If you’re car shopping, you have probably spent a lot of time researching the perfect make and model for you and your needs. You’ve looked into gas mileage, safety ratings, features, and of course, price. But have you also considered the color of your new car?
Chances are, somewhere down the road you’re going to look into selling this car towards the purchase of a new one and it’s important to keep in mind how to maintain the resale value of this new car so you can get the most out of it.
Silver, Black, or White
Over half of today’s cars are silver, black, or white. These colors have topped the charts for several years and are often considered the ‘safe’ choice to maintain resale value. It does however; depend on the type of car you’re looking to get. For example, nearly 20% of sports cars are red or blue, and these common colors are not likely to hinder a future sale.
Fads and Wild Colors
Be wary of fad colors. While green was popular before the turn of the century, you don’t see them on the road nearly as often now. Some of us even still remember the time when wood paneling was considered a good idea on a car. While many collectors still seek out these old styles, it’s going to be a lot tougher to find a buyer years down the road when you’re looking to sell off this car.
The same goes for wild colors. While you may fancy a neon pink car, it is certainly not the norm. You might be able to get away with it for luxury vehicles or sporty cars, but a sedan is going to be difficult to resell in an unusual shade.
Breaking the Mold
If you really want that bright orange car but are worried about your resale value, consider picking up a car in a more conservative tone and simply applying a vinyl vehicle wrap to obtain that perfect color for you. These can easily be removed later and actually preserve the original paint job from normal wear and tear.
Alternatively, if you tend to keep your cars for a long time or simply aren’t concerned about resale value, you may be able to get a good deal from a dealership by purchasing a color they’ve been having trouble selling off themselves.
Regardless of what color you end up picking, make sure it’s one you can live with.