Does car color affect insurance?

There’s a common myth among drivers and vehicle owners that the color of your car can raise your car insurance rates, but this is false. Despite what you may have heard, the color of your car does not affect your car insurance rates.

There are many factors that contribute to the price of your car insurance and can make it higher or lower, like your age, ZIP code, and driving history — but car color isn’t one of them.

Do red cars cost more to insure?

Nope! The color of your car doesn’t have any impact on your insurance rates. The myth that people who drive red cars are more likely to be in an at-fault accident or file a claim is false.

If driving a red car meant you were more likely to file a claim, then auto insurance companies would probably charge higher rates for red cars. Insurance companies use statistics to set their rates, which is why your age, ZIP code, and driving history all affect your premium. 

But color isn’t one of the things that affects rates, so if you’re car shopping and considering a red car, don’t worry that it will mean higher car insurance than if you chose a black or silver car of the same model.

→ Read more about the most expensive cars to insure

What is the most popular car color?

While some cars come in flashier colors like copper or bright green, it turns out that most drivers don’t actually want to stand out when it comes to the color of their vehicle. According to Axalta Coating Systems, these are the most popular vehicle colors in North America [1] :

• White: 29%

• Black: 19%

• Gray: 17%

• Silver: 11%

• Blue: 10%

• Red: 9%

• Brown: 2%

• Green: 1%

• Yellow/Gold: 1%

• Other: 1%

Custom paint jobs and auto insurance rates

The one situation in which your car’s paint will affect your car insurance rates is if you get a custom paint job or wrap. 

Modifying your car with a custom paint job(or other changes like rims or mod exhaust) can make your car look awesome, but you’ll be required to report those changes to your insurance company — and you’ll likely pay more to insure those modifications.

When it comes to car insurance coverage, your insurance company will consider your car to be in the same condition that you bought in its original form, so if you get a custom paint job for your vehicle and want it to be covered in case of damage, you should notify your car insurance company.

Many insurance companies offer a special coverage for aftermarket modifications, sometimes called custom parts and equipment coverage. 

This will extend your car insurance coverage to repair or replace your customizations if they’re damaged in an accident. This includes custom paint jobs as well as other custom parts, such as:

• New wheels or rims

• Headlights

• Sound systems

• Suspension or lift kits

• Exhaust

• Turbochargers/boosters

How are car insurance rates calculated?

Although car color does not affect the price of car insurance, there are a lot of other factors that do affect your rates. 

Car insurance premiums are calculated based on lots of information about you and your vehicle. Insurance companies use that information to estimate how likely you are to file a claim — basically how much of a risk you’ll be to insure. The details that affect your car insurance rates include:

• How much coverage you buy

• Your driving record, especially recent accidents

• You credit score

• Your driving habits (like your yearly mileage)

• Your age

• Which city and state you live in

• Your deductible amounts

• The make and model of your car

But things that won’t affect your car insurance rates include your car’s color, paying off your car loan, or even getting a parking ticket.