Black and white are the two most popular car colors in most American streets. With these two colors dominating the roads, most new car buyers are caught up in a dilemma about whether to buy a black or a white car.
White cars are more appealing to most buyers because they hide scratches and dents better than black cars and don’t fade quickly. Moreover, white cars are easily visible on the roads (even in poor light conditions) and fit drivers of any social status, age, or gender.
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Which is better white or black car?
Whether a white car is better than a black car depends on your color preferences and goals. For instance, a white car can be better than a black car if you want:
- A great hue that would hide scratches, water spots, dust, and even minor dents
- A car color that is easy to maintain, long-lasting, and never goes out of fashion
- A car that is highly visible during day and night to reduce accidents
- A color that reflects much of the sun’s heat and UV radiation to enhance the interior comfort during summer
- A color that doesn’t affect the car’s resale value
On the other hand, a black car can be better than a white car if you want:
- An elegant, timeless, and luxurious looking ride
- A color that overpowers stains to make them less noticeable
- A universal color that marries well with most colors on the clothes and the car interiors
- A color that traps and retains heat for a comfortable ride during winter
Why are most cars black or white?
According to a 2019 study report, white and black cars dominate most roads with percentage shares of 39% and 16%, respectively. There are several factors that contribute to this trend.
Compatibility of Black and White Colors
According to coating industries, the black and white hues are neutral. They marry well with almost any color you bring them, including those in your professional outfits and the coating on most parking lots.
Also, most people perceive black and white cars as the most refined and perfect for adults. The above two factors cause most customers to buy white and black vehicles than their wild colored counterparts.
Risk-Averse Dealers
Most consumers buy their cars from car dealers rather than ordering bespoke rides from the manufacturer. Being aware of the market trends, the dealers prefer stocking cars with hues that sell quickly, and that’s black and white cars. The manufacturers, in turn, work to fill the orders for black and white cars.
Availability of Multiple Shades
Car coating experts claim that the numerous white and black vehicles we see on highways feature different colors.
For instance, RAM 1500 offers multiple shades of white, including an ivory white tri-coat and a traditional bright white exterior.
Also, the outgoing Mercedes S-Class may come in various black hues, including obsidian black metallic, pure black, and magnetite black metallic, among others. The availability of various color options for white and black shades further explains the dominance of black and white cars.
Black vs white car interior comparison
The black and white car interiors are similar in most aspects. Their only difference is how they trap and retain heat and its regulation. More explicitly, black cars get hotter on the inside than white cars. They also retain heat for longer than white cars.
That being said, black vehicles use more energy in temperature regulation than their white counterparts. However, this does not mean you dump your black car for a white one. Remember, you will only experience the high temperatures during the late spring and summer seasons.
During winter, black cars retain more heat on the inside than their white counterparts. That implies that you might need more energy to amp the temperatures in your white car than the black one.
Black vs white car exterior comparison
Below is a detailed exterior comparison between black and white cars.
| Black Cars Exterior | White Cars Exterior |
| Looks more elegant and luxurious | Looks lighter and simple |
| Absorbs all heat | Reflects most of the heat |
| Less visible at night | Highly visible at night |
| Displays dents, dirt, and minor scratches | Conceals minor scratches, dirt, and dents |
| Require regular cleaning and waxing | Requires less cleaning and waxing |
| Has less resale value | Has higher resale value than a similar black model |
| Expensive to maintain | Simple to maintain |
White or Black Car Pros and Cons
The black and white cars have several strengths and weaknesses. This section outlines the pros and cons of each category.
Black car pros
The proponents of black cars praise black color because of the following:
- The black color conceals muddy spots
- Overpowers the stains, making them less visible
- Gives the car a sporty and sleek look
- Makes the car look smaller than a white car of the same model, hence a sportier look, while the gloss on its surface accounts for its elegance.
- Looks more elegant than white. The luxurious, classy look gives the driver more confidence.
Black car cons
The opponents of black cars dislike them because of the following reasons:
- Expensive to maintain: black cars need regular cleaning and waxing to maintain their glossy look. Such requirements turn out to be expensive and a major turnoff to some buyers.
- Easier to scratch: makes minor scrapes, dents, and chips more visible
- Offer lower resale value than their white counterparts: considering that black cars are more expensive to maintain than white cars, most consumers will be less willing to buy them than white cars. They often end up fetching a lower resale value than white cars.
- Involve high energy costs: black cars trap and retain heat in the interior. Therefore, they require higher energy to cool the temperatures down than white cars.
Advantages of a white car
The supporters of white cars applaud them because:
- They don’t expose minor scratches, dents, and dust, calling for less cleaning and maintenance.
- They are common, meaning you can quickly get color supplies for partial coating or full vehicle coverage.
- They are highly visible at night, reducing the chances of accidents.
- They reflect light to prevent the car interior from overheating which translates to low energy costs.
Disadvantages of a white car
The white cars can be a turn off because:
- White coating doesn’t hide mud and other spots, giving the car an old look.
- They expose rust more than black cars.
- They are more attractive to insects than their black counterparts.
- The reflected light might interfere with the driving efficiency of other drivers or even cause an accident if a driver was tailgating.
Which is the best car color for long term?
White color is the best for the long-term because it doesn’t fade quickly when exposed to sunlight, as is the case with black color. Additionally, white color can conceal dust, minor scratches, and dents without calling for maintenance.
Are white cars cheaper than black cars?
Yes. White cars are cheaper than black cars because of the comparatively cheap cost of white paint jobs.
What color car is most attractive? Black or white?
Whether a color is attractive or not depends on your preferences. For instance, a white car will look more appealing than a black color if you need a color that marries well with most of your outfits, hides scratches, and stays longer without fading. On the other hand, black colors would be most attractive if you‘re looking for a car with a touch of class and elegance.
What color car has the most accidents?
Though most people associate black cars with accidents due to their poor visibility, whether a black or white car commits accidents depends on how keen you are on the road.
Most popular car colors 2022
Below is a tabulation of the seven most popular car colors and their percentages as reported by iSee cars:
| Rank | Color | % share |
| 1 | White | 23.9% |
| 2 | Black | 23.2% |
| 3 | Gray | 15.5% |
| 4 | Silver | 14.5% |
| 5 | Red | 10.3% |
| 6 | Blue | 9.0% |
| 7 | Brown | 1.4% |
| 8 | Green | 0.7% |
