Most Popular Car Colours in the UK 2026

Britain's Love Affair with Grey

Grey has been the UK's most popular new car colour every year since 2018, and 2025 was no exception — 27.6% of all new cars registered were grey, a record total for the shade. Its appeal is practical as much as aesthetic: grey reads as modern and premium, disguises the grime of British roads better than black or white, and is one of the safest bets for resale because demand spans almost every buyer. Add the sheer breadth of metallic grey options manufacturers now offer, and it is easy to see why it keeps topping the chart.

Black (23.0%) and blue (15.2%) round out the top three, which between them account for nearly two-thirds of the market. Look wider and the dominance of muted tones is even starker: grey, black, white and silver together make up roughly 70% of every new car sold. The “monochrome majority” has held for years, driven by company-car and fleet demand — neutral colours are the easiest to remarket — and by buyers playing it safe with the biggest purchase after a home.

Colour and Your Wallet

Colour matters more than most buyers realise — but not in the way the myths suggest. It does not change your insurance premium: insurers price on the model, your address and your driving record, not the paint, so a red car is no dearer to insure than a silver one. Where colour does count is resale. Popular neutrals sell fastest because the buyer pool is largest, while bolder choices can sit longer and occasionally fetch less. If you plan to sell within a few years, a mainstream colour is the pragmatic pick; if you are keeping the car for the long haul, choose whatever you actually like.

Is Colour Getting Braver?

There are early signs of a shift. Green was the standout riser in 2025, climbing to nearly 5% of registrations as SUV and EV buyers in particular moved away from pure greyscale. Reds and blues remain solid mid-table performers, and a long tail of rare shades — from bronze and beige to the vanishingly small numbers of pink and turquoise — keeps the bottom of the chart interesting. For now, though, Britain's new-car palette remains resolutely understated.