If you’re thinking about changing your car’s color, there’s a lot more to consider than just what car colors are popular right now or which are catching your eye at the moment.
Choosing the best car colors means you have to think about the car itself, your environment, the costs, the upkeep, and your future plans. You also want to think about permanency and whether it’s better to go for a paint job or a wrap job.
To help you narrow down the best car colors for you, we’ve put together this simple guide:
Choosing the Best Car Colors
Did you know that your car’s color gives insight into your personality? That’s right—there’s a psychological reason why we choose certain car colors. For example, the color black on a car is often associated with luxury, mystery, power, and style. Red is associated with energy, ambition, sex, power, and speed.
The color-psychology list goes on and on.
The car colors we choose, as well as the actual cars, seem to be an extension of who we are. However, there’s a lot more to think about beyond yourself when choosing the best car colors. Cars are a costly investment as it is, and the wrong color can affect the future of that investment—even if it’s your favorite color.
Here’s what you need to consider as you narrow down your color options:
How Will Your Car Be Used?
Is the car in question a family car? A work car? A classic collector’s car? Your personal all-around car? Depending on the type of car you have and what you use it for will play a significant part in your color choice.
You certainly don’t want to paint or wrap your family’s minivan or hatchback with a bright red color. You also don’t want to come off as ostentatious at your corporate job. If you have a classic car, your color options will be much more limited if you want to keep it classic.
Of course, if you’re a small business owner, wrapping your car with advertisement graphics is an excellent marketing strategy. If it’s your everyday car, you’ll want to choose a color that transitions well from work or school to home and around town.
Think About the Resale
If you plan to sell your car in the future, the color will have a huge impact.
This is where popular colors and neutral colors come into play. Popular colors that are in higher demand will up the resale value of your car. Additionally, neutral colors such as black, gray, silver, and white are always in style and make for an overall easier sale.
This is especially important to think about if you’re going to sell your car privately. Your asking price may take a hit if you choose a less than enviable color.
Do You Want to Blend in or Stand Out?
This is something that doesn’t just depend on your personality, but your car as well. There’s nothing wrong with bright, sporty colors such as reds, oranges, and yellows. It’s also technically untrue that bright-colored cars get more traffic tickets.
If you have a Corvette or a Challenger, virtually any color is acceptable. Your Volvo—not so much. Regardless of your car, however, you want to consider just how much you want to stand out from the crowd or blend it.
Don’t Forget About Your Interior
Unless you plan to have your car reupholstered along with your new choice in color, you’re going to want to narrow down your color options by what matches the existing interior.
It may not seem that complicated since most car interiors are pretty neutral in color. However, if your interior is brown leather, matte black may not be the best color choice. Think about which colors would flow nicely with your interior; otherwise, you run the risk of creating an eyesore.
Consider the Climate
It’s often forgotten that car color plays a role in comfortability.
If you live somewhere with a hot and humid climate year-round, choosing black or another dark color will heat up much faster. Lighter colored cars stay cooler under the sun. Adversely, if you live somewhere with a colder climate, darker colors will keep your car warmer. They also stand out much better against the snow.
Color Maintenance
Sun exposure and overall wear and tear can make car colors faded and dull. Other things to consider are accidents, scratches, dents, dirt, and debris. Lighter colored cars like white and silver tend to show more wear and tear, whereas darker colors hold up for longer.
Car Wraps Vs. Paint Jobs
Lastly, an important thing to consider is whether you want to spring for a full paint job or have your car wrapped. Vehicle wraps have been around for quite some time, and they’re typically associated with marketing advertisements. Now, they’re an increasingly popular alternative option to fresh paint.
Here are the benefits of car wraps over paint jobs:
Application
A proper paint job can take up to three weeks, while a wrap job will only take up to three days. With paint jobs, professionals have to strip your car of its old paint first and then apply it in layers.
Car wrap professionals only have to wash your car’s exterior and wrap your car with a heat-activated adhesive.
Permanence
Paint is permanent, while a car wrap is removable. Moreover, car wraps don’t cause any damage, so you can change your car color without ruining the existing paint.
It’s the perfect option for those who want to change their vehicle’s color while maintaining its resale value.
Maintenance and Durability
If you want the paint on your car to last, you have to keep up with regular washing and waxing. With a car wrap, you only have to worry about keeping the surface clean.
Additionally, car wraps typically last for up to 10 years. The durability of car paint depends on the quality of the paint used, the number of applications, sun exposure, and various other factors. Of course, a high-end paint job can last a lifetime, granted it’s taken care of properly—but it’ll cost a lot more than you’re probably willing to spend.
Car Wraps Are the New Paint Job
Car wraps allow you to choose the best car colors without destroying your car’s existing paint job. You can even have the wraps customized to make your new color as unique as you.
If you’re thinking about having your car wrapped, contact us today for an estimate and schedule an appointment.
