Revealed: 2020’s most popular car colours

Dreaming about what colour to choose for your new car? With new registration plates set to hit car showrooms from March this year, we give you the lowdown of the UK’s most popular car colours.

The top 5 colours

It’s done it again. For a third year in row, grey has retained its crown as the colour of choice for new car buyers. Data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) reveals that 24% of all the new cars registered last year were grey – perhaps a fitting hue for 2020.

Following up in a not-so-shabby second place was black – said to be a popular choice for executive car users – with 19.9%, closely followed by white with 17.4%.

But there’s no need to start waving your black and white flag just yet, it’s not only a monochrome affair. Other sought-after colours include blue (16.9% of all sales) and red (9.0%). Silver made the list with 7.5% while orange surprisingly stole in with 1.3% of the proportion.

Market in decline

The coronavirus crisis, combined with ongoing uncertainty over Brexit, had a huge impact on the UK’s new car market last year, with the number of car sales dropping by almost a third, to 1.6 million.

SMMT Chief Executive Mike Hawes said: “2020 was a pretty dark year for the automotive industry and having grey as the top colour probably reflects the atmosphere.

“The sector, however, continues to provide valuable mobility, from vans delivering essential goods to private cars helping key workers do their jobs, and click and collect offers a lifeline for the industry, helping to keep manufacturing going.”

Mr Hawes added though that click and collect “could not replace the experience of visiting a car showroom” and that the sector has taken careful steps to ensure dealers are Covid-secure and flexibile – giving customers chance to choose a new car and colour in an environment where they feel safe.

Looking to buy a new car this year? Check out our guide to the top 10 safest cars on the road today.