The Surprising Car Colors That Actually Make You Money (And the Ones That Cost You)

Miami Herald

02-06-2025

It turns out your car's paint job does more than reflect your personality - it might also reflect thousands of dollars back into your wallet (or not) when it's time to sell. A new study by iSeeCars.com reveals that vehicle color can make a difference of more than $5,000 in resale value after just three years.
The study analyzed more than 1.2 million 3-year-old used vehicles and found that yellow, orange, and green vehicles retained value significantly better than more traditional hues. Meanwhile, black, white, and gold cars depreciated the most. Here's how each car color stacks up in terms of three-year depreciation.
Yellow cars lost just 24% of their value after three years, making them the best-performing color in the study. That works out to an average loss of $13,667 off the original price. Yellow remains a relatively rare paint option, which helps it stand out in the used market. It's also often associated with fun, sporty cars, and buyers seem to pay a premium for that.
Orange cars were a close second, with an average depreciation of 24.4%, or $9,951. Like yellow, orange is a bold, eye-catching color that isn't widely available across vehicle segments. That scarcity likely gives it an edge when it comes time to sell.
Vehicles painted green lost about 26.3% of their value, or $13,152, over three years. Green is another color that isn't especially common, but when buyers do seek it out, they're often willing to pay more. Whether it's a deep forest tone or a more vibrant shade, green cars tend to buck the trend of rapid depreciation.
Beige cars experienced an average depreciation of 29.5%, resulting in a loss of $18,455. That's a bigger dollar drop than most of the colors ahead of it, but still below the overall average in terms of percentage. While beige may not be as flashy as some of the other top performers, its relative rarity might explain its stronger resale performance.
Red vehicles depreciated by 29.8% over three years, or about $13,013. Red remains a popular choice for sporty and midsize vehicles, and its enduring appeal helps it land slightly ahead of the average. It's a familiar favorite that still holds some value.
Silver cars also lost 29.8% of their value on average, with a total dollar loss of $12,636. Silver has long been one of the most popular paint colors, particularly for sedans and SUVs. Its ubiquity helps keep demand steady, but doesn't necessarily translate to standout resale performance.
Brown vehicles saw an average depreciation of 30.4%, or $14,197. While brown isn't a top seller for new cars, its earth-tone appeal may help it retain slightly more value than some of the more common colors further down the list. Still, it's roughly in line with the overall market.
Gray cars lost 30.5% of their value, amounting to $13,648 on average. Gray is a safe, neutral choice, and it remains extremely popular. But because so many cars come in gray, it doesn't stand out much in the resale market, and that keeps prices flat.
Blue vehicles depreciated by 30.9%, or $13,994. While blue comes in a wide range of shades - from dark navy to bright electric - it tends to perform about average in terms of resale value. It's a crowd-pleasing choice, but not one that earns you extra on the used market.
Black cars lost 31.9% of their value after three years, for an average drop of $15,381. Despite its timeless appeal, black is one of the most common car colors on the road. That means buyers have no shortage of options, which reduces resale prices.
White vehicles depreciated by 32.1%, with a typical loss of $15,557. White has been the most popular new car color for years, but that popularity might be working against it when it comes time to sell. With so many available, used white cars just don't command much of a premium.
At the bottom of the list is gold. Cars with gold paint lost a staggering 34.4% of their value after three years, which equals a drop of $16,679. Whether it's the dated perception or limited demand, gold simply doesn't hold up in the used market. If resale value matters to you, this is the color to avoid.
If you want your car to retain more of its value, don't just focus on the brand, trim level, or features - think about the color, too. This study suggests that the paint you pick could make a difference of several thousand dollars when it's time to sell or trade in. Uncommon colors like yellow, orange, and green performed the best, likely because their rarity helps them stand out in a sea of neutral-toned cars.
On the flip side, some of the most popular colors - including black, white, and silver - actually lost more value than average. These shades may be universally liked, but they're also everywhere, which drives down their resale value due to oversupply.
Of course, color is just one factor. Vehicle type, mileage, condition, and market trends still play a huge role in how much a car is worth after a few years. But if you're deciding between two cars and all else is equal, picking the one in yellow or orange might not just be a fun choice - it could be the smarter one financially, too.
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