Popular Car Colors to Look for in 2026: Green Is in

Move over white, because vibrant green is gaining traction, which may signal that car buyers are moving toward bolder exterior vehicle colors.

Elliot Rieth | 

Mar 11, 2026 | 3 min read

Capital One

If you gravitate toward vibrant shades, then the latest BASF car color trend report may inspire you as you shop for a new car with green gaining in popularity in American garages.

Picking a car color may seem trivial, but it's an important part of the car-buying process. A bold color can be an opportunity to express yourself and lean into a trend. Still, most people buy white, black, silver, and gray vehicles.

So, where does green rank among today's most desirable car colors, and how might a bold paint decision impact the long-term resale value of your vehicle? Let's explore the trends and what your choice can mean for your investment.

Trends in New Car Colors

According to the BASF research, the color green for cars is rising in popularity. Green cars accounted for 4%. While that’s still a small percentage, “the share of colored car paints has risen by almost two percentage points, showing a stronger preference for expressive colors,” the report said. The report was referring to the top three chromatic options. Alongside green, there’s blue (9%) and red (7%).

Another car paint manufacturer, PPG named a greenish yellow color, dubbed Secret Safari, as its 2026 color of the year. 

For car buyers looking to drive with the green trend, there are plenty of options, including the Subaru Crosstrek in Alpine Green, the Mazda CX-50 in Cypress, or the Volkswagen Tiguan in Avocado Green.

What Shoppers Are Actually Buying

Still, bold colors account for just a small share of U.S. car color sales overall and neutral colors still rule. 

Here are the top 10 car colors car shoppers purchased in 2025, according to BASF:

1. White - 28%
2. Black - 20%
3. Gray - 16%
4. Silver - 13%
5. Blue - 9%
6. Red - 7%
7. Green - 4%
8. Beige - 1%
9. Brown - 1%
10. Violet - 1%

White, black, gray, and silver continue to outpace their chromatic competition. 

A shade of white, named Cloud Dancer, was recently named the 2026 Pantone Color of the Year. 

White aligns with most car buyer preferences, although BASF reports that white “continues to decline” in popularity, even if it remains in the top spot. Meanwhile, bold colors like gold and orange are entirely absent from the latest color rankings.

How Car Colors Can Impact Resale Value

Beyond personal preference, does car color really matter? Like trim or features, the color of your car's exterior can affect its depreciation and resale value in both private and dealer sales.

For example, colors with wide popularity, such as white and black, are likely to remain sought after for years to come. Choosing one of these color options could help you sell your car with confidence in five or more years. On the other hand, the lack of novelty in these cars, given their high supply volumes, could mean they depreciate more over time.

Alternatively, choosing bold colors that have fallen out of favor may make it difficult to find a buyer. But if you're selling privately, you could find someone seeking a specific color and perhaps they would be willing to pay a premium.

Elliot Rieth

Born and raised in Michigan — the center of the American automotive industry — Elliot's fate of becoming a writer in the automotive space was seemingly predetermined. In addition to covering cars and personal finance for Capital One, he's worked directly with dealers and OEMs to create digital content meant to educate consumers. He's also passionate about music and has written for outlets like In Review Online. When he isn't writing about the latest financial, automotive, and insurance trends, he can be found enjoying a new book or record alongside his two greyhounds.