The Impact of Vehicle Color on Car Insurance Rates

Have you ever wondered if the color of your car affects your insurance rates? If so, you are not alone. Many people believe that vehicle color car insurance rates are a real thing, and that some colors are cheaper or more expensive to insure than others. For example, some people think that red cars are more likely to get speeding tickets and higher premiums, while white cars are safer and cheaper to insure.

However, this is a myth. Vehicle color car insurance rates do not exist. Car insurance companies do not care about the color of your car when they calculate your rates. They care about other factors that determine how risky you are as a driver and how much it would cost to repair or replace your car if it is damaged or stolen.

In this article, we will explain everything you need to know about vehicle color car insurance rates, including why they are a myth, how vehicle color can indirectly affect your rates, and how vehicle color can influence your safety, theft risk, and traffic tickets. By the end of this article, you will be able to compare car insurance quotes online and find the best deal for your car, regardless of its color.

How Vehicle Color Can Indirectly Affect Car Insurance Rates

While vehicle color does not directly affect car insurance rates, it can have some indirect effects on other factors that do. One of these factors is the demand, supply, and price of a vehicle.

According to a study by Axalta and a report by Coverage.com, these are the most common car colors and the portion of vehicles made in that color:

• White: 29%
• Black: 19%
• Gray: 17%
• Silver: 11%
• Blue: 10%
• Red: 9%
• Brown/beige: 2%
• Green: 1%

Based on this, vehicles that are white or black are likely to be more in demand and more expensive than vehicles that are brown/beige or green. This means that they may have higher sticker prices and higher repair costs, which can increase their insurance premiums.

On the other hand, vehicles that are less common and less popular may have lower prices and lower repair costs, which can lower their insurance premiums.

However, this does not mean that you should choose a vehicle color based on its popularity or price. You should choose a vehicle color that suits your personal preferences and budget. After all, the difference in insurance rates based on vehicle color is usually minimal compared to other factors.

To save money on car insurance rates, you should shop around and compare quotes from different car insurance companies. You should also look for discounts that you may qualify for, such as multi-policy, multi-vehicle, good driver, good student, low mileage, or anti-theft device discounts.

How Vehicle Color Can Influence Safety and Theft Risk

Another factor that can indirectly affect car insurance rates is the safety and theft risk of a vehicle. Vehicle color can affect these factors by influencing the visibility, attractiveness, and recognition of a vehicle.

Visibility refers to how easy it is to see a vehicle on the road, especially in low-light or bad weather conditions. Visibility can affect the risk of accidents and injuries involving a vehicle.

Attractiveness refers to how appealing a vehicle is to potential thieves or vandals. Attractiveness can affect the risk of thefts and damages involving a vehicle.

Recognition refers to how easy it is to identify a vehicle by its make, model, and license plate. Recognition can affect the recovery rate of a stolen vehicle.

According to Vox.eu, brighter colors vehicles are more easily noticeable, meaning they are less likely to be involved in accidents and less likely to be stolen. Also, brighter colored vehicles can be harder to resell, reducing their value.

According to a 2012 report by CCC Information Services, red is not even in the top five vehicle colors involved in thefts. Thieves prefer black, gold, green, and white vehicles, and their number one preference is silver.

Based on this, vehicles that are bright or uncommon colors, such as yellow, orange, or purple, may have lower insurance rates than vehicles that are dark or common colors, such as black, silver, or white.

However, this does not mean that you should choose a vehicle color based on its safety or theft risk. You should choose a vehicle color that suits your personal preferences and needs. After all, the difference in insurance rates based on vehicle color is usually minimal compared to other factors.

To improve your safety and security with any vehicle color, you should follow some of these tips:

• Drive carefully and obey the traffic rules
• Use your headlights and taillights when needed
• Park your vehicle in a well-lit and secure area
• Lock your doors and windows and do not leave valuables inside
• Install anti-theft devices or tracking systems on your vehicle
• Report any suspicious activity or theft attempts to the police

How Vehicle Color Can Affect Traffic Tickets and Violations

Another factor that can indirectly affect car insurance rates is the traffic tickets and violations that a driver receives. Vehicle color can affect this factor by attracting more or less attention from law enforcement and other drivers.

Attention refers to how noticeable a vehicle is on the road, especially in high-speed or congested areas. Attention can affect the likelihood of getting traffic tickets and violations involving a vehicle.

Some people believe that flashier vehicles displaying red and yellow colors are more likely to participate in riskier driving, but there is no statistical data to prove this. However, studies have shown that certain models are more likely to be stopped by police but not necessarily because of their colors.

Red and yellow vehicles do tend to attract more attention in general, even by the police. If you receive a ticket for speeding, this might cause your car insurance rates to increase because you have a moving violation on your record.

According to a study by Insurance.com, these are the most and least ticketed vehicle colors based on data from 560,000 drivers:

• The most ticketed vehicle colors are: white (19%), gray (17%), silver (15%), black (12%), red (10%).
• The least ticketed vehicle colors are: brown (7%), green (6%), orange (4%), blue (3%), yellow (1%).

Based on this, vehicles that are white or gray may have higher insurance rates than vehicles that are orange or yellow.

However, this does not mean that you should choose a vehicle color based on its ticket risk. You should choose a vehicle color that suits your personal preferences and style. After all, the difference in insurance rates based on vehicle color is usually minimal compared to other factors.

To avoid traffic tickets and violations with any vehicle color, you should follow some of these tips:

• Drive within the speed limit and adjust to the road conditions
• Use your turn signals and follow the right-of-way rules
• Wear your seat belt and do not use your phone while driving
• Maintain a safe distance from other vehicles and avoid aggressive driving
• Check your vehicle for any defects or malfunctions that may cause violations

Conclusion

Vehicle color car insurance rates are a myth. Car insurance companies do not care about the color of your car when they calculate your rates. They care about other factors that determine how risky you are as a driver and how much it would cost to repair or replace your car if it is damaged or stolen.

However, vehicle color can have some indirect effects on car insurance rates by influencing other factors such as the demand, supply, and price of a vehicle, the safety and theft risk of a vehicle, and the traffic tickets and violations involving a vehicle.

By comparing car insurance quotes online, you can find the best deal for your car, regardless of its color. Don’t wait any longer and get your car insurance today!