What if you had to pay extra to your insurance company for a simple preference?
That’s what many car owners worry about when it comes to their auto insurance. They are worried that the color of their car may mean they are paying more for their coverage. Especially if the car is red.
Is there any truth to this longstanding rumor? What are the various factors that affect your rate, and what can you do to get the lowest possible premium? Keep reading to find out!
Does My Car Color Affect My Auto Insurance?
Contrary to persistent myths, the color of your car does not affect your rate. It is most likely that this myth persists because some people think flashy colors equate to flashy (and risky) driving behavior.
Even though white cars are pulled over more often than red cars, the myth about red cars continues. The fact is that when it comes to your car, the only data your insurer has comes from the VIN. And the color of your car is not included as part of the VIN.
Why do so many people think drivers of red cars in particular pay more for car insurance? The likeliest answer is that red is a bright color and stands out among most other cars. Plus, red is a favorite color among sports car owners. Put it all together, and people are likelier to notice when red cars are speeding or getting pulled over (something that may be likelier to happen with a flashy sports car), leading people to think these cars must command a higher rate.
Myths about Red Cars and Premiums: Color Preferences Matter
Another reason why so many people think red car drivers pay more for a car policy is simple. Relatively speaking, there aren’t that many drivers to contradict the claim!
Owners tend to favor colors that blend in, according to a recent report. Accordingly, the favorite car colors among consumers are white, black, and gray. Chances are that you see plenty of these car colors when driving around, but red cars are few and far between.
Again, you’ll be likelier to notice if red cars drive fast and/or get pulled over. This may make people think that car color could influence rates, but that is simply not the case.
Frequent Tickets Affect Auto Rates
When setting premiums, insurers consider both the car and the driver. Your driving record influences how much you have to pay, and this is another reason why people still believe the myth that vehicle color affects car premiums.
For example, your carrier will pay attention to how often you get tickets for speeding or other driving infractions. As you get more of these, the carrier will decide you are a high-risk driver and adjust your insurance.
How does this tie into the myth that red cars pay more? As we said before, people are likelier to notice red cars, and they are likelier to notice when red cars are getting traffic tickets. This can lead to the belief that red car drivers are speedier and riskier, getting more tickets and paying more for insurance. Still, there is no real proof that red cars are pulled over more than other car colors.
A Custom Paint Job and Your Insurance Rate
While the color doesn’t matter, there is exactly one scenario where the paint on your car affects how much you pay for your auto policy. That is when you give your car a custom paint job.
The color still doesn’t matter with a custom paint job. Still, since your carrier wants to be able to repair or replace your car if something should happen to it, they need to know about the custom paint job. Since custom paint jobs cost extra, a carrier may pass those extra costs along via the premium.
However, since paint jobs aren’t that expensive, a custom paint job won’t increase your rate by much.
Does the Color of My Vehicle Matter in Other Ways?
The color of your vehicle may influence how likely it is to get stolen or pulled over. Nevertheless, neither of these factors matter enough to influence the rates offered by insurance carriers.
That’s probably because, in some ways, the risk factors for certain colors cancel each other out. For example, white cars are less likely to get into accidents than black cars, which may be due to their high visibility. At the same time, white and gray cars get pulled over more than other car colors.
The color of your car affects how likely it is to be stolen, but the results may surprise you. Red cars simply aren’t a priority target for thieves because they worry about red standing out and getting noticed. Such thieves are likelier to focus on silver, green, gold, black, or white cars rather than red.
What Factors Affect My Car Premium?
Insurers use many factors to set your car insurance. This includes age, gender, location, driving record, credit score, vehicle type, and more.
Some of these may not seem fair, but the insurance company is basically trying to assess how risky you are behind the wheel. Someone living in a high-crime area or just an area with many claims will be considered riskier to insure. Additionally, certain car types such as sports cars are more expensive to insure, which is reflected in your rates.
In some cases, these factors work in your favor. For example, your rates are at their highest way when you are a teenage driver and lower as you grow older. It’s important to always be honest when disclosing details to your insurer.
Get Low-Cost Auto Insurance Quotes Online Today!
Now you know that the color of your car doesn’t directly affect your insurance costs, but do you know where you can find the best rates and coverage?
Freeway is here to give you and your car the coverage and protection you both deserve. We can quickly and easily provide you with an online quote for car insurance or you can give us a call at (800) 777-5620. Finally, you can also visit us at an office near you.
