# Insurance Company and newly red Car? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 3, 2008, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insurance-company-and-newly-red-car/475510 "2008-12-03T15:37:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insurance-company-and-newly-red-car/475510/1 "2008-12-03T15:37:34Z")
Hi all. We have all heard about insurance companies charging more to insure red cars. Or at least the sportier of cars. I have a 25 year old real clunker. If it was ever considered a sporty car, at least by insurance companies, I would be surprised. I am getting ready to repaint it. Mainly because it was litterally down to bare rusty metal. It USED to be gray. The best color I could find that was a reasonable price that I could tolerate was basically a red color. Probably more like a cherry/maroon red than pure red. Do I need to tell the insurance company that my car is now “red”? And if so, how much if any, would it raise the rates. My basic insurance is under 50 bucks a month now. thanks! ---
**Author:** ![tullsterx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@tullsterx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tullsterx)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insurance-company-and-newly-red-car/475510/2 "2008-12-03T15:45:10Z")
Wow. I’d be astounded if it made any difference. Why don’t you call them and ask? ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insurance-company-and-newly-red-car/475510/3 "2008-12-03T16:09:15Z")
I’ve been told that certain makes were costlier because of higher repair costs or because they were more damaged in accidents on average. I’ve never had them pick on a color and say that color will cost you more. You can call the agent and tell him you want to paint the car red, will they need to see the car afterwards or will there be any policy change. They often inspect cars to note that all the panels and paint are in good shape, so in the future you have no trouble claiming the car was damaged. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insurance-company-and-newly-red-car/475510/4 "2008-12-03T16:09:25Z")
That is a myth, color is not a factor in determining rates. > **[Car Colors & Insurance Rates](https://www.carinsurancerates.com/car-colors-and-insurance-rates.html)** > > Do red spots cars pay more for insurance? Does car color even matter? Get your facts straight on these myths & other questions here. > **[Do Red Cars Get More Speeding Tickets?](https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/red-handed/)** > > Do red cars receive more speeding tickets than do vehicles of other colors? Easiest way to prove it would be to get a quote from the same insurance company, call once and describe the car as white, call again and describe it as red. See if there’s any difference. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insurance-company-and-newly-red-car/475510/5 "2008-12-03T16:11:01Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > We have all heard about insurance companies charging more to insure red cars. I’m afraid your premise is faulty. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insurance-company-and-newly-red-car/475510/6 "2008-12-03T17:10:18Z")
Yeah, red don’t mean jack to the insurance company. ---
**Author:** ![FatBaldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insurance-company-and-newly-red-car/475510/7 "2008-12-03T19:33:41Z")
My insurance company has never asked the color of any cars I have insured. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insurance-company-and-newly-red-car/475510/8 "2008-12-03T19:37:50Z")
When I bought a red car years ago, my agent pulled my leg and told me it was costing me $150/year extra for a red vehicle. He quickly let me off the hook. (Pulled my leg and let me off the hook? I need to think of better ways to explain stuff!) ---
**Author:** ![Burton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Burton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Burton)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insurance-company-and-newly-red-car/475510/9 "2008-12-03T19:52:57Z")
As above, its not true.