Why Your Car Colour Choice Is Important

Behind Your Car Colour: The Safest, Most Popular Choices and Colours to Avoid in SA

Did you know that there’s a lot that goes on behind deciding your car’s colour?

Colours aren’t just a psychological phenomenon used in Marketing. In fact, you may not even realise how much control you have over the role your car plays in daily life, simply by choosing the colour.

From the statistically safest and most popular car colours to the most stolen, we break down some surprising intel. Who knows, this information might change your mind when you want to buy a set of wheels in future because South African motorists know all too well that colour choices need to be somewhat practical and sellable, not just something nice to look at in the driveway.

What’s Global Right Now: The Best Car Colour

As of February/March 2026, the colour ‘black’ is taking the world by headline. They’ve even got the numbers to prove it.

A global study reported that 88% of car owners (in China, Germany, Mexico, and the United States) make car colour a key factor in their purchasing decisions, and black seems to have taken the top spot. It was also reported that some buyers may even delay their purchase if a colour is unavailable.

While global markets are noticing shifts, local traction is seeing new developments in car purchases. For one, although white vehicles are still in the lead, there’s been a notable decrease since 2025, with black becoming the preferred colour, followed by grey and silver.

Colour preferences are also known to be influenced by the model. For example, the Jetour T2 arrived in 2025, with black being the most sold colour in the South African lineup. All the while, Titan silver seemed to be the most popular option for one model in the lineup, followed by black and then white.

The Practical Car Colour List & Guide for South Africans

The colour list determines which colours are statistically safe, unsafe, and most likely to be stolen, a win-win strategy for you and your insurance provider.

Colours with the Highest Accident Rates

Black vehicles are known to be involved in the highest rates of road accidents. The reason is that black vehicles are harder to detect at night, especially in bad weather or in poorly lit areas. This is followed by red, brown, blue, and grey vehicles, respectively.

Safest Colours Based on Accidents in all Road Conditions

White: A baseline for safety due to better visibility.
Gold: Considered a safe colour due to better visibility.
Silver/Grey: Known to pose a moderate accident risk in certain weather and environmental conditions.

Most Stolen Cars by Colour

Colour may not be the primary reason to steal a vehicle, but it definitely plays a role, given that you also drive a hijacker's favourite car.

Cars which are easier to hide on the roads are most likely to be targeted. Traditionally, white and silver vehicles have been highly targeted in South Africa, but as trends change, so do the targets.

So, while colour can influence the hijacker's motives to some degree, factors like make and model, time, and place can make a huge difference.

Are There Car Colours to Avoid?

It’s not very realistic to delay a car purchase just because it's in a certain colour. If you are worried about it, “targeted” car colours don’t matter as much as models do. The only thing you need to consider is that any colour or vehicle that is easier to hide in traffic and has a popular resale value makes the target list.

Today’s criminals are leaning more towards black, silver, and grey, with the exception of white (based on the model).

Practical Colour-Related Tips for Motorists

If you’re shopping for a new car and have some qualms about the colour, use these tips to navigate car shopping without doubts:

If you’re a safety-conscious buyer, consider vehicles that are more visible to others in all types of weather and lighting conditions.
For theft and hijacking, the make and model of your vehicle takes preference over colour. Even the most brightly coloured vehicles can be stripped and sold off.
Worried about resale value? Keep it in the neutral segment. Colours like white, grey, and black are easier to buy and resell. Think practicality over aesthetics.

The Bottom Line

There’s a lot to consider when investing in a car, from theft and safety to overall resale value. It’s also no longer about the looks – the practical side of a car can tell you a lot from its colour, whether it’s designed to show its cleaner side, or what looks worse for wear after a day.

Now that you have all the information you need for car shopping, there are other ways to find a new car at the best deal (regardless of colour). Read here: How to buy a new car for the best price in 8 easy ways.

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