As car owners, we love for our cars to be clean and polished. Some of us make an effort to clean our vehicles weekly, while some wait to do it monthly and (unfortunately) yearly. Car color is an essential factor to consider when buying a car because not only is it a way to display our personality, but it also will influence how often you need to clean your vehicle.
Today's two most common vehicle colors are white and black, which has resulted in ongoing debates on which color car is the best choice. The truth is white-colored cars are the number one most common car paint color, and most people believe that it shows dirt and grime the most quickly. Contrary to belief, black cars or darker colored cars have proven to be the hardest to keep spotless. Any speck on the car will inevitably show, from watermarks to pollen to bird droppings.
There is also the downside of overheating. The color black absorbs heat, whereas white deflect heat, making black-colored vehicles hotter and fading faster.
However, this information does not mean that white cars are ultimately the best. White vehicles tend to get dirty quickly too, especially when driven in areas that have red clay or dirt roads.
In conclusion, a white-colored car is the best bet between the two colors if you want to save money on cleaning maintenance costs. You should also consider other colors that are easy to keep clean too. These colors include gold, champagne, tan, taupe, and silver. Nevertheless, it's all up to personal preference and which aesthetic you want to go for. White-colored cars are crisp, black-colored vehicles are sleek, and both are nice to have.
If you require vehicle maintenance or repair, come to German Motorworks. We are a European specialty shop located in Nashville, TN, that services BMWs, Porsches, and other exotics. Give us a call or visit our shop today!
FAQs
White is the easiest color to keep clean over time.
What color car stays cleanest? ›
Beige, light blue, light gray, and silver are the best car color choices for those who want to keep their vehicles clean. In addition, white paint can hide dust and debris well. But, dirt that accumulates can be tough to hide on a white car.
What is the least maintenance car color? ›
The Easiest Colors to Care For
Most variations of gray or silver are the lowest maintenance colors, followed by whites and other lighter-shade hues. Gray and silver colors don't show dirt, swirl marks, or scratches.
Is a black color car hard to maintain? ›
In reality, the color of the car doesn't affect the difficulty of cleaning; it's the cleanliness of the surroundings and the cleaning materials used that matter. Proper washing techniques and quality car care products can make maintaining a black car as easy as any other color.
Why do black cars look dirtier than white cars? ›
Albert Einstein will tell you that black bodies absorb heat faster than white ones. Simply put, a black is bound to look ugly faster than a white one when exposed to the same high temperatures. Even though white cars do not get dirty as fast as the black ones, they are not the best.
Which car color is better, white or black? ›
White is one of the best car colors because it conceals dirt, dust, and tiny scratches. Cars painted white also reflect heat effectively, keeping them cooler for longer.
What color car hides scratches best? ›
Silver. Similar to white, silver cars reflect light effectively, making it easier to conceal scratches. Instead of standing out, scratches in a silver car are more likely to blend into the paint.
What color makes a car look expensive? ›
Eminent White Pearl
White cars have a natural sense of luxury and classiness that can't be denied. So, it's a great choice if you want to keep your car color simple but not dark.
What color car is the hardest to resell? ›
If resale value is important to you, you'll probably want to steer clear of gold and brown, colors that depreciate far worse than average.
What car color holds up best? ›
While the best car colors for resale value tend to shift year after year, you can typically expect less common colors like yellow, beige and orange to retain their value better.
Conclusion. The bottom line is, white cars are by far the easiest to keep clean. Black cars are the hardest, as they show grime more easily and don't hide imperfections well at all. Red—or any other bright color that requires frequent cleaning—isn't ideal, but it can still work if you have some time and patience.
What are the disadvantages of a black car? ›
First, black cars show dirt and scratches more easily than lighter colored cars. This means that you will need to be extra careful when driving and parking your black car. Second, black cars can get very hot in the summer sun. This means that you will want to avoid parking in direct sunlight whenever possible.
Which car color fades the fastest? ›
There is no such thing as black light So black paint absorbs all light – which is why black objects heat up very quickly – hence why black paint tends to fade quickly.
What is the easiest car color to keep clean? ›
Light-colored cars such as gray, silver, tan, or beige are considered the easiest to keep clean. These colors are typically more reflective, which helps camouflage dirt and other imperfections, giving the car a cleaner look.
What color car do deer hit most? ›
Deer hit cars of all colours, but studies have shown that deer are more likely to collide with white and silver vehicles than any other colour.
What color car paint lasts the longest? ›
White is the longest lasting colour among all car paint options. Or, if you choose to pick faster fading car paints such as red and blue, keep the vehicle shaded to protect it from dust, dirt and UV rays.
What is the most durable paint color for a car? ›
White is the longest lasting colour among all car paint options. Or, if you choose to pick faster fading car paints such as red and blue, keep the vehicle shaded to protect it from dust, dirt and UV rays.
What is the safest color for a vehicle? ›
According to Kelley Blue Book, white is the most popular color choice for minivans, pickup trucks, sedans and luxury cars alike. White is also considered the safest color. In fact, in comparison to white vehicles, black cars are 12% more likely to be involved in an accident.
Which car color fades least? ›
Despite all the myths and legends, it turns out that your car's paint will fade no matter what color it is. You might see fading more apparently on darker, or more vibrant colored cars, but a white or light-colored car will fade just as much.
