Ten Things to Know About Choosing the Colour of Your Next Car

Car colour says more than you think  from practicality and resale value to style and identity, here are ten things to know before choosing the shade of your next car.

  • Grey rules the road
    Grey has been Ireland’s top car colour for nine years straight, with 39% of 2025 sales.

  • Low maintenance wins
    Grey, black and silver hide dirt, rain streaks and scratches better than brighter shades.

  • Resale value matters
    Neutral colours appeal to more buyers, making it easier to sell your car later.

  • Silver defined the 2000s
    The launch of the Ford Focus in Moondust Silver in 1998 kicked off two decades of silver dominance.

  • The 1980s were colourful
    White Toyotas and Nissans filled the roads, but red hatchbacks and blue saloons were everywhere too.

  • Red meant sporty and cheap
    Red was the go-to for small, fun, affordable cars in the 80s and 90s.

  • Blue was the safe bet
    Blue struck a balance between being practical, stylish and easy to live with.

  • Imports shaped trends
    Japanese imports in the 80s and 90s helped make white and silver hugely popular.

  • EVs may shake things up
    Electric cars bring bold design, and brighter colours may return as drivers look to stand out.

  • Stay cautious with yellow
    Despite changing trends, yellow remains a rare choice on Irish roads – and probably always will.

Author: Geraldine Herbert

Motoring Editor and Columnist for the Sunday Independent and editor of wheelsforwomen. Geraldine is also a regular contributor to Good Housekeeping (UK), EuroNews and to RTÉ, Newstalk, TodayFM, BBC Radio and Vigin Media. You can follow Geraldine on Twitter at @GerHerbert1

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