Red is the most expensive car colour. True or false?
If you’ve ever wondered whether a vehicle’s colour affects its value, the answer is yes. While colour alone won’t determine a car’s worth, it can influence buyer demand, resale appeal, and ultimately how much a vehicle may be worth in the used car market.
Does Colour Matter?
Many people assume car colour is purely a matter of personal preference, but it can have a surprising impact on resale value.
The right colour can enhance a vehicle’s appearance, while an unpopular colour may reduce buyer interest when it comes time to sell or value the car.
Colour helps shape a vehicle’s personality and can influence how desirable it appears to potential buyers.
How Do You Choose A Car Colour?
There are several factors that influence colour choice.
Some buyers simply choose their favourite colour, while others prefer to follow market trends.
Historically, neutral colours such as:
- Grey
- Black
- White
- Silver
- Blue
have consistently remained among the most popular choices in the UK market.
These colours often appeal to a wider audience and can help support stronger resale values due to broader buyer demand.
More unusual colours such as bright yellow, green, orange, or purple tend to appeal to a smaller group of buyers, which may affect resale demand in some cases.
Small Cars
Interestingly, smaller vehicles can often carry brighter colours more successfully than larger models.
Compact hatchbacks and city cars are frequently seen in bold colours, and these choices can appeal to younger buyers looking for something distinctive.
While bright colours may suit these vehicles visually, resale demand can still vary depending on buyer preferences at the time of sale.
Large Cars
Larger vehicles, executive saloons, and SUVs are traditionally associated with more neutral colours.
Shades such as black, grey, silver, and dark blue often complement the styling of larger vehicles and generally appeal to a broader section of the used car market.
Choosing an unusual colour for a large vehicle may reduce the pool of potential buyers when the time comes to value or sell the car.
Performance Cars And Specialist Models
Sports cars, coupes, convertibles, and performance-focused vehicles often have greater flexibility when it comes to colour choices.
Bright colours can sometimes become part of the vehicle’s appeal, particularly for enthusiast buyers.
Even so, market trends and buyer preferences can still influence how colour impacts long-term resale value.
You may also find our article on car depreciation useful, covering how age, mileage, condition, and market demand can impact your vehicle’s worth over time.
Does Colour Affect Vehicle Value?
While colour is only one factor, it can contribute to overall desirability.
Other factors often have a greater impact on value, including:
- Vehicle age
- Mileage
- Condition
- Service history
- Specification level
- Ownership history
However, choosing a colour that appeals to a wide range of buyers can help support stronger resale demand in the future.
For more advice on vehicle values, depreciation, and the factors that influence used car prices, visit our valuation guidance hub.
Related Reading
If you’re interested in the factors that influence resale prices, our guide on what affects a car’s value explains the biggest contributors to vehicle valuation.
Final Thoughts
There isn’t one universally “most expensive” car colour, as buyer preferences constantly evolve.
However, colour can influence desirability and resale demand, particularly when combined with factors such as vehicle type, specification, and condition.
When choosing a car colour, it may be worth considering not only what you like today, but also how it could affect your vehicle’s value in the future.
If you’d like to find out what your vehicle is worth today, you can get an instant valuation here with our free online valuation tool.