UK: Grey is the most popular new car colour for seventh year running

Britain’s obsession with grey cars is anything but fading, with the neutral tone securing its spot as the nation’s favourite car colour for a record-breaking seventh year in a row. New figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) reveal that 2024 saw over half a million grey cars hit UK roads, making up a whopping 27.8 per cent of new registrations – its highest share yet.

The monochrome trend doesn’t end there. Black claimed second place, with blue making a splashy comeback to round out the top three – its first podium finish since 2010 and a rare break from the greyscale dominance. Together, grey, black, and blue accounted for nearly two-thirds (64.5 per cent) of all new cars, leaving white (now a sad fourth) and red (hanging on in fifth) to sulk in the rearview mirror. White, once a favourite, saw a 7.2 per cent drop, while red hit its lowest popularity since 2003.

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But not everything on Britain’s roads is dull as dishwater. Green cars – perhaps inspired by the rise of EVs – saw their registrations more than double compared to 2022, with over 68,000 shiny new emerald rides zipping around. That’s the highest number since 2004, though grey still dominated the BEV market, with 95,463 electric cars sporting the shade.

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There were smaller victories for bold drivers, too. Yellow and green managed growth in the top 10 colours, while pink, maroon, and turquoise languished in the slow lane, accounting for a mere 747 registrations combined. For those lamenting Britain’s aversion to the rainbow, there were 93 colour options on offer in 2024, proving that drivers have options, even if most stick to safe bets.

UK's favorite new car colour

Photo by: SMMT

The grey lovefest extended across nearly every vehicle segment, with the shade leading in dual-purpose vehicles, superminis, and lower-medium cars. Black, on the other hand, took the throne for luxury saloons (42.1 per cent) and executive rides (34.2 per cent). Meanwhile, white found its niche among multi-purpose vehicles (25.7 per cent). For businesses, white remained the third pick, but private buyers showed a bit more flair, bumping blue into third.

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