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Most popular car colours in the UK 2023
Find out which car colours the UK car buyers loved the most in 2023.
Words by: Nimisha Jain
Published on 22 January 2024 | 0 min read
When buying a new car, the car colour is an important decision you need to make. The first thing you notice when you look at a car is usually its colour, so a car's colour can impact its overall look.
While some people like to stick to the classic monochrome colours, others may prefer a bolder look by choosing cars in brighter and more vibrant hues. Each year, SMMT collects data about how many vehicles are registered each year in the UK. They also publish data about the most popular colour of cars registered each year. So, here are the top 10 car colours in the UK - are there any surprises? And where does your car rank? Let's find out.
While some people like to stick to the classic monochrome colours, others may prefer a bolder look by choosing cars in brighter and more vibrant hues. Each year, SMMT collects data about how many vehicles are registered each year in the UK. They also publish data about the most popular colour of cars registered each year. So, here are the top 10 car colours in the UK - are there any surprises? And where does your car rank? Let's find out.
Most popular car colours in 2023
1. Grey
According to SMMT, grey was the most popular colour for new cars with more than a quarter of new cars registered in 2023 being grey cars.
Did you know: Ultimate Grey won the Pantone Colour of the Year in 2021. Car enthusiasts have been on the grey colour trend since 2018 though with it being the most popular car colour for six years in a row. Grey is also the most common colour amongst the new cars available to buy on Auto Trader (at the time of writing) with almost 4,000 grey cars up for grabs. Browse grey cars on Auto Trader.
Did you know: Ultimate Grey won the Pantone Colour of the Year in 2021. Car enthusiasts have been on the grey colour trend since 2018 though with it being the most popular car colour for six years in a row. Grey is also the most common colour amongst the new cars available to buy on Auto Trader (at the time of writing) with almost 4,000 grey cars up for grabs. Browse grey cars on Auto Trader.
2. Black
Black was the runner-up for the most popular car colours of 2023 for the sixth consecutive year.
Black, however, was the most prevalent car colour on Auto Trader in 2023 for the third year running. Interested in learning more fun facts about car buyers and sellers on Auto Trader in 2023? Check out our 2023 wrapped.
Black, however, was the most prevalent car colour on Auto Trader in 2023 for the third year running. Interested in learning more fun facts about car buyers and sellers on Auto Trader in 2023? Check out our 2023 wrapped.
3. White
The third most popular car colour in 2023 in the UK was white.
Owning a white car has many benefits - it’s an easily available car colour because of how common it is, it helps hide dust and scratches on the surface of the car, and it looks pretty. White cars can get muddy easily but thankfully we get enough rain in the UK so you can expect your car to be clean again pretty quickly.
Owning a white car has many benefits - it’s an easily available car colour because of how common it is, it helps hide dust and scratches on the surface of the car, and it looks pretty. White cars can get muddy easily but thankfully we get enough rain in the UK so you can expect your car to be clean again pretty quickly.
4. Blue
In fourth place for the UK’s most popular car colours is blue which doesn’t surprise us at all. Blue is inherently such a British colour – it would be rare to go two minutes on a busy road without seeing a blue car or looking at our wardrobe and not finding a blue piece of clothing.
Plus, unlike the basic monochrome colours, the colour blue itself opens up so many options to choose from – royal blue, sky blue, turquoise, teal and so many more. Got your eyes on a blue car? Browse from thousands of cars available on Auto Trader today.
Plus, unlike the basic monochrome colours, the colour blue itself opens up so many options to choose from – royal blue, sky blue, turquoise, teal and so many more. Got your eyes on a blue car? Browse from thousands of cars available on Auto Trader today.
5. Red
Red was the fifth most popular car sold in the UK in 2023.
The colour red is a whole personality – it symbolises energy, strength and power – all things perfect for a fast and furious car. Ferrari, too, has had a big hand in making red cars a dream car for many. Especially Ferrari’s Rosso Corsa which is their most recognisable shade of red colour. For all those lusting after a fiery red Ferrari, we’ve got over 300 cars to browse through on Auto Trader.
The colour red is a whole personality – it symbolises energy, strength and power – all things perfect for a fast and furious car. Ferrari, too, has had a big hand in making red cars a dream car for many. Especially Ferrari’s Rosso Corsa which is their most recognisable shade of red colour. For all those lusting after a fiery red Ferrari, we’ve got over 300 cars to browse through on Auto Trader.
6. Silver
Silver came in the sixth position for the most popular car colour in the UK with about 6.5% of registered cars being silver.
At the time of writing, Ford had the most number of new silver cars available on Auto Trader, followed by MG, Volkswagen and Audi. Find used and new silver cars on Auto Trader.
At the time of writing, Ford had the most number of new silver cars available on Auto Trader, followed by MG, Volkswagen and Audi. Find used and new silver cars on Auto Trader.
7. Green
In seventh place was the colour green.
Green has seen a growth in popularity in fashion, home trends and even in the automotive industry. In 2023, green cars saw the highest number of registrations since 2005 with 53,426 new cars being registered. Greater London had the most number of green car registrations out of all the counties. With green cars too, there are plenty of shades to choose from including neon green, dark green, army green and a whole host more.
Green has seen a growth in popularity in fashion, home trends and even in the automotive industry. In 2023, green cars saw the highest number of registrations since 2005 with 53,426 new cars being registered. Greater London had the most number of green car registrations out of all the counties. With green cars too, there are plenty of shades to choose from including neon green, dark green, army green and a whole host more.
8. Orange
Orange, which symbolises warmth, balance and vibrancy, was the eighth most popular car colour in 2023.
We can’t think of any other car colour to have some fun in the sun with during summer. Be it a beach vacation, a getaway or just a long drive to enjoy the British summer – orange cars seem like the perfect companion to be driving around in. What’s better than an orange car? Probably an orange convertible car to wander around in. Want to find out the best cars for summer driving, according to our experts? Here’s our top 10.
We can’t think of any other car colour to have some fun in the sun with during summer. Be it a beach vacation, a getaway or just a long drive to enjoy the British summer – orange cars seem like the perfect companion to be driving around in. What’s better than an orange car? Probably an orange convertible car to wander around in. Want to find out the best cars for summer driving, according to our experts? Here’s our top 10.
9. Yellow
In the second last place is the colour yellow.
Yellow cars may be ninth on the list but we can think of some very iconic yellow cars, for example: the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, famously known as Bumblebee in the movie The Transformers, the 1932 Ford Coupe in the movie American Graffiti, and ‘Only Fools and Horses’ Reliant Robin that is actually on sale on Auto Trader.
Yellow cars may be ninth on the list but we can think of some very iconic yellow cars, for example: the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, famously known as Bumblebee in the movie The Transformers, the 1932 Ford Coupe in the movie American Graffiti, and ‘Only Fools and Horses’ Reliant Robin that is actually on sale on Auto Trader.
10. Bronze
Rounding out the list is the colour bronze.
Belonging to the family of browns, bronze emanates maturity and earthiness. It may not be the most popular colour car on the road, but that’s what makes you subtly stand out of the crowd. With more than a thousand new and used bronze cars available on Auto Trader, you can find yourself a unique bronze car.
Belonging to the family of browns, bronze emanates maturity and earthiness. It may not be the most popular colour car on the road, but that’s what makes you subtly stand out of the crowd. With more than a thousand new and used bronze cars available on Auto Trader, you can find yourself a unique bronze car.
