What is the rarest car color?
Purple is widely cited as the rarest car color in modern markets, typically accounting for well under 1% of new-car sales.
The rarity of a hue varies by region, model year, and whether you count factory finishes versus aftermarket wraps. This article surveys which colors are least common today and why color choice can matter for buyers and collectors.
Rarity by color: which hues show up least
To illustrate, the following colors have historically appeared at the very bottom of new-car color shares across major markets.
- Purple
- Brown (including bronze-tinted finishes)
- Green
- Yellow
- Orange
- Turquoise or electric blues in some markets
Notes: Some colors like brown can be metallic or tinted; purple varies from deep royal to lavender depending on lighting. Availability also depends on brand and region, so the order and presence of colors can shift year by year.
How color rarity is measured and what shapes it
Understanding rarity requires looking at production data, markets, and the impact of special editions and consumer trends. Below are key factors that influence how often a color appears on new cars.
- Market demand and consumer taste, which are heavily skewed toward neutrals like white, black, gray, and silver.
- Manufacturing palette and color availability, since not every automaker offers every hue within every trim line.
- Limited editions and special orders that introduce unique colors for a model year or event.
- Aftermarket resprays and wraps that can change the color of a car after it leaves the factory, affecting surveys of factory colors.
- Regional differences and climate, since preferences can vary by country and weather patterns.
These dynamics explain why purple and other non-neutral hues persist as rare, even as global color options expand in limited-edition and high-end models.
Rarity in practice and what it means for buyers
For buyers and collectors, rarity can translate to visibility and value, but not every rare color commands a premium. The impact depends on brand, model, condition, and provenance, as well as market demand for the color itself.
In mass-market segments, rare colors are often concentrated in limited runs, performance models, or special editions, while the majority of vehicles still roll off the line in neutrals.
Summary
In most contemporary markets, purple stands out as the rarest car color, with a consistently tiny share of production. Other unusual hues—brown, green, yellow, orange—appear far less frequently than neutrals, though exact rankings vary by region and year. For buyers seeking a distinctive look, a rare color can be a strong differentiator, especially when tied to a limited edition or a documented provenance.
