Most and least popular new car colours revealed (2024)

Grey is Britain’s most popular new car colour for the sixth consecutive year, topping half a million registrations, according to the latest figures published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

With 509,194 grey cars registered in 2023, that equated to a market share of more than a quarter (26.8%).

Completing a monochrome top three, black and white new cars secured second and third place, also for the sixth consecutive year, and recorded their best volumes since 2019.

Almost two thirds (63.5%) of all new cars joining UK roads in 2023 were monochrome.

Mike Hawes, chief executive of the SMMT, said: “Buyers continued to gravitate towards familiar monochrome hues for another year.

“Car manufacturers have diligently expanded their offerings, with a huge selection of colour options available across hundreds of models and thousands of specification options.

“The extensive variety allows drivers flexibility in choosing a tint that embodies their individuality and style.”

Blue rose up the ranks to secure fourth place while red remained in fifth – although it also recorded its lowest market share since 2005, when it held 7.3% of the market. Today, just 3.9% of new cars are red.

Maroon, pink and cream remained the least popular colours, comprising just 604 registrations combined.

Meanwhile, orange, bronze, turquoise and brown fell in popularity compared with 2023 volumes.

Green, however, experienced a comeback, reaching its highest volume since 2005 at 53,426 units and a market share of 2.8%, the highest since 2004.

While the colour may have environmentally friendly associations, zero emission carsreaching Britain’s roads in record numbers last year followed the same grey colour trend as their internal combustion engine counterparts.

Most and least popular new car colours revealed (1)

Grey also remained the most popular choice across the majority of segments, including the three bestsellers – supermini, dual purpose and lower medium.

Three segments went against the grain, with black the favoured shade among executive cars and luxury saloons, and white appearing as the top choice for the multi-purpose segment.

Most and least popular new car colours revealed (2)

Fleets, which drove investment in the new car market in 2023, also favoured monochrome, with grey making up more than a quarter (26.9%) of all registrations (280,480 units).

Private sales saw more variation, brightening up roads as they were marginally more likely to opt for a green or yellow tint over fleets, with 29,919 and 6,964 units registered respectively.

The British regions were unanimous in a preference for grey, with white ranking as the second most popular in the Channel Islands, Northern Ireland and Scotland.

Black was the second most popular in England, Wales and the Isle of Man.

Strathclyde proved the best place to play the ‘yellow car’ game, ranking the most registrations of the bright shade, with 677 sold in the area and, while orange wasn’t quite the new black in

Cheshire, drivers there registered the most cars in this colour of any county, at 1,140 units.

Berkshire was home to more than one in 10 of pink cars registered (22 units) and was also the top spot for red motors at 8,034 units. Drivers in Greater London snapped up more green cars than any other county (3,650).

Most and least popular new car colours revealed (3)Most and least popular new car colours revealed (4)

Most and least popular new car colours revealed (2024)

FAQs

What is the least most popular car color? ›

Maroon, pink and cream remained the least popular colours, comprising just 604 registrations combined. Meanwhile, orange, bronze, turquoise and brown fell in popularity compared with 2023 volumes.

What is the most popular new car color? ›

Most Popular Car Colors in America
  • 24% White.
  • 24% Gray.
  • 20% Black.
  • 9% Silver.
  • 7% Dark Blue.

What is the most popular car color in 2024? ›

Here's a brief overview of the most popular car colors in 2024 and their associated meanings:
  • White: White continues to be the reigning champion as the most popular car color. ...
  • Gray: Similar to white, gray highlights a car's natural appearance with a neutral tone. ...
  • Black: Black exudes sophistication and elegance.
Feb 23, 2024

What is the most popular car color of all time? ›

White is the nation's most popular color, making up over a quarter of cars, followed by black, gray, and silver. Grayscale colored cars (white, black, gray, and silver) account for 78.5 percent of all vehicles on the road.

What color car gets hit the least? ›

We've referenced the safest color car on the road. That color is white. White cars are 12 percent less likely to be involved in an accident than black cars at any time of the day under any conditions. This is because there is often a lot of contrast between white cars and its surroundings.

What is the least popular color? ›

Just like favorite colors, men and women have the similar distaste for certain hues. Regardless of gender, brown, orange, and yellow are at the top of people's least favorite colors.

What color makes a car look expensive? ›

Eminent White Pearl

White cars have a natural sense of luxury and classiness that can't be denied. So, it's a great choice if you want to keep your car color simple but not dark.

What color car is classy? ›

Neutral colors like white, black, silver, and gray are consistently associated with luxury and elite social status. They are elegant and often considered “classy,” at least compared to “loud” car colors like yellow and red. When considering practicality, sliver and gray hues are much easier to keep clean.

What color stays the cleanest on a car? ›

Beige, light blue, light gray, and silver are the best car color choices for those who want to keep their vehicles clean. In addition, white paint can hide dust and debris well. But, dirt that accumulates can be tough to hide on a white car.

What color car stays the coolest? ›

White, silver, and other light colors are coolest, reflecting about 60% of sunlight. However, dark "cool colors" that reflect primarily in the invisible "near infrared" part of the solar spectrum can also stay cooler than traditional dark colors.

What is the new color for 2024? ›

Benjamin Moore's 2024 Color of the Year is Blue Nova, a cool and captivating shade of blue with the prettiest hint of violet.

What color car is most unpopular? ›

But even among privately-owned vehicles, some visually distinctive colors like red and yellow have lost serious ground over the past five years. Yellow, as it happens, is by far the least popular color, with just 0.1% of buyers opting for the shade this year.

What is the most attractive car color? ›

White tops our list as the hottest color for cars 'cause it's just so fresh and clean. The reason why white works so well is that it can be used to create the most visually-appealing contrast between the main body of the car and smaller parts like the wheels, grill, or windows.

What color car gets the most tickets? ›

According to the National Motorists Association, white-colored vehicles get pulled over the most. That said, red vehicles come in second, followed closely by gray and silver. Unsurprisingly, white cars are stopped by law enforcement because it's the most common vehicle color.

What color car is the hardest to sell? ›

Gold: While it may be a unique choice for some, gold cars often have lower resale values as they may be seen as dated or less universally appealing. Purple: As a less common and quite specific colour, purple cars can be harder to sell and might fetch a lower resale price.

What is the rarest color of car? ›

PuRpLe probably the rarest car colour.

What is the cheapest car color? ›

The cheapest color to paint a car is typically one of the standard, non-metallic colors such as white, black, or certain shades of red and blue.

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