Car Color and Its Impact on Auto Insurance Rates
If you drive, chances are you’ve heard that the color of your car plays a role in determining your auto insurance rates. You’ve probably even repeated this story at one time or another. But have you ever wondered whether or not this is true? What about the other stories about certain colors increasing your chances of getting a ticket or being involved in an accident?
Well the truth is, there’s no proof, statistics or hard data to back up these or any of the other stories you might have heard about a car’s color affecting driving ability or auto insurance rates. So why do we go on believing them?
It might have to do with psychology. It seems that people tend to associate the color red with a real or perceived need for speed. That’s probably how the story of higher auto insurance rates got started in the first place. If people with red cars drive faster, they increase their chances of getting more tickets. Having more tickets makes them a higher risk, and that subjects them to higher auto insurance rates. But when drivers of red cars don’t speed, the story falls apart.
Here’s another truth: Unless the auto insurance agent asks, there’s no way of knowing the color of your car. Contrary to another popular story about car color and auto insurance, the color is not coded into the Vehicle Identification Number. Color simply does not matter.
Factors that may affect your auto insurance rates
What matters to the auto insurance company is your driving record. Anyone with a history of accidents and speeding will be considered a high risk driver and will likely be subject to higher rates. Where you live may also affect your rates. To a certain degree, the type of car you drive affects your rates, too. Expensive cars, cars with powerful engines, and cars of a certain make, model and year may cause your auto insurance rates to be higher as well.
What does all this mean?
It means you should stop worrying about the color of your car. Drive any color car you want and drive it safely and defensively. And be sure to obey traffic laws. Otherwise you probably will pay more for auto insurance!