The right colour comes down to two decisions: finish first (gloss or matte), then whether you want the strip to contrast with your car or complement it. Darker strips on lighter cars and lighter strips on darker cars both work well. Gloss Black and Matte Black are the most versatile options and suit almost any car colour.
Gloss or Matte: Settle This First
The finish changes how the strip reads from a distance more than the colour does. Gloss finishes catch the light and sit closer in appearance to standard factory paintwork. Matte finishes absorb light and give a more deliberate, considered look.
On a car with matte paint, a wrapped panel, or a generally understated build direction, matte strips will sit better visually. On standard gloss paintwork, either finish works, and the choice is personal. Both are equally durable and fitted by the same method. Settle this before looking at colours.
Contrast or Complement
Two approaches both produce clean results. Contrast puts the strip in a noticeably different colour from the bodywork: white on black, black on white, orange on silver. Complement uses a tone-on-tone or closely matched colour: dark blue on a navy car, red on red, silver on silver.
Contrast tends to be more expressive and visible from a distance. Complement gives a cleaner, more integrated result that reads as a deliberate detail rather than a styling addition. Most buyers know which direction they want before they look at the options. Knowing this narrows the choice from eleven to three or four.
The 11 Colours
Gloss Black
One of the two most versatile options in the range. Works with virtually any car colour: white, silver, red, dark grey, blue. On lighter cars, it creates a clean contrast. On darker cars, it reads as a subtle definition at the top of the screen.
Matte Black
The most popular colour in the range. The light-absorbing finish suits cars with a modified or aggressive build direction, and works particularly well on cars that are lowered or running darker alloys. On an otherwise standard car, matte black reads as a deliberate styling choice rather than a factory detail. If you are genuinely undecided, this is where most buyers land.
Gloss White
The more popular of the two whites. High contrast on dark cars: black, dark grey, navy. On white cars, it blends with the bodywork for a clean, minimal result. A strong option for buyers who want contrast without going to a colour.
Matte White
Softer than gloss white against dark bodywork. On white or light grey cars, the matte finish prevents the strip from looking overly reflective against the glass and roofline. A good choice where gloss white would feel too sharp.
Dark Blue
Works as a tone-on-tone match on navy and dark blue cars. On silver, grey, or white, it adds a clear colour note without the visual weight of a high-contrast choice. Popular on VW models in Reef Blue or Deep Black, and on Focus builds in Panther Black with blue accents.
Light Blue
More expressive than dark blue, it gives a stronger contrast on darker cars. Reads clearly against black or dark grey. On silver or white, it adds colour without dominating. A good option for buyers who want colour but want to keep it measured.
Green
A specific choice. On green cars, it works as a tone-on-tone match. On silver, grey, or white, it adds a distinctive note. Less versatile than the neutrals, but the right choice on the right car.
Orange
Popular on cars where orange already features in the manufacturer’s palette: Focus RS models in Tangerine Scream, Fiesta ST builds with Mountune Orange detailing, or any car where the buyer wants a strong contrast against dark bodywork. On black or dark grey, it is highly visible and deliberate. On white, it is bold but clean.
Red
A reliable tone-on-tone match on red cars for an OEM-style result. On white, silver, or black, it creates solid contrast. Works across a broad range of vehicles because red appears in so many manufacturers’ colour ranges.
Silver
The most understated option on the range. Near-invisible on silver cars, suited to buyers who want a strip positioned correctly for legal compliance without any visible colour statement. On white or light grey, it adds a subtle metallic detail that sits quietly against the glass.
Yellow
A bold choice that works best where yellow already appears on the car, or as a high-contrast strip on black or white bodywork. Associated with certain limited editions and motorsport-influenced builds. Not a universal option, but on the right car, it is exactly right.
Still Not Sure?
For most car colours, one rule holds: lighter car, darker strip; darker car, lighter or contrasting strip. Gloss Black and Matte Black cover the majority of situations between them.
If your car has manufacturer colour accents elsewhere, picking up that colour in the strip is worth considering. Orange callipers, red badging, blue brake dust shields: the strip is one of the few exterior details where you can echo those accents cleanly.
The pre-cut sunstrips range covers a wide selection of vehicles in all 11 colours, with each strip cut to your exact windscreen dimensions. For UK legal requirements on sunstrip shade and positioning, the sunstrip MOT rules page covers what applies at MOT and on the road. Once you have chosen, the step-by-step fitting guide covers everything from surface prep to final squeegee.
