How Car Colors Affect Car Insurance Rates

People believe that the color of their cars affect the cost of their car insurance - namely, flashy colors like red and yellow. In fact, 46% of licensed drivers surveyed by Insure.com believe that red cars are more expensive to insure because they’re pulled over more frequently. In reality, however, not only does color have nothing to do with car insurance rates, a particular model's risk isn't determined by the number of tickets its owners receive.

Insurance.com surveyed 1,000 men and women, all married, licensed drivers over the age of 25, asking them what color their car is, and why they chose that color. The top colors were:

Top Car Colors
Color Percent
Black 19.5%
Silver 18.%
White 16.2%
Blue 12.5%
Red 8.%
All data taken from http://www.insurance.com

The reasons drivers chose their particular color:

Reasons Drivers Chose Car Colors
Reason Percent
It was pretty 31.5%
No other choice 25%
Wouldn't show dirt 10.2%
I look good in it 9.7%
It blends in 7.6%
It stands out 6%
Safety 5.8%
Resale 4.2%
All data taken from http://www.insurance.com

Car insurance companies don’t factor color into the cost

The color of your car doesn’t affect your car insurance rate. In most cases, your insurance company doesn’t even know the color of the car you are driving. Insurance companies know your vehicle identification number (VIN) but the color of your car is not included in a VIN. Insurers don’t care about your Ferrari-red sports car - only if it’s an actual Ferrari.

How tickets affect your car insurance rate

Tickets matter when an insurance company looks at your driving record to calculate your individual rates and decide whether you are a high-risk driver.

One speeding ticket can raise your rates by 15% and two tickets as much as 40%, according to data gathered from six major carriers for Insurance.com by Quadrant Information Services.

The key detail in the ticket factor is that insurance rates will change only for the driver who got them, not the car

Insurance companies are mostly concerned with claims, which directly affect their bottom line. A car with a high frequency of claims or a record of more expensive claims will be more costly to insure – for everyone who buys that model of car.

The risk level of the driver is a separate issue from the risk factor of the car. certainly a radar gun or speed camera doesn’t know the difference between “flashy” red and “sedate” beige.

Custom paint jobs do affect insurance rates

The paint that affects your insurance rates is a custom paint job, but even that shouldn’t add too much to your premium and should only include a nominal fee.

The Psychology Behind Car Paint Colors
Color Associated Positive Moods Associated Negative Moods
White Pure, innocent, airy,
lightweight, bright
Sterile, cold, clinical
Gray Classic, official,
practical, conservative
Dull, conformist, detached
Silver Sleek, classy, stylish,
modern, cool
Lifeless, colorless,
rigid, neutral
Black Powerful, elegant, mysterious,
expensive, stylish
Depressing, mourning, evil
Gold Glowing, divine,
opulent, expensive
Gaudy, fake, self-centered
Brown Earthy, sheltering,
warm, durable, rugged
Dull, unsophisticated, stingy
Red Exciting, sexy, passionate,
hot, powerful, sporty
Overly aggressive,
violent, fast, dangerous
Orange Happy, hot,
whimsical, energizing
Loud, raucous, frivolous
Yellow Sporty, hot,
friendly, energetic
Cowardly, untrustworthy,
hazardous
Green Natural, soothing, fresh,
spring, lively, new
Tacky, slimy, sickening
Blue Calming, cool, aquatic,
clean, sophisticated
Depressed, aloof,
frigid, predictable

The color of your car might even make it less likely to be stolen - in which case, a red car might even help you. Car makes that are frequently stolen cost more for comprehensive coverage.

Red isn’t one of the top five vehicle colors that are most frequently involved in thefts. Car thieves prefer green, gold, black and white cars, with the most common color of car being vandalized or stolen is silver.

This article is adapted with approval from carinsurance.com: http://www.carinsurance.com/Articles/10-factors-that-affect-your-car-insurance-rates.aspx.


The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

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