Do Red Cars Cost More to Insure?

Red cars do not cost more to insure than cars of any other color. Car insurance agents and underwriters don’t even take color into account when determining auto insurance premiums, so you can cancel those custom paint jobs you have scheduled.

Where Did This Car Insurance Myth Come From?

The myth that red cars cost more to insure comes from two other myths: that red cars get pulled over more and get stolen more. Let’s explore both myths.

• Myth 1: Red cars get pulled over more. People think that because red cars are more noticeable, police are more likely to stop and ticket them. It’s true that if you have a lot of tickets, that could increase the cost of your auto insurance premiums. However, there’s no evidence that red cars actually get pulled over more. Police say that color isn’t a factor in who they stop and ticket; illegal activity like speeding is.¹
• Myth 2: Red cars get stolen more. There’s another myth that red cars are more likely to fall victim to car theft. According to Ben Vollaard, a Dutch economist at Tilburg University, red cars are actually less likely to be stolen than cars with more common colors, like black and white. However, Vollaard was only speaking of the Netherlands. In the U.S., federal data on auto theft doesn’t take color into account, just make and model.² Either way, this rumor doesn’t hold up in the U.S.

“Color of the car has nothing to do with the cost,” said Patrick Nolin, an insurance agent at the Patrick Nolin Farmers Agency in Little Elm, Texas. “The cost of insurance is mainly to do with the policyholder’s age, address, ZIP code, driving history, length of tenure of existing insurance, and other minor items.”

So if a red car catches your fancy, go ahead and buy it; it won’t make your auto insurance any more expensive than it already is.

So, if not color, what factors impact the cost of your auto insurance? Here are the factors that affect auto insurance rates.

• Your coverages: As you can see in our auto insurance guide, each state has different auto insurance requirements, which determine the minimum coverage you must get. However, many people will add on supplemental coverages like collision coverage, comprehensive coverage, uninsured motorist coverage, and medical coverage. The more coverages you add, the higher your costs will be. Be sure to get insurance quotes from multiple auto insurance companies using the same coverages so you can see which ones have higher rates.

Now that we’ve answered your question about red cars and the cost of auto insurance, read the rest of our car insurance frequently asked questions for more information.