Grey was Britain’s most popular new car colour for an eighth consecutive year in 2025, according to figures published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
More than 558,000 grey new cars were registered last year, up 2.7% to a record total for the colour and accounting for 27.6% of all new car registrations.
Grey is a safe bet for fleets and retail customers alike, highlighting UK customers’ preference for subdued hues.
Black retained second place with 464,369 registrations, its highest volume since 2019, following a 9.7% year-on-year increase.
Blue held third position for the second year running with 306,349 registrations, up 4.9%, confirming its status as the most popular non-monochrome choice.
Together, grey, black and blue accounted for almost two-thirds, or 65.8%, of all new cars registered in the UK during 2025.
Green is growing in popularity
White remained in fourth place, while silver returned to the top five for the first time in nearly a decade, marking a resurgence for a colour that dominated the market in the early 2000s.
Red slipped to sixth place and recorded its lowest market share, at 5.8%, since detailed records began.
Green recorded the strongest growth among the top 10 colours. Although it remained seventh overall, registrations rose 46.3% to 99,793 units, the highest volume for the colour in 20 years.
The rise in green cars also reflected the growing shift to electrification.
Registrations of green battery electric vehicles almost doubled year on year, increasing 95.2% to 23,249 units.
These accounted for one in 20 new BEVs, compared with one in 300 the previous year. Grey remained the most popular colour choice among BEV buyers, with 131,984 registrations.
At the opposite end of the scale, maroon, pink and turquoise recorded a combined total of just 342 registrations, underlining UK buyers’ preference for more subdued colours.
Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: “UK car buyers’ preferences remain pretty consistent, with monochrome continuing to lead in popularity.
“The surge in green, however, matches the growing popularity of electrified cars as the new car market decarbonises.
“As ever, manufacturers are responding by expanding model ranges, colours and finishes, giving UK drivers more opportunities to personalise their vehicles, even if grey matters most.”