Do Red Cars Cost More to Insure? (2024)

FAQs

Do Red Cars Cost More to Insure? ›

You may have heard red cars are more expensive to insure. But, according to the Insurance Information Institute (III), the color of the car you drive does not affect the price of auto insurance. Here are some of the factors that help determine your auto premium and what to look for when shopping for car insurance.

The notion that it costs more to insure a red vehicle is a myth. Car insurance companies look at many different aspects of your vehicle to set your rate, but color is not one of them.

Does car color affect insurance rates? The color of your car doesn't affect your insurance rate. Instead, your insurance company uses other information, like your car's age, location, usage, and your driving record, to help determine insurance rates. Learn more about the factors that impact auto insurance pricing.

Never fear, though. The myth that red cars cost more to insure is, in fact, a myth. While auto insurance companies take a number of factors into account when calculating your insurance rate, the color of the car isn't one of them.

Which Color Gets Pulled Over the Most? 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.

While red does tend to be associated with less of a risk of accidents than black, grey, and silver cars, red cars have more accidents than many other colors. When compared with the safest color on the road, red cars have a 7 percent higher risk of an accident. Red is such a bold, vibrant color.

The top five car colors with the best resale value

As of June 2023, the car colors that retain a higher resale value are: Yellow (13.5% value lost over three years) Orange (18.4% value lost over three years) Red (20.6% value lost over three years)

You may have heard red cars are more expensive to insure. But, according to the Insurance Information Institute (III), the color of the car you drive does not affect the price of auto insurance.

Vehicles that are less prone to accidents are thus cheaper to insure. If you're looking for the best deal on insurance, your safest bet is to go with a light colour (except silver). White will be amongst the cheapest to insure for more than just its brightness.

What the research says. For the car market in general, the above-average colors for resale value are yellow, beige, orange, green, red, white and blue. These could be good choices if resale value is a top concern.

Do red cars lose their value? ›

Dark, metallic red suits many different types of car, so it often leads to good resale values, whereas flat, non-metallic red has a more limited appeal but works with some models.

It could be that some people associate red with danger. Whatever the reason might be for the assumption, the assumption is incorrect. Red cars are not involved in more car accidents than vehicles of other colors. In fact, studies indicate that black cars are actually the most dangerous color vehicle on the road.

Red cars are no more likely to be stolen or pulled over by the police than any other vehicle. Painting your car red won't make it more expensive to insure unless you need additional coverage for a custom paint job.

White Cars

Overwhelmingly, white is considered the safest car color with the lowest risk of being struck. According to one study, white cars are 12% less likely to be in a crash than black cars, even during the day.

People tend to think that the police pull red vehicles over more because they stand out, but this is a myth!

Neutral colors are popular among thieves.

According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) and MotorBiscuit, black, silver and white are the colors most frequently associated with vehicle thefts.

The Red Car Theory suggests that opportunities, like red cars, are everywhere — yet we often fail to notice them. By developing a mindset of curiosity and openness, and actively seeking out opportunities, we can unlock potential for growth, success, and fulfillment in different areas of our lives.

“Consumers looking for a deal on a car should consider looking at beige and gold cars, but deals can still be found on popular colors such as black, white, silver, and gray,” said Ly. “It's important to do some research before making any purchase to find out whether the car you're considering really is priced well.”

Speed Myths Debunked

The belief that red cars are faster is a persistent automotive myth rooted in psychological associations rather than factual evidence. While red cars may appear more dynamic and exciting, their color does not directly influence their speed or performance.

In general, auto insurance for older cars may be cheaper than insuring newer vehicles of the same make and model if the used car is cheaper to repair or replace.