UPDATED: APRIL 27, 2023 | 2 MIN READ
When you decide to buy a vehicle, color is important. It’s one of the main factors people consider. After all, you might have always imagined having a red sports car or a bright yellow Jeep. And when you’re spending a large sum of money, you want to ensure your preferences are met. But does car color affect insurance costs? You might be surprised at the answer.
Does the color of your car impact your insurance rates?
How many times have you heard that red cars cost more to insure? It’s a common misconception that came about primarily because red is associated with sports cars.
In fact, a lot of people believe that cops are more likely to pull over red cars, so because of that, insurance companies deem them a higher risk. It’s simply not true.
The color of your car doesn’t affect your auto insurance rates at all — unless you have a custom paint job.
Custom paint jobs
Regular paint colors will not affect your car insurance rates. However, there is one time when the color might change your premium. Custom paint jobs and car wraps can increase your car insurance rates.
If you have an after-market paint job or wrap, and want to ensure you’re covered, consider getting coverage for after-market modifications. Many insurers offer additional coverage options, like custom equipment and parts coverage, that would cover the difference in cost between your car’s standard paint job and your color customizations.
What car colors (if any) should you avoid?
There aren’t any specific car colors that you have to avoid when purchasing a car. Car color isn’t a rating factor insurance companies use to determine your premiums, so it doesn’t matter if you have a black or lime car.
While getting a custom paint job or expensive car wrap could increase your insurance costs. It’s probably not enough of an increase to affect your decision. If you’re worried about the increase, call your insurance company to ask for a quote before altering your vehicle.
Why do people believe that car color affects insurance rates?
Why do 40% of car owners believe that the color red will get them a higher insurance rate? Maybe it’s because red cars tend to cost more or are most often associated with sports cars.
However, you might be surprised to find that cars in the colors white, blue, red, and black are more expensive to buy because they are more in demand.
Cars can be more expensive because of color, but your insurance rates won’t go up because of your car’s paint color. If you want lower premiums, focus on conservative and family-friendly cars instead of luxury cars.
What factors impact your car insurance rates?
There are many reasons some cars are more expensive than others to insure. Maybe you want to buy a new car instead of a used one. Or, you purchased a foreign car instead of a domestic one. When determining your car insurance rates, numerous factors are in play, but the color of your vehicle only matters if you have an expensive after-market paint job.
Some insurers don’t even ask you about the color of your car. These are standard vehicle details that you do have to provide to your insurance company:
- Vehicle year
- The model of the car
- The make of your car
- Engine size
- VIN (Vehicle Identification Number)
What non-car-related factors impact your auto rates?
You might wonder, “if color is not something to worry about, what impacts your car insurance rates?”
Factors that have the most impact on your car insurance premiums (besides the make, model, and the age of your car) include:
- Age
- Driving record
- Years of driving experience
- Location
- Credit score
- Type of coverage: liability-only or full-coverage
- Deductible
FAQs
What color cars are more expensive to insure?
Colors won’t impact your car insurance rate, but cars of certain colors can be more expensive to purchase. Blue, red, white, gray, and black vehicles typically cost more because they are in higher demand.
Are yellow cars cheaper to insure?
Yellow cars aren’t any cheaper to insure than other colors of vehicles. However, the make and model of your yellow car may affect your premiums. For example, a yellow Porsche would cost more to insure than a Yellow Volkswagon Beetle because it’s a luxury sports car.
Are blue cars more expensive to insure?
Blue cars aren’t more expensive to insure than other cars because insurers aren’t concerned with the color of vehicles. The make, model, and age of your vehicle impact your premiums, though. Some cars are considered a higher risk because they’re more expensive to repair or replace.
Do red cars have higher car insurance rates?
It’s a myth that red cars are more expensive to insure. Some people believe that because red cars are easier to spot, police tend to pull them over more, and in turn, car insurance companies rate them as a higher risk.
This isn’t true, though. The color of the car you drive doesn’t affect your car insurance rates unless you have a custom paint job or car wrap.
Do black cars cost more to insure?
It won’t cost you any more to insure a black car than it would to insure a silver, white, or red car. Insurers don’t factor a car’s color into your rates. Instead, they use other factors, such as the model, make, and age of your vehicle and how many safety features it has, to determine your premium.
Are there any car colors you should avoid?
There aren’t any car colors that you should avoid buying. Insurance companies aren’t concerned with the color of your car. In fact, most won’t even bother to ask you. While several risk factors help companies determine your rates, car color isn’t one of them.
Will a custom paint job increase my car insurance costs?
Custom paint jobs and body wraps can increase your car insurance rates slightly. This is because it would cost more to repaint or rewrap the car in case of a loss.
In most cases, a custom paint job won’t increase your rates significantly. But if you’re concerned about a rate increase, get car insurance quotes before making any changes to your vehicle.
Why do people think car color affects insurance rates?
Many believe that white or red cars cause more accidents or are considered high-risk. That’s a myth; color doesn’t affect your car insurance rates.
How to find cheap car insurance coverage for any car
The bottom line is that the color of your car won’t increase or decrease your car insurance rates. If you want to save money on car insurance, getting multiple quotes to compare rates and coverage options is the best thing you can do.
