Everyone is familiar the well-known comment by Henry Ford that customers can choose any colour car provided it’s black. But, nearly 120 years after Henry Ford’s first introduction of the black ‘Model A’, car colours look vastly different. Today, you can order any colour car. But, despite the presence of black cars in South Africa, the most popular car colour is still white, according to AutoTrader’s findings in 2019.1,2
The popularity of white cars
According to AutoTrader, the number of white car sales equals the combined sales of all the second-, third-, fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-most popular car colours. This agrees with Axalta’s 2019 Annual Global Automotive Color Popularity Report, which mentions that white was the most sought-after car colour worldwide during 2019. This was especially true for South America, Africa, and Asia.1
Below are some reasons why white is so popular.
Black absorbs more heat
It’s well-known that a black car absorbs more heat and energy from the sun than a white car does. As a rule, lighter colours, including white, reflect the sun’s energy more.1
White is easier to maintain
You’ll hardly notice a scratch on a white car compared to a scratch on a dark-coloured car. That’s why white cars still look newer for longer, which boosts their resale value.1
The popularity range of other colours
AutoTrader found that silver was the second most popular car colour in 2019 in South Africa, followed by grey, blue, red, black, gold, orange, beige, and brown. But, the worldwide trend in 2019 differed from this, with black lying second to white, followed by grey, silver, blue, red, brown/beige, yellow/gold, green and other.1
Which colours have the best resale value?
Will colour affect the resale value when trading in your car? Gumtree asserts that white and silver cars sell quickly, unlike darker coloured cars. In Europe, the opposite is true, with darker colours preferred to lighter ones. Could that have something do with Europe’s cooler climate compared to the sub-tropical climate of South Africa?1
Which car colours are the safest on the road?
Road safety is all about your car being as visible as possible on the highway. That’s why you switch on your indicator light to become noticeable. If your car is easy to spot because of its colour, it could potentially make it safer. The opposite of that would be the mottled green colour used for camouflaging army vehicles, enabling them to blend in with the surrounding environment. White is the safest colour because it also stands out at night, but the exact opposite applies to black cars. Yellow is the next safest, which is why some taxis are yellow. A green car may not be ideal if you live in a rural area surrounded by thick, green vegetation.2
Disclaimer
The above article is meant to give general information to inform motorists what are the best car colours for optimal resale values and for the sake of road safety.1,2
Unfortunately, despite the car’s colour, people still have accidents. Financially, one cannot afford an uninsured car, so, if you need more information, why not contact us at Prime South Africa? We provide affordable car insurance products delivered with world-class client service. Prime allow you to enjoy unique benefits such as fixed premiums* and a reduce-to-zero excess* Ts and Cs apply.
If you’re looking to buy car insurance, we recommend you consult a certified financial advisor for professional advice before purchasing a policy.
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