Still picking colour by “what looks good”?

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Colour choices change how a car performs in heat, visibility and daily wear.

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You’re not alone if you’ve chosen a car colour because it “looked mint in the showroom.” Then summer hits, the cabin feels like a pie warmer, and every wash leaves streaks. A mate in Perth traded into a black ute for the tough look; two months later he was washing it twice a week and roasting at school pick‑up.

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Here’s the curveball: colour isn’t just style. It touches safety, heat, resale, and how much of your weekend you’ll spend cleaning. Australian crash data from Monash University found that, compared with white cars, some colours (notably black) were involved in more crashes, especially in daylight. And lab work from Berkeley showed lighter shells run several degrees cooler than dark ones after sun soak. Those aren’t small lifestyle differences.

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I’ve spent years comparing owner feedback with lab studies and local market data. If you want a colour you’ll still love in three summers’ time and that won’t punish you at resale, it pays to look beyond the paint chart.

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What’s the mistake most buyers make?

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The common myth is that colour is a “preference” with no real-world consequences. In reality, it’s more like choosing clothing for a job: the cut matters, but so do visibility, durability, and care. Thinking only in aesthetics leads to regrets: hotter cabins, constant washing, and colours that underperform in your segment’s used market.

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Flip the script by asking:

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How visible is this colour in my driving environment?
How will it look after three days of coastal dust or country roads?
How does this colour perform for resale in my vehicle segment?

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Imagine colour like a high‑viz jacket: in some situations, contrast keeps you seen; in others, staying cool and easy‑care matters more. The “best” colour is the one that fits your priorities, not the one that wins on a mood board.

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Does colour really change safety, heat, or value?

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Yes-modestly but meaningfully. A few evidence points to anchor your decision:

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Safety/visibility: A large Monash University Accident Research Centre analysis of police‑reported crashes found that, compared with white, certain colours (black, blue, grey, green, red and silver) were associated with higher crash risk; black showed one of the highest relative risks (around 12% higher than white). Effects were strongest in daylight. Colour is only one factor, but it’s measurable.
Heat: Controlled testing by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory reported an otherwise identical silver car had a cabin air soak temperature roughly 5-6 °C lower than a black one after sun exposure. Higher shell reflectance also reduced air‑con load in the experiment.
Resale: iSeeCars’ 2025 analysis of more than a million three‑year‑old vehicles found colour affects depreciation, but not in the way most people assume. Some rare brights (yellow, orange, green) often depreciated less overall due to low supply and niche demand, while very common neutrals (white, black) tended to deliver “average” outcomes. Segment matters: what helps a coupe may not help a family SUV.
Maintenance reality: Mid‑tone metallics (silver/medium grey) tend to hide dust, mud splatter and micro‑swirls best. Very dark colours show dust and water spots quickly; very light colours reveal dark grime on lower panels. Metallic and pearlescent finishes scatter light and can mask fine scratches better than plain solid paint.

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Light shells reflect more sunlight and reduce cabin heat soak compared with dark panels.

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The costs of getting it wrong show up as time (more washing), comfort (hotter cabins), and money (average resale in a segment that rewards distinctive hues).

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What does the wrong choice feel like day to day?

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Picture a bright January afternoon in Brisbane. You open a dark car and a wave of heat rolls out. The buckle is hot to touch, kid seats feel sticky, and you crank the air‑con hard just to get comfortable. You notice yesterday’s wash already looks dusty. On a different day, you’re driving at dusk along a tree‑lined road near Hamilton; your dark car blends into the background sooner than a light one would, reducing contrast for other drivers.

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Now flip it. A silver or white car bakes less in the same sun; the cabin is bearable, and the exterior still looks passable after a few days of coastal salt and pollen. You didn’t buy a high‑maintenance hobby-you bought a car that looks good most of the time without fuss. That ease and peace of mind are worth something.

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How should you decide?

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Use the CLEAR framework

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C Contrast (visibility): Will your colour stand out against your usual environment? If you drive at dawn/dusk or on bush‑lined roads, lighter/high‑contrast colours help others see you.
L Light (heat): Lighter, higher‑reflectance colours keep cabins cooler and reduce air‑con load on hot days.
E Economy (resale): Check colour trends by segment. Neutrals sell broadly; niche brights can outperform in sportier segments when supply is scarce.
A Aftercare (maintenance): Mid‑tone metallics hide everyday grime and micro‑swirls; very dark or very light colours demand more upkeep.
R Repair (finish complexity): Solid paints are generally cheaper and easier to touch up. Metallics and pearlescents look richer and mask small marks but cost more to match if you need bodywork.

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Quick questions to ask a salesperson or the spec sheet:

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Is this colour offered in a metallic or pearlescent finish?
Does the manufacturer use “cool” high‑reflectance pigments in light colours?
What’s the historical resale appetite for this colour on this model in our region?

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What’s the difference between solid, metallic and pearlescent?

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Solid (non‑metallic): Uniform pigments. Pros: usually cheaper, easier to repair and match. Cons: on very dark solids, swirls and minor scratches stand out because light reflects evenly and any disruption shows.
Metallic: Tiny aluminium or similar flakes add sparkle and depth. Pros: diffuse light, so they hide fine scratches and dust better; mid‑tone metallics are top performers for easy care. Cons: cost a bit more and are harder to match perfectly when respraying because flake size/orientation matters.
Pearlescent (nacreous/interference): Mica or similar platelets coated with layers (often titanium dioxide) create colour‑shift effects via light interference rather than simple reflection. Pros: rich, premium look that disguises minor surface irregularities. Cons: most expensive to apply and to repair accurately; matching is tricky.

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These effects are well described in coatings literature and patents on metallic and interference pigments used in automotive finishes.

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How do common colours stack up?

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White: Great visibility and cooler in summer. Hides light dust but shows dark mud and tar on lower panels. Broad market appeal; resale typically average given high supply.
Silver/medium grey: The practical all‑rounders. Hide mixed grime and micro‑swirls well; cooler than dark paints. Visibility middling compared with white. Consistently popular in used markets.
Black/very dark: Striking when freshly detailed; show dust, water spots and swirls quickly. Hotter cabins. Monash data associates black with higher crash involvement than white in daylight. Resale outcomes vary by segment but often average due to high supply.
Red/blue (saturated): Mid‑pack for visibility depending on shade. Reds in particular need good UV protection over the long term. Resale can be strong for sporty vehicles; less so for family sedans.
Bright/rare (yellow, orange, green): High visibility. Maintenance similar to mid‑tones. In some segments (sports cars, utes), rarity can support stronger resale when demand exists; less predictable for mainstream sedans/SUVs.

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OK, so what should you actually do?

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Set your top two priorities. If visibility and summer comfort matter most, start with white, silver, or light grey. If low maintenance is key, aim for mid‑tone metallics.
Choose your finish with your lifestyle in mind. Solid paints are easier to repair; metallics/pearls hide light marks better but cost more to fix.
Check colour desirability in your segment. For a hot hatch or coupe, the factory hero colour sometimes sells best later. For a family SUV, neutrals usually draw the widest buyer pool. Scan recent local listings to see asking prices by colour.
See the colour outside. View your short‑list in full sun and shade. Look along the panels at an angle to spot swirls and how the effect coat behaves.
Think climate-and cabin. In hotter parts of Australia, lighter shells help. In the South Island winter, colour has a smaller thermal impact than tyres and heaters, but lighter colours still show less summer punishment.
Plan care from day one. Consider paint protection film on high‑chip areas (bonnet, bumper). Use quality wash methods; dark paints benefit from ceramic coatings to reduce swirls. Clean off bird droppings and sap promptly on any colour.

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Common objections, answered:

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“I only like black.” Go for it, but add daytime running lights (or drive with headlights on), use a ceramic coating, and accept more frequent washes. Park in shade when you can.
“White looks boring.” Try a pearl white or a very light metallic that keeps reflectance high but adds depth.
“Bright colours won’t resell.” Sometimes true for mainstream sedans; not necessarily for utes, sports models, or limited editions where rare hues can command premiums. Check your specific market.

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A few caveats to keep you honest

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Colour’s effect on crash risk is modest and context‑dependent. Driver behaviour, lighting, and environment matter more; colour is a nudge, not a guarantee.
Resale trends move with fashion and supply. What held value last year might not next year. Always filter by body type and buyer profile.
Heat differences depend on car design, glass area, and interior colour. Expect several degrees difference between light and dark shells-helpful, not miraculous.

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There’s no single “best” colour. There is a best fit for you. If you want the easiest life in our climate, light or mid‑tone metallics are the safe bet: visible, cooler, and forgiving between washes. If you’re chasing niche resale or want a car that sparks joy, lean into a distinctive hue-just cross‑check how it performs in your segment. When you choose with CLEAR-Contrast, Light, Economy, Aftercare, Repair-you’ll drive away in a colour you won’t regret every summer, wash day, or trade‑in.

Car Colour: What Matters in AU/NZ