Why is grey the most popular car colour? How monochrome shades dominated the market for a decade

Buying a new car today brings with it many questions, with the push towards electric vehicles becoming a priority for many.

In addition to considering safety features and comfort, color is also an important part of being able to give that last word.

But it seems Britons are opting for the watered-down options rather than making a statement on the road.

A survey found that more than a quarter (25.7 per cent) of new cars bought in the UK last year were grey. It was also the best-selling color in every region and county in the United Kingdom, with the exception of the Scottish Borders, where blue pushed it into second place.

This is evident from figures from the Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers and Dealersblack cars followed closely at 20.1 percent and white at 16.7 percent, creating an all-black and white podium.

While the numbers reflect market trends, it raises questions about why colorful cars are becoming less popular.

The Telegraph reports that consumers are concerned about a bright color “lowering the resale value of their car.”

The Finance and Leasing Association reported that by 2021, 2.1 million privately purchased cars will be leased rather than purchased outright, accounting for about 91.8 percent of new vehicles financed.

It’s a similar story for the used car finance industry, as more than 1.36 million used cars were purchased on finance in 2021, a ten percent increase from 2020.

With this in mind, color should become more of a consideration when leasing a car, as a standout choice will drive the price an average of six to eight percent lower than black, white or gray, The Telegraph outlined.

And these fees are paid by the person who leased the car in the first place, forcing them to pay higher monthly fees and less benefit when resale.

Gray has held the title of the country’s favorite car color for five years now, with 415,199 gray cars registered last year.

Red ranks fifth with 8.5 percent of the market share, with 136,793 units registered.

Before gray became the most popular, silver was number one or two between 2000 and 2011, but now accounts for just 6.1 percent of the market share by 2022. Now in sixth place, silver is at its lowest sales level in 20 years.

At the bottom of the charts were maroon, pink and cream, which together accounted for just 0.02 percent of all registrations, while green had the largest volume increase at 13,293 units sold, accounting for 1.9 percent of the market share.

A short distance follows orange with 1.2 percent and then yellow with 0.7 percent. Bronze took the bottom spot with 0.5 percent.

Black cars followed closely at 20.1 percent and white at 16.7 percent, creating an all-black and white podium, according to figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (file photo)

In terms of location, red cars were most popular in Berkshire with 6,735 entries, with green cars winning the hearts of Greater London cars with 1,894 units (file photo)

In terms of location, red cars were most popular in Berkshire with 6,735 registrations, with green cars winning the hearts of those in Greater London with 1,894 units.

Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland had more orange cars registered than any other county with their 1,313 units.

Cheshire seemed to like the blue-green shade of turquoise, registering 291 units and taking first place for the color.

Pink was favored in Derbyshire with their ten registrations – showing how little the consumer has chosen lately.

The CEO of Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, Mike Hawes, said of the numbers: “A car’s color choice, in theory, says something about who we are as drivers, and buying a car today opens up a lot of opportunities to customize your vehicle.

“After choosing from the market’s ever-expanding choice of makes, models, powertrains, hubcaps and in-car technology, choosing the perfect paint finish is an exciting decision to make.

“While the most popular shades remain unchanged for 2022, for those looking to make their vehicle stand out from the crowd, a huge variety of color choices from across the rainbow will continue to be available for each character.”