Overview

• An Auto Express survey highlighted wide, often unclear discrepancies in paint pricing, with many brands now offering only one no-cost colour.
• Examples include a £745 uplift for non-red on a Nissan Qashqai, £575 for colour options on an Audi Q3, and up to £1,725 on a BMW X3, with bespoke Maserati finishes reaching £15,840.
• Special finishes such as metallic, pearlescent and matt can be costlier to repair, and experts say even minor scratches may require expensive colour matching or full resprays.
• Finance and retail specialists note that white, black and silver typically retain value better, while trendy colours can accelerate depreciation and prove harder to sell.
• Insurers indicate factory colour generally does not change premiums, but any post-purchase colour change should be declared as a modification.