Have you ever considered the color of your car as anything other than a personal preference? If not, the next time you go car shopping, whether it’s at new or used car dealers, you might want to think about it. The color you choose may factor into how likely you are to get into an accident or even affect your insurance rates. So, does car color matter? Yes, it does.
Light = Safe, Dark = Dangerous
The car colors that are the safest are up for debate, but a general rule of thumb is that lighter cars are easier to see, especially at night, which can make them safer. The reason this is up for debate is that how visible a car is depends on the background and the weather. A white car is more visible at night, but on a snowy day, it will blend right in. On a bright sunny day, darker cars have less contrast with the road, so a white or gray car is easier to see, but on a foggy morning, a gray car will blend in.
Car Color and Resale Value
Where the color matters more is in your resale value. As you search for a new car, the color you choose will make a difference when you want to sell it in a few years. Used car dealers can get more money for cars that have a popular or neutral color, so these are the cars they are looking for and the colors they will pay more for. Some of your best bets are white, black, gray, and silver. These just happen to some of the safer colors, so it’s a win-win. Where you can lose money is if you go with a super flashy color such as red, lime green, or yellow. In most cases, you will not have an easy time selling a car painted in one of these colors when you are ready to move on.
Does Car Color Affect Insurance Rates?
Car insurance is a big consideration when buying a car. The type of car you buy has a large impact on how much you’ll pay for insurance, but the color has no impact. While the urban myth states that red cars are more expensive to insure than other colors, this is not true. If you want a red car and are not worried about its resale value, then buy a red car. You’ll pay the same for it whether it’s red, blue, white, or green. Car insurance rates are based on the make and model of the car, how old or new it is, and how expensive it is to repair or replace.
Car Color Matters, But Not That Much
If you drive a red sports car and get several speeding tickets, it could make your rates go up, but it’s not the red color that increases your rates, it’s the fun you have behind the wheel. When it comes to safety it can make a difference, but the resale value at used car dealers is where it matters most.
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