- White is the most well-liked automobile shade, with over 20% of the market.
- Grayscale colours account for over 80% of autos.
- Sports activities vehicles are essentially the most colourful, with over 36% in non-grayscale.
People love boring automobile colours. So that you might not be shocked to be taught that white is the most well-liked automobile shade in america, primarily based on iSeeCars information from over 22 million used vehicles bought from mannequin years 1996 to 2026, from January 2025 to Might 2026.
The examine revealed that grayscale hues (white, black, grey, and silver) make up 80.4 % of the general automobile market, which is a very miserable statistic to report as an automotive web site with an fanatic focus. White led the market with a 25.7 % share, up 16.7 % from 21.1 % in 1996 when it was nonetheless the most well-liked shade.
- White — 25.7%
- Black — 23.4%
- Grey — 22.9%
- Blue — 9.1%
- Silver — 8.4%
- Crimson — 7.0%
- Inexperienced — 2.2%
- Brown — 0.4%
- Beige — 0.4%
- Orange — 0.3%
Grey made the most important acquire over the previous 30 years, rising 528.4 % from simply 3.6 % market share in 1996 to 22.9 % in 2025, placing it in third place behind black at 23.4 % share. These three colours alone account for 72 % of the market, whereas silver solely provides one other 8.4 % in fifth place.
No non-grayscale shade seems on the listing till blue at quantity 4, and it solely makes up 9.1 % of the market. At the same time as the most well-liked “actual” shade on the listing, it has dropped in reputation during the last 30 years, reducing by 10.8 % from its 10.2 % share in 1996.
Different colours—reminiscent of crimson, inexperienced, brown, and beige—have additionally seen their reputation wane since 1996. Crimson noticed the most important drop, going from a 20.1 % share over 30 years in the past to solely a 7.0 % share in 2025. Inexperienced additionally noticed a large drop from 13.4 % to simply 2.2 %. Brown and beige had equally precipitous dips, however at the moment have a lot smaller market shares of 0.4 % every.
Of the highest colours listed, just one non-grayscale hue confirmed an increase in market share between 1996 and 2025: orange. The brilliant combination of crimson and yellow noticed a slight improve of two.5 % from 0.2 % in 1996 to 0.3 % 30 years later. Different colours reminiscent of yellow, gold, and purple additionally noticed drops, although yellow just lately earned the title because the best color for resale value.
Photograph by: Porsche
Who’s Shopping for Colours?
People’ willingness to purchase colourful vehicles varies a bit relying on the kind of car. Vans have seen the most important shift in direction of grayscale, representing 83.5 % of the market, rising from simply 43.4 % in 1996, with white main at 33.6 %. SUVs are equally uninteresting, with 79.3 % grayscale, up from 43.8 % 30 years in the past. White leads SUVs with 25.1 %.
Passenger vehicles buck the white development, with grey taking the primary spot due to a 652.1 % surge prior to now 30 years, rising from simply 3.8 % market share in 1996 to twenty-eight % in 2025. Black sits at quantity two with 23.7 %, and white is down at quantity three with 21.2 %.
Grey can also be the most well-liked shade for sports activities vehicles, accounting for 21.2 % of the market, up 598.0 % from 1996. Sports activities vehicles have the very best market share of non-grayscale colours at 36.2 %, and colours like blue, yellow, purple, and orange all gained share.
Motor1’s Take: It is unhappy to see so many colours on the backside of this listing, however not stunning. If you happen to wander via any grocery retailer parking zone, it is clear that colours should not a precedence for a lot of buyers.
