Sure, there are exceptions—BASF’s 2020-2021 Automotive Color Trends Report predicts the next hot hues will be a grey-like Dark Seltzer, a muted reddish-brown Redolent Red, and with blues catching the eyes of more car buyers these days, Abstraction Blue.
KBB says White is the color of choice among 24.5 percent of all SUV buyers, 34.5 percent of minivans, 28 percent of pickup trucks, 31.75 percent of luxury cars, and 28 percent of sedans wagons, and hatchbacks.
The study determined that yellow cars tend to bring back the most bucks, depreciating an average 45.6 percent less than conservative colors after three years.
“Yellow may not be a widely desired car color, but there are enough people who want yellow, versus the number of yellow new cars being ordered, to make yellow cars more desirable than others on the used market,” Brauer explains.
Yet some colors that deviate from the norm, particularly purple, brown, and gold, tend to depreciate quicker than duller paint treatments despite their relative scarcity in both the new and used markets.
For example, yellow brings back the most green among SUVs at resale time with a 30.3 percent rate of depreciation after three years, while beige loses the most value at 46.0 percent.
In addition to posting on Forbes.com, I’m a regular contributor to Carfax.com, Motor1.com, MyEV.com and write frequently on automotive topics for other national and regional publications and websites.