Why are There so Many White Cars These Days?

Have you ever noticed and asked yourself, “why are there so many white cars these days?” Axalta Coating Systems, a company that makes liquid and powder coatings, says that for the last eight years, white has been the most popular color for cars in the United States. In other words, white has been the most popular choice of car color around the world, especially in North America.

Ford Mustang Mach E
Ford Mustang Mach-E

This is true for many reasons, but in the end, a car buyer’s choice of color comes down to their own tastes. People often say that white cars are popular because the classic color has a high resale value, well-established safety standards, and people are concerned about the environment. People also think that they are easier to keep clean and in order.

In this post, let’s dive deeper into why white cars are popular among consumers these days and why investing in one is a great choice.

They have a universal appeal

According to the DuPont Global Automotive Color Popularity Report, a well-known source on how people prefer their cars to appear, white, black, and silver are popular colors in many nations and areas throughout the globe. These tones are popular with people all around the world. In North America, white and its many variations, like pearl white, are trendy colors.

White has a traditional and ageless charm, which is one of its enticing qualities. Many people believe white will never go out of style since it’s a safe option. Particularly in regions of the nation where the economy is struggling, this is true.

Given that pearl white is a stylish and expensive color, having it on a car may increase its value when it comes time to sell it. These are things that people who want to maintain their automobiles for a long period should consider. White may help a car retain its worth compared to other colors that are now more in trend.

Safer

This color is attractive, and the fact that it’s less likely to draw unwanted attention makes it even more so. White is an excellent color for road markings because it’s easy to see, even at night and in bad weather. Statistics show that cars that are painted lighter colors are less likely to get into accidents than cars that are painted darker colors.

Although some people may give this as a reason why they want a white car, I’m not sure it’s why most people who buy white cars choose white.

White reflects the sun’s heat

Another thing that keeps white cars appealing is how easy it’s for drivers to keep the inside of their vehicles cool when the weather is sunny and hot. The color reflects the sun’s heat, while darker tints can soak it up. For this, the car is more comfortable to ride in when it’s hot.

Also, it has less of an effect on the environment because it can use less gas and air conditioning to reach a comfortable temperature. Once again, if anyone tells you that’s why they bought a white car I’d take it with a very big pinch of salt.

Clean and fresh to look at

People like white because it looks “clean,” which is another reason why it’s so popular. Bright colors make things feel clean and new, and they can hide more kinds of dust than darker colors. This may make people wash their cars less often, which will save busy people time.

If people don’t clean their white cars often, they may not have to use as much water. This is another way that this could be good for the environment. Of course, if you are really that concerned about the environmental impact of what you drive you probably wouldn’t buy a car at all, regardless of the color.

Mitsubishi Outlander
Mitsubishi Outlander

What Kind of Person Buys a White Car?

All types of people buy white cars these days, but it hasn’t always been the case. White vehicles have always been popular in hot countries for the reasons already stated, but the popularity of white cars in America and Europe ebbs and flows.

NerdWallet worked with an expert to show how a car’s color indicates the owner’s personality, even though color popularity goes up and down. According to psychology, “different colors may convey different likes, dislikes, and habits.” NerdWallet worked with an expert to come to this conclusion, even though colors go in and out of style.

People often think that white is the most classic and neutral color for cars. Since the 1990s, white has become more popular because it gives a vehicle a “modern, streamlined look.” People who buy white cars “can handle a million complexities” and are also reliable, hardworking, and busy.

People who drive white cars are also sometimes thought to be people who want to do everything perfectly. People like this have clear ideas about what they want and how they want it done.

What State Has the Most White Cars?

“Safety First” has been thought about as a possible motto for the state of California. According to a study done by the Accident Research Centre at Monash University, white cars are 12 percent less likely to get into an accident than black cars. This is why many residents in the state of California choose to drive white cars.

Of course, you can interpret statistics, and anyway you like to pretty much prove anything you want to prove. It could be that white cars were more popular and there were 12% more white cars than the next most popular color on the roads at that time.

Why Do Many Consumers Prefer White Cars Over Darker Ones?

White is a color that people are less likely to get tired of than red, orange, or beige. Also, since there is always a high demand for white cars, the price of white cars that are put up for sale often stays the same. Bright colors may lose value over time depending on what’s popular.

Contrary to what most people think, iseecars.com found that cars with less standard colors, like yellow and orange, depreciated less quickly than cars with more common colors, like white, silver, and black.

In terms of color, there are also some minor differences between men and women. Based on an analysis of 30 million used-car listings on iseecars.com, men prefer white cars by about 7% more than women. Women tend to choose cars with more muted colors.

Polestar 2
Polestar 2

They are 9% more likely to choose silver or brown cars, while men are 12% more likely to choose red or orange cars. The most common colors for pick-up trucks are white and black. 15% of the ads for used cars are for white cars, while 17% are for black cars.

I have to admit that the current popularity of white has lasted longer than I expected and it doesn’t look as though white is going out of favor anytime soon. I’ve known times when you wouldn’t have been able to sell a white car unless you were almost giving it away, but now, a car being white is actually a plus rather than a negative.

And if you want to know how much the new car you want is likely to cost in your local area, use the free, no-obligation quote tool below.