Most popular car colours in the UK: why grey still dominates

If you’ve noticed Britain’s car parks looking increasingly monochrome, you’re not imagining it.

Data on UK new car registrations shows that grey remains the most popular car colour by a clear margin, continuing a trend that’s been building for years.

For many drivers, neutral shades still feel like the safest option - practical, understated and easy to live with. But while grey continues to dominate, there are early signs that some buyers are becoming more adventurous, with greener and more distinctive colours starting to gain traction.

So what’s driving the divide - and does car colour really matter when it comes to cost?

Why grey remains the UK’s most popular car colour

Grey has now held its position as the nation’s favourite new car colour for several years, accounting for more than a quarter of all new vehicles registered last year. It leads across most fuel types too, including petrol, diesel and fully electric cars.

Black follows closely behind, with blue holding onto third place as the most popular non-neutral option. Together, these three colours make up nearly two-thirds of all new car registrations in the UK.

The appeal of neutral colours is easy to understand. They typically:

• Age well over time
• Appeal to the widest range of buyers
• Are easier to sell on in the used car market

For drivers thinking long term, colour choice can therefore play a small but meaningful role in protecting a car’s resale value.

Green cars gain momentum

While still far from mainstream, green cars are quietly growing in popularity. Registrations rose sharply last year, with electric vehicles in particular driving much of that increase.

Part of the shift appears to be down to manufacturers becoming bolder with design. Many newer electric models now offer distinctive colours as standard, rather than treating them as niche upgrades. As EVs become more common, drivers also seem more willing to choose colours that stand out.

It’s a reminder that while resale value matters, personal taste still counts - especially if you plan to keep your car for several years rather than changing it regularly.

Which car colours are falling out of favour?

At the other end of the spectrum, some colours remain extremely rare. Shades such as maroon, turquoise and pink account for only a tiny fraction of new cars sold in the UK.

Once a firm favourite with British drivers, red has also continued its long-term decline. While still visible on the roads, it now represents a much smaller share of new car registrations than it did in previous decades.

Does car colour affect the cost of buying a car?

Car colour can influence what a vehicle is worth in the future - but how much it matters depends on how you choose to buy.

For drivers using finance products linked to future resale values, such as PCP agreements, less common colours can sometimes result in higher monthly payments. That’s because the car may be predicted to be worth less at the end of the agreement.

If you’re planning to own the car outright, however, colour becomes much more of a personal choice. When you buy a car using a personal loan, repayments are fixed from the start and aren’t affected by predicted resale values. That means you can focus on choosing a car you’ll enjoy driving, rather than worrying about what someone else might want to buy later.

If you’re weighing up different ways to fund a car, it’s worth exploring your options. Car loans can offer a straightforward route to ownership, with fixed repayments that make budgeting simpler - whatever colour you choose.

Using a personal loan to buy a new car

A personal loan can be a straightforward way to fund a new car purchase. It allows you to:

• Own the car outright from day one
• Choose any make, model or colour you like
• Spread the cost with fixed monthly repayments
• Avoid mileage limits or end-of-agreement decisions

For many drivers, this offers clarity and flexibility - particularly if they plan to keep their car for the long term.

As always, it’s important to borrow responsibly, only take what you need, and make sure repayments comfortably fit within your budget.

Choosing a car that suits you

Whether you stick with safe grey, opt for classic black, or go bold with green, the right choice is the one that fits your lifestyle, budget and driving plans.

With more choice than ever in the new car market, and flexible ways to spread the cost, drivers can focus on finding a car they genuinely enjoy.

And if you’re thinking about how to pay for your next car, exploring car loan options early can help you plan with confidence, giving you clarity on costs before you commit.

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