When you bought your car, you probably chose a colour you liked. But did you accidentally tank its future value? Car colour has a surprisingly significant impact on resale prices and, ultimately, how long a vehicle stays on the road before heading to the scrapyard. Here's the colourful truth about what sells, what doesn't, and the surprising shades making a comeback.

The Safe Bets: Silver, Black, and White

There's a reason car parks look like a monochrome sea. Silver, black, and white consistently top UK sales charts and hold their value best. These neutral shades appeal to the widest range of buyers, making them easier to sell and therefore more valuable throughout their lives.

White has seen particular growth over the past decade, shifting from 'fleet vehicle' associations to premium desirability. The influence of German manufacturers offering stunning pearl and metallic whites helped reposition the colour as sophisticated rather than utilitarian. A white BMW or Audi now looks deliberate rather than budget-conscious.

Black remains the choice for those wanting their car to look expensive, though it's notoriously difficult to keep clean. Silver sits in the practical middle ground – hides dirt well, shows minor scratches less, and appeals to almost everyone. These three colours typically command premiums of 5-10% over less popular shades.

The Value Killers

Brown. Just brown. Despite manufacturers trying to rebrand it as 'bronze', 'cappuccino', or 'metallic chestnut', brown cars consistently struggle on the used market. The colour enjoyed brief popularity in the 1970s and has never recovered. A brown car can lose 10-15% of its value compared to an identical model in a neutral shade.

Bright yellow and orange face similar challenges outside specific sports cars where bold colours are expected. A yellow Porsche 911 is desirable; a yellow Vauxhall Insignia is a hard sell. Context matters enormously with statement colours.

Gold and beige fall into the same trap as brown – associated with an older generation and difficult to shift. These colours often end up at scrapyards earlier than their mechanical condition warrants simply because nobody wants to buy them, making repair investments pointless.

The Comeback Kids of 2026

Green is having a moment. After years in the wilderness, green cars are suddenly desirable again. The environmental connotations help, but it's really about manufacturers finally offering attractive shades. British Racing Green on a new BMW or the stunning Willow Green from Porsche have rehabilitated a colour that was deeply unfashionable just five years ago.

Blue continues its steady popularity, with deeper navy and metallic shades performing particularly well. It's different enough from the silver-black-white crowd to stand out, but conventional enough to appeal broadly. A good blue holds value nearly as well as neutral colours.

Perhaps surprisingly, matte finishes are gaining traction despite being notoriously difficult to maintain. Once reserved for exotic supercars, matte grey and matte black options are appearing on mainstream vehicles. Whether these will hold value long-term remains to be seen – the specialist care requirements might deter future buyers.

The Brand Factor

Colour impact varies significantly by manufacturer. Italian brands can carry bright reds that would sink a Ford's value. Porsche buyers actively seek unusual shades that would be kiss of death on a Kia. Land Rover greens work perfectly; the same colour on a Peugeot looks like a mistake.

This explains why manufacturers offer different palettes for different models. The colours available on a Fiat 500 – including pastel blues and muted greens – would never appear on a Fiat Tipo. Marketing departments understand that colour expectations vary by vehicle type and buyer demographic.

Premium brands can also charge substantial premiums for special colours. A bespoke shade from BMW Individual or Porsche's Paint to Sample can add thousands to a new car's price – and sometimes holds that premium remarkably well on the used market if the colour is genuinely special.

What This Means for Scrapping

Colour-challenged cars often reach scrapyards earlier than their condition warrants. When the cost of repairs approaches a car's value, colour becomes crucial. A silver Ford Focus worth £3,000 is worth repairing; the same car in mustard yellow worth £2,200 probably isn't.

We regularly see vehicles in excellent mechanical condition being scrapped because their colour makes resale uneconomic. The brown Nissan Qashqai with full service history and low mileage simply can't find a buyer at any price that justifies keeping it running.

If you're buying a car you plan to keep until the end, colour matters less – choose what makes you happy. But if you typically change vehicles every few years, those neutral shades really do make financial sense. Your future self will thank you when trade-in time arrives.