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Written by:
Prachi Singh
Contributing Writer
Prachi is an insurance writer with a master’s degree in business administration. Through her writing, she hopes to help readers make smart and informed decisions about their finances. She loves to travel and write poetry.
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Reviewed by:
Laura Longero
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Executive Editor
Laura is an award-winning editor with experience in content and communications covering auto insurance and personal finance. She has written for several media outlets, including the USA Today Network. She most recently worked in the public sector for the Nevada Department of Transportation.

Question: Please settle an argument between my friend and I. He believes that people with red or other “flashy” colors pay more for car insurance than someone with a bland color like white or black. I say it doesn’t make a difference. Who is right?

Answer: You’ll be happy to know that you are correct; the color of your car doesn’t make a difference to car insurance companies. 

Your friend has fallen victim to a persistent auto insurance myth that asserts red cars are more expensive to insure because they attract police and have more aggressive drivers. In reality, car insurance companies don’t ask about the color of your car when you are quoted for a car insurance policy or at any other time.

Some believe that your car’s vehicle identification number (VIN), required information when purchasing a car insurance policy, reveals your vehicle’s color; however, this is not true either. If you decode your VIN, you’ll learn specifics about your car, such as the model, make, year, body style, and engine size, but no information on the vehicle’s color. 

Your VIN may help an insurer confirm that you listed the right model and body type for your vehicle. Still, it’s needed so your insurance company can transmit your policy information to your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles database. 

Insurers are interested in discovering certain risk factors to calculate your auto insurance premium.

Your driving and claims records and the type of car you drive are all rating factors that car insurance companies consider. When you were ticketed for going 15 mph over the limit, the car’s color can be red, white, or brown. Your insurer doesn’t care.  Your car insurance company does care about your driving behavior and what kind of risk makes you insure. 

The model of the car you drive makes a difference since some are stolen more often or have higher repair bills and thus will cost more to insure.  And the features of your car have been taken into account to help determine discounts.

Insurance companies rating factors vary due to state laws and insurance company guidelines but typically include at least your ZIP code, age, gender and marital status. 

The only time the paint scheme of your car may be of interest to your car insurance provider is if it’s custom. If you have a special, expensive paint job on your vehicle, you likely want to purchase custom parts and equipment coverage so you could claim if it were damaged.   

Penny Gusner contributed to this story.

Laura Longero

Ask the Insurance Expert

Laura Longero

Executive Editor

Laura is an award-winning editor with experience in content and communications covering auto insurance and personal finance. She has written for several media outlets, including the USA Today Network. She most recently worked in the public sector for the Nevada Department of Transportation.

John McCormick

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John McCormick

Editorial Director

John is the editorial director for CarInsurance.com, Insurance.com and Insure.com. Before joining QuinStreet, John was a deputy editor at The Wall Street Journal and had been an editor and reporter at a number of other media outlets where he covered insurance, personal finance, and technology.

Leslie Kasperowicz

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Leslie Kasperowicz

Managing Editor

Leslie Kasperowicz is an insurance educator and content creation professional with nearly two decades of experience first directly in the insurance industry at Farmers Insurance and then as a writer, researcher, and educator for insurance shoppers writing for sites like ExpertInsuranceReviews.com and InsuranceHotline.com and managing content, now at CarInsurance.com.

Nupur Gambhir

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Nupur Gambhir

Managing Editor

Nupur Gambhir is a content editor and licensed life, health, and disability insurance expert. She has extensive experience bringing brands to life and has built award-nominated campaigns for travel and tech. Her insurance expertise has been featured in Bloomberg News, Forbes Advisor, CNET, Fortune, Slate, Real Simple, Lifehacker, The Financial Gym, and the end-of-life planning service.

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Contributing Writer

Prachi is an insurance writer with a master’s degree in business administration. Through her writing, she hopes to help readers make smart and informed decisions about their finances. She loves to travel and write poetry.