Are Red Cars More Expensive to Insure?

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Have you ever wondered if your car’s colour could affect your insurance prices? Surely, insurance companies wouldn’t care about something as trivial as the colour of my car… right?

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Why are red cars more expensive to insure?

People commonly think red cars are more expensive to insure however this is in all likelihood an urban myth. Studies from across the world by insurers have found no concrete or conclusive evidence that having a red car will raise the price of your insurance premium.

In fact Insurers are far more interested in factors like your driving history, your age and any past claims you may have made. The engine size and car make will also be examined but it is unlikely the colour will affect your premiums.

So colour has no effect on my insurance?

Essentially yes, the colour of your car impacting your premiums is a myth with no conclusive evidence, so you can breathe a sigh of relief if your car is sporting some unconventional colours. Many people believe that colour has an impact on car insurance premiums for the following reasons.

• It is a common misconception that if your car is in a popular colour, such as white or black, then the model of your car is more in demand and so it’s more valuable, this is most likely false however.
• People believe rarer colours on a car like red are more expensive to insure due to their higher repair costs. This again is likely a myth with no conclusive evidence to support the claim.

So what does actually affect my premiums?

Insurers will be far more interested in factors such as your vehicle’s make and model, its mileage, age and your previous claims history. This is due to the fact that these factors are much more likely to determine the value of your car as well as the chances of you being involved in an accident rather than the colour of your car.

For more information on the factors that will actually impact the cost of your car insurance, check out the following guide.

What colour car has the most accidents?

Officially if you drive a black car you are more likely to be involved in an accident. However this is best taken with a pinch of salt as black is also the second most popular colour for cars in the UK market after grey. With a high number of drivers on the road in black cars it isn’t too surprising that a greater number of accidents will therefore involve the most common car colours. Another argument is that darker colours are harder to see at night which could account for why they are more likely to be involved in an accident than lighter colours like white.

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Handy tip

If you have comprehensive insurance then you will be covered for the damage you caused to the other party as well as your own vehicle if you are involved in an accident. This can protect you if you are involved in an accident where you are at fault.

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What’s the safest car colour?

Depending on the source of information the safest car colours have been listed as silver, white and yes red in the UK. However some sources will also claim red is in fact the most dangerous car colour. It can be easy to get caught up in fear over whether your car’s colour will increase your chances of an accident, however the reality is that the driver is a far more important factor when it comes to road accidents.

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Handy tip

Whilst your car’s colour won’t have an impact on your premiums, If you’re a young driver you will be viewed as a higher risk to insurers and this will impact your premiums!. Many young drivers will opt for third-party insurance as they believe it is the cheapest cover, however getting black-box and telematics insurance can help you keep your premiums down as a young driver by giving the insurers more certainty over your driving.

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Conclusion…

In short it’s most likely not worth getting caught up on the colour of your car as the evidence that they affect your insurance prices and accident rates is flimsy at best. In all likelihood this is just an urban legend with no real evidence to support the claim. What is far more important is the driver themselves and the actual car make.

If you feel you don’t have the right insurance policy for your needs or you’re just curious if there’s a better deal out there, compare insurance today to see what you could save.

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This article is intended as generic information only and is not intended to apply to anybody’s specific circumstances, demands or needs. The views expressed are not intended to provide any financial service or to give any recommendation or advice. Products and services are only mentioned for illustrative rather than promotional purposes.