Posted on 7/29/2025
When summer heat kicks in, stepping into a sun-soaked car can feel like entering an oven. But does your car's color actually make a difference in how hot it gets? The short answer is yes—and if you’ve ever touched the surface of a black car on a sunny day, you’ve probably felt just how much hotter it can be compared to a white one. Understanding the role of vehicle color in temperature buildup can help you make more informed choices about your car, your comfort, and how to protect your vehicle in hot weather. Why Color Affects Car Temperature The main reason car color influences heat buildup is due to how different colors absorb or reflect sunlight. Dark colors, like black and deep blue, absorb more of the sun’s radiation, including both visible light and infrared heat. Light colors, particularly white and silver, reflect a higher percentage of that energy. That means a black vehicle absorbs more heat than a white one under identical con ... read more