It is one of the oldest car insurance myths going - the idea that red cars cost more to insure, or that a bright colour pushes your premium up. It sounds logical enough, but it simply is not true. UK insurers do not ask about your car's colour when they calculate a quote, and the factory paint finish has zero effect on what you pay.
What does affect your premium is a set of proven risk factors - your driving history, your car's insurance group, and where you live. Below we break down exactly what determines your cost, when colour can become relevant (hint: modifications), and how to find a better deal on your car insurance.
Quick Summary
In This Guide
No. Your car's factory colour does not affect your insurance premium in the UK. Insurers do not ask what colour your car is when you get a quote, and the paint finish has no bearing on how your premium is calculated. Whether you drive a bright red hatchback or a silver saloon, the colour itself will not change what you pay.
This myth has been around for decades, but there is no truth to it. When insurers calculate your premium, they use proven risk data - things like your age, driving record, the car's make and model, and where you live. Vehicle colour simply is not part of the equation.
Good News for Car Buyers
You can choose whatever factory colour you like without worrying about your insurance costs. Red, black, white, yellow - it makes no difference to your premium.
No, red cars are not more expensive to insure. This is the most common version of the car colour myth, and it has no basis in how UK insurance actually works. The idea probably started because red is often associated with sports cars and speed, but insurers do not factor colour into their pricing at all.
What can make a red car more expensive to insure is the type of car it is, not the colour. A red Ferrari will cost far more to insure than a red Ford Fiesta - but that is because of the car's insurance group, engine size, repair costs, and theft risk. The colour red has nothing to do with it.
The same applies to every colour. A white BMW M3 and a red BMW M3 in the same insurance group would attract similar premiums, assuming everything else - your age, postcode, driving history - is the same.
Brumble Top Tip
If you have been quoted a high premium on a red car, do not blame the colour. Check the car's insurance group instead - that is what is driving the cost. A lower-group car in any colour will almost always be more affordable to insure.
No. Black cars do not cost more to insure than any other colour. Like the red car myth, this is a misconception. Your insurer will not charge you more for choosing a black car.
Black is one of the most popular car colours in the UK, which means more black cars are on the road and more are involved in accidents in total. But this is simply a numbers game - it does not mean black cars are riskier per vehicle, and insurers do not treat them differently because of their colour.
Some drivers worry that darker cars are harder to see at night, which could lead to more claims. While visibility is a fair practical concern, it is not something insurers use when setting premiums. The same goes for any other colour - none are treated differently.
Your premium is based on factors that genuinely predict the likelihood and cost of a claim. These are the main things insurers look at when they calculate your quote.
| Factor | Why It Matters | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Your age and experience | Younger and newly qualified drivers are statistically more likely to make a claim | High |
| Car insurance group (1-50) | Every car is rated based on repair costs, performance, safety features, and theft rates | High |
| Where you live | Urban areas with higher accident and theft rates tend to have higher premiums | High |
| Driving history | Past claims, convictions, and penalty points all increase risk in the insurer's eyes | High |
| No claims discount | Up to 60% off your premium after five claim-free years | High |
| Annual mileage | More miles driven means more time on the road and a higher chance of an accident | Medium |
| Security features | Factory-fitted alarms, immobilisers, and trackers can reduce risk and lower premiums | Medium |
| Modifications | Any change from factory spec - including custom paint - must be declared and may increase your premium | Medium |
| Car colour | Not asked for and not used in premium calculations | None |
There are plenty of practical steps you can take to bring your premium down, from building your no claims discount to choosing a car in a lower insurance group. For more ideas, read our guide on seven ways to reduce your car insurance premium.
Brumble Top Tip
Your car's insurance group has a far bigger impact on your premium than anything else about the vehicle itself. Before buying a car, check which insurance group it falls into - a group 5 hatchback will cost a fraction of what a group 40 performance car would to insure.
See how much you could save by comparing quotes from 130+ UK insurers via Brumble - whatever colour your car is.
Compare Quotes NowYes. While the factory colour of your car does not affect your insurance, changing that colour does. A custom paint job, respray, or vinyl wrap is classed as a modification, and you are required to tell your insurer about it.
Custom paintwork can increase your premium because it adds value to the vehicle, makes it more distinctive (and potentially more attractive to thieves), and increases repair costs if the finish is damaged in an accident. The same applies to any aftermarket change to the car's appearance.
Warning: You Must Declare Modifications
Failing to tell your insurer about a colour change, wrap, or any other modification can invalidate your cover entirely. That means your insurer could refuse to pay out on a claim. Always declare changes before you make them. For a full breakdown, read our guide on how car modifications affect your insurance cost.
It is not just full resprays either. Even large decals, racing stripes, and vinyl graphics count as modifications in the eyes of most insurers. If you are unsure whether a change needs to be declared, the safe answer is always yes - contact your insurer and let them know.
Car colour does not factor into your insurance premium, but there are some interesting findings around colour, visibility, and theft that are worth knowing about as a driver.
Some research suggests that darker coloured cars - particularly black, dark grey, and dark blue - can be harder to spot in low light conditions. Studies have found that black cars may have a slightly higher accident rate during the day compared to white cars, likely because of lower contrast against road surfaces.
However, UK insurers do not use colour data when setting premiums. The difference in risk is too small and too difficult to isolate from other factors like driver behaviour, road conditions, and the car's make and model.
Thieves tend to target the most common and easily resold car colours - silver, black, and white. Unusual colours like bright green or orange are harder to resell and may be slightly less attractive to opportunistic thieves. But again, insurers base theft risk on the car's make, model, and security features rather than its colour.
Since colour has no impact on your premium, the best way to save on car insurance is to focus on the factors that do matter.
Build your no claims discount year on year - five claim-free years can earn you a maximum discount of up to 60%. Consider choosing a car in a lower insurance group if keeping costs down is a priority. Add security features like an approved alarm or tracker. And always compare quotes from multiple insurers, because different providers weigh risk factors differently, which means prices can vary significantly for the same driver and the same car.
For a more detailed breakdown, our guide on how to lower your car insurance premium covers seven practical steps to bring your costs down.
If you are a younger driver, it is especially worth comparing - premiums for under-25s can vary enormously between providers. You can compare young driver car insurance via Brumble to see what is available.
Brumble Top Tip
Do not just renew with your current insurer. Comparing quotes each year is one of the simplest ways to make sure you are not overpaying - and it only takes a few minutes via Brumble.
Compare quotes from 130+ insurers via Brumble. Whether your car is red, black, white, or anything in between - the colour will not affect your price.
Compare Car InsuranceNo. Red cars are not more expensive to insure in the UK. This is a longstanding myth. Insurers do not ask about your car's colour and do not use it to calculate premiums. The cost of insuring a red car depends on its make, model, insurance group, and your personal details, not the paint colour.
No. Black cars are not treated any differently by insurers. Black is one of the most popular car colours in the UK, but popularity does not equal higher risk in the eyes of an insurer. Your premium is based on the car's insurance group, your driving history, and where you live.
No. Yellow cars are not cheaper to insure than any other colour. While some people assume rarer colours might carry lower theft risk, insurers do not factor colour into premiums at all. A yellow car in the same insurance group as a black one would attract a similar quote, all else being equal.
Yes. A respray, custom paint job, or vinyl wrap is classed as a modification. You must declare it to your insurer, and it may increase your premium because it adds value to the car and can raise repair costs. Failing to declare a colour change could invalidate your cover.
No factory colour is more expensive to insure than another. Insurers do not use colour when calculating your premium. The factors that make a car expensive to insure are its insurance group, engine size, repair costs, and theft rates - not whether it is red, black, white, or any other colour.
The myth likely started because red is associated with fast, sporty cars. People link the colour to aggressive driving, but insurers do not make that connection. Premiums are based on statistical evidence like claims data and insurance groups, not assumptions about colour and driving style.
No. UK car insurers do not ask for your vehicle's colour when generating a quote, and the colour has no impact on your premium. This applies to every factory colour. Only custom paint or wraps can affect your insurance, as these count as modifications that must be declared.
Yes. A vinyl wrap changes your car's appearance and is classified as a modification. You must inform your insurer before having the wrap applied. Not declaring it could void your policy, meaning any claim you make might not be paid out.
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