A recent poll conducted by ContractHireAndLeasing.com revealed that motorist’s favourite car colour is silver. The colour silver took 40% of the vote. In a close second place was black with 38% and in third was red with 8% of the vote.  Black and silver were overwhelming favourites with other options such as blue and white struggling to get any votes. Only 4% said they were not concerned about the colour of their car.

The survey reminds us how colour can be an important consideration for leasing companies and car salesmen. There are many reasons why people choose a certain colour for their vehicle. While it may not be the first consideration to most people, the right colour can make a huge difference.

Firstly ContractHireAndLeasing.com recommends you consider the make of car you are looking for. Certain vehicles look right in a particular colour. White may be popular for vans but not for sports cars. Sports cars are often in bright colours whilst executive cars are usually more conservative. Certain cars become associated with a colour, for example Ferrari and the colour red. Manufacturers try hard to make their cars stand out but ultimately buyers tend to stick to the same few colours. That is why there are often many different shades of the same few colours available; to provide buyers with something different but not too garish.

However if supply of the most popular colours outstrips demand; unusual colours could have the edge as buyer’s taste change.

Colour can also affect how likely you are to be involved in an accident. A study published by the British Medical Journal in 2003 uncovered silver as the best colour for avoiding a crash resulting in serious injury whilst green, brown and black increased the risk. 

Car buyers and leasing companies need to consider the longevity of their paint work too; metallic paint is by far the most popular type of paint and has been for a long time. It is often more resistant to chipping and scratching than solid colours, and resale prices reflect the buyer preference for metallics. However, bear in mind that paler metallic colours can fade faster than strong ones. White vehicles may show up dirt, but finish on dark solid colours can be softer and so more prone to damage.

Finally consider trim, and make sure you are happy that it looks right with the body colour of your choice. You may be able to secure faster delivery if you compromise on the particular colour and trim you want. Darker body colour cars often look smart with a light coloured trim, but this may not be the right choice if you have small children to carry around.

Dave Timmis M.D of Really Good Domains, who own and operate ContractHireAndLeasing.com said:

“It is important people make a sensible colour & specification choice when ordering their car. Choosing the wrong colour could make a significant difference to the residual value and indeed how long it actually takes to sell a used vehicle. Certain colours will always be popular and move more quickly in the used car market”