popular car colours.

The top 10 car colours in the UK

To find out what car colours are the most popular in the UK, we took a look at the latest car registration data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers. Through our research, we found the following colours to be the most desirable for drivers up and down the country.

1. Grey – 408,155 registrations

In pretty much any other scenario, grey might be considered dull and uninspiring, but there seems to be something strangely alluring about grey cars.

It could be because top marques like Mercedes and BMW do a great line in grey cars. Or it could simply be that they reflect the British weather. Whatever your reason for going grey, it’s proven to be the most common car colour for the fourth year running, accounting for a quarter of the market.

2. Black – 337,351 registrations

Black has always been considered one of the best colours for cars. A timeless classic that looks as good on a family hatchback as it does on a sporty supercar, data from our research has shown that just over one in five cars in the UK are black.

Although they can be difficult to keep clean and show up dings and scrapes more than other colours, if you’re after something simple and stylish, then a black car is the way to go.

3. White – 282,529 registrations

White is one of those colours that comes and goes into fashion. A staple of 80s motoring, white dropped out of favour for a couple of decades, but has since come back with a bang as one of the best colours for cars in the last few years.

Some have suggested this could be down to the ‘Apple effect’ – the popularity of white iPhones, iPads, and iMacs may certainly have given this colour an association with cutting edge-tech.

With that being said, one possible downside to buying a white car is that you’ll really have your work cut out keeping it clean, especially when winter rolls around.

4. Blue – 279,891 registrations

There are so many shades of blue out there that it’s perhaps surprising it doesn’t feature higher up the list of most popular colours for cars.

It goes without saying that the shade of blue you choose can have a dramatic impact on the perception of your car. A classic navy blue can hint at a more corporate motorist, while royal blue is a bit sportier.

But if you plan on keeping your blue car for a long time, make sure you pick the right shade, as certain lighter blues don’t age well.

5. Red – 145,273 registrations

There’s something about red cars that simultaneously makes them look both flashy and prestigious. It might very well be the Ferrari effect, adding that iconic sense of classy luxury to any car it’s applied to.

However, despite the allure, there’s always the common question hanging over this colour: ‘why do red cars fade so easily?’. Well, it’s all down to how the colour interacts with sunlight, meaning, like blue, you have to be sure of the shade you pick.

6. Silver – 111,549 registrations

The sparkly sibling of the surprisingly popular grey car, stats from the Society of Motor Manufacturers show that the popularity of silver cars has been on the decline in recent years.

But there seems to be a growing demand for silver cars in the used car market, so keep an eye out for a possible comeback. And if you do turn to silver, remember to drive with dipped headlights in bad weather as cars of this colour can be difficult to spot.

7. Green – 17,927 registrations

Some people think green cars are unlucky, but while many consider this to be down to nothing but old superstitions, this could actually have a grounding in science.

Green is more relaxing on the eye, which means you might be less likely to notice it on the road, potentially resulting in a higher accident rate than other popular car colours.

Of course, how much your green car stands out will depend on the shade of green you go for. A lime green car, for instance, is always going to attract attention than something more muted.

8. Orange – 16,642 registrations

In stark opposite to green cars, orange cars are considered to be one of the safest car colours you can drive. It goes without saying that even a dull orange stands out on the road, making them very difficult to miss.

9. Yellow – 8,952 registrations

A bit like white, yellow is one of those semi-popular car colours that periodically comes in and out of fashion. And, just like red, it’s another colour that has that sporty, Ferrari connection.

But, again, like red, the popularity of yellow cars has been on the decline recently - perhaps not helped by being the colour of the battered Fiat Cinquecento featured in The Inbetweeners – though it’s still popular enough to make it onto our list of the top 10 car colours.

10. Bronze – 4,500 registrations

An rare colour to see on the road, a bronze coating of paint indicates a sense of subtle power. Often the preferred colour of more mature drivers, many associate bronze with growth, strength, and security.

Bronze is also a unique colour in the sense that, while it doesn’t stand out like yellow or orange, it’s still uncommon enough to catch your eye, making it another good option for anyone wanting to reduce their crash risk.

What is the most expensive car colour?

Although you might think that the more popular a colour, the more expensive it is to have on your car, the opposite is in fact true. Black, grey, and white paint jobs tend not to contribute too much towards a car's overall cost, and can actually dramatically reduce a car’s resale value.

Meanwhile, at the other end of the spectrum, colours such as green, orange, and yellow tend to be much more expensive due to their rarity.

But the most expensive colour by far, and one that didn’t make it into our top 10 most popular car colours, is gold. And to be frank, this makes sense. After all, when was the last time you saw a gold car on the road?

And there you have it; those are the most popular car colours in the UK. Now, all that’s left for you to do is choose your favourite colour and start hunting for your next set of wheels.

But whether you’re after a slick white car or a sporty red, if you’re on a budget, the team at Zuto can help you navigate the tricky world of car finance so you can get the best value for money.

From PCP car finance to bad credit car finance, get in touch with us today and we’ll listen to your needs. And don’t forget to visit the Zuto blog for more articles like this one.