Study: Romanians prefer gray cars and aren’t interested in bright colors

Drivers have varied color preferences for their cars, often influenced by personal taste and cultural factors. An automotive data company, carVertical conducted research in Romania, revealing that Romanians prefer monochromatic colors and aren’t very interested in bright vehicles.

In Romania, 28.2% of all cars checked on carVertical were gray, 18.6% – white, and 21.9% – black. This also reflects the tendencies in other countries, where monochromatic vehicle colors are the most popular. Gray, black, and white are more practical, easier to maintain, and don’t require too much attention, which is important for any car owner.

In 2000, the share of gray cars in Romania was 29.7%, signifying a slight drop in over two decades. The popularity of the black color has grown from 26.1% in 2000 to 29.4% in 2010, and then dropped to 23.6% in 2020.

Many drivers avoid bright colors, as they may fade over the years, causing a loss in a car’s value. That’s why it’s important to keep your vehicle in a shade to prevent paint from fading.

“Monochromatic colors are here for long. White, silver, gray, and black are trending all over the world. Blue vehicles prove to be a popular choice in 2023, while the rest of the colors are overwhelmed by conservative alternatives,” says Matas Buzelis, an automotive expert and the Head of Communications at carVertical.

Manufacturers are now offering fewer color choices to car buyers

Bright colors don’t have a significant share in the Romanian used car market: yellow – 1.9% of all vehicles checked on carVertical and red – 6.1%. Blue cars are more appreciated – 14% of all vehicles. Yellow was never a popular choice: only 0.9% of cars in 2000 were yellow, 1.3% in 2010, and 1.1% in 2020. Red had the share of 8.1% in 2000, 4.6% in 2010, and 6.1% in 2020. Blue has seen a minor decline throughout the years: 19.8% in 2000, 9.5% in 2010, and 12.4% in 2020.

“Manufacturers are now offering fewer color choices to car buyers. We saw many colorful vehicles a couple of decades ago, but now the palettes have changed a lot, as the majority don’t want to stand out from the crowd and choose conservative vehicles. Some drivers even think that selling a car that’s, for example, red or yellow will take a lot longer than selling the same vehicle painted in black or silver,” explains Buzelis.

When searching for a used car, it’s important to prioritize its condition over color. Since badly damaged and repaired vehicles may have different paint layers, Buzelis advises bringing a special tool to measure paint thickness when going for a test drive.