The 2 Car Colors That Can Tank Your Resale Value
If you think color choice is purely aesthetic, think again: it can make or break your resale value. Many buyers default to safe options like white and black, assuming that’s smart. But new data shows those same “classic” colors might actually drain thousands off what you can get when you sell. Choosing the wrong hue could mean losing far more than you bargained for. Here are the two car colors that, surprisingly, hurt resale the most and what you should pick instead.
Why White Is Risky for Resale Value
White is everywhere (new cars, fleet vehicles, rentals), and its ubiquity works against it. According to an iSeeCars analysis, white cars lost 32.1% of their value over three years, one of the worst drops among all colors. Because the market is flooded with white cars, buyers have plenty of options and bargaining power. Instead of premium pricing, your white car simply blends into the sea of options. Worse, any slight blemish, ding, or mismatch in paint is more obvious.
Why Black Isn’t a Safe Bet Either
Black often conveys luxury and elegance, but it comes at a cost when it’s time to sell. Black vehicles depreciated by 31.9% over three years in the same iSeeCars study, only marginally better than white. Because black is so common, it doesn’t distinguish your car in the used market. Add to that its tendency to highlight scratches, swirl marks, and dust, and buyers tend to view it as “high maintenance.” Even though many buyers say they prefer black, the ease of finding equivalent vehicles undercuts the premium you might hope to ask.
How Much Value You Could Be Losing
To put it in real terms: the iSeeCars study found the average three-year vehicle lost about 31.0% of its value ($14,360 off MSRP). But white models dropped $15,557 and black ones $15,381 in that same timeframe. That’s a penalty of $1,000 to $1,200 extra loss just due to color. And that’s before factoring in condition, mileage, or regional preferences. In competitive markets, that difference can make the sale drag or force you to accept a lower offer just to move the car.
What’s behind white and black’s weak performance? Two simple forces: oversupply and commoditization. Since most cars are offered in these hues, supply outpaces demand in the used market. Buyers can compare many black or white examples of the same model, so they’ll naturally pick the best condition or lowest price. Those “safe” colors offer no uniqueness or premium appeal. Meanwhile, defects, paint damage, or wear show more clearly on them, making small issues costlier in buyers’ eyes.
What Colors Do Better in Resale
If you want a better chance at protecting value, data suggests going against the grain helps. Colors like yellow, orange, and green consistently outperform common neutrals in retained value. Yellow, for example, lost only 24.0% in that same three-year window. These colors are rare, so when someone spots one in used inventory, it stands out. Buyers may pay a premium simply for uniqueness. That said, your model, region, and buyer preferences still matter. Don’t pick a bright color blindly, but weigh options wisely.
Command Color, Protect Resale Value
Choosing black or white may seem safe in the moment, but when resale comes into play, they can cost you dearly. The data makes it clear: these two popular colors suffer from oversaturation and low demand, exactly the wrong traits when time comes to selling. If you care about resale value, broaden your color horizon and consider those less common hues that have shown stronger hold. Sometimes, standing out (tastefully) is actually the smarter, more profitable play.
Have you ever chosen a car color that later hurt your resale value, or surprised you by doing well? Share your experience below!
