Cars aren’t made to break. Years of planning and testing go into designing the perfect model. Given the amount we all spend on purchasing and maintaining our cars, you’d expect them to last. Inevitably, there are certain makes and models that are going to take you right back to the dealership more frequently than you’d like.

With the cost of repairs, as expensive as they are, a reliable car can save you a lot of money in the long run. Luckily for us, 

 has the answer we're looking for: a ranking of the most reliable cars. Owners were asked to rate their satisfaction with the quality of the vehicle and its reliability.

If you're worried about car repair costs, split your bill with Bumper. Apply to spread the cost, interest-free, and choose from 100s of partners nationwide.

The only Toyota on the list, this Hybrid has been on sale since 2017, giving the manufacturer plenty of time to fix any original faults.

Drivers of the VW T-Roc found the main faults to be with the vehicle’s electronics and safety features. There were also issues with the mechanical aspects of the vehicle, namely the engine and the gearbox. 

Of the few owners who expressed a fault, most reported electrical niggles. 

Since their release into the market, EVs have been renowned for having fewer moving parts and therefore fewer issues. However, the owners of the Kia E-Niro did record some faults. Mostly these were due to the electronics of the vehicle. A new model expected to be released later this year should fix any lingering problems. 

Of the few faults reported for the Kia Rio, almost a third were electric faults and some issues with the car’s safety kit. However, fear not, the vehicle comes with an impressive 7-year warranty. 

This British-built vehicle had two main errors of faults recorded, the interior trim and the car’s safety features. 

For the Kia XCeed only some minor faults were recorded, with just over a third reporting issues with the engine, but most were found to be small and covered by the vehicle’s warranty. 

For this well-built, family-friendly model, faults were found by drivers on the electrics, interior trim, exterior paintwork, and safety equipment. 

The robust, Kona had hardly any issues reported. Should an issue arise, the Kona is covered by Hyundai’s generous, five-year warranty. 

Given that this is Skoda’s first large SUV, many considered this a complex challenge, however, this family-sized seven-seater received a reliability rating of 96.23%, making this the top car on the list. There were some minor faults, mostly with the gearbox and interior trim, but these were found to be covered by the manufacturer's warranty. They offer the standard three-year/60,000-mile cover. 

spread the cost of car repairs, services, MOTs, parts and accessories

entering your registration and postcode on our website

. Choose from 1000s of our dependable service partners nationwide. 

What are the most reliable cars to buy in the UK in 2023?

 have had their cars stolen, and a further third have had their cars broken into?

Unfortunately, car break-ins and thefts are more common than you’d expect. However, there are ways to keep an eye on your vehicle, even when you’re not driving—introducing car trackers.

Below, we’re exploring car trackers, how they work, and how to put one on your car to keep it extra secure. 

A car tracker uses GPS technology and cellular networks to track your vehicle’s location. They can also give real-time information about your car’s speed, distance, and direction.

Sometimes, car trackers are also called vehicle tracking systems. 

Many of us depend heavily on our cars, and life would undoubtedly be far more stressful without one.

Car theft can cause financial and emotional burdens. There’s a lot of paperwork to deal with from 

 to hire car expenses. Not only that, but you may even face the loss of your no-claims bonus. 

A car tracker helps you find your car quickly—and even deters thieves if they notice it. 

Alternatively, you can place a sticker (often included with the tracker) on your car to warn thieves that you have the technology.

Car trackers work the same way as your navigation system—they use GPS tracking.

GPS works by communicating with a set of satellites to send a signal from your car. This signal shows the car’s location based on the distance from the satellites, giving you your live location and speed. 

Most car trackers are small rectangle boxes around four inches long and two inches wide.

These are either installed in the car within the wiring or placed in more visible locations, such as the glovebox, 

Car trackers are usually black to blend in with the average car interior. However, if you want a more obvious box, you can find models in grey or white.

How you install the car tracker depends on the type you buy.

Higher-end devices need to be wired into the car’s system. The company often sends out an 

More affordable trackers can be self-installed, usually through a magnet or sticker strip. 

Both offer good coverage but come at different price points and with different lifespans and add-on advantages.

Now you know how car trackers work and what they look like, it’s time to analyse the benefits. Here’s what you can expect:

The general opinion is that car trackers are worth the money. Investing in one helps you protect your car and avoid potential thefts. This will also lower your car insurance premium, saving you money in the long run. 

So, it’s a wise addition to consider, especially if you’ve spent a lot of money on your current vehicle. 

Car trackers vary in price, with some around £30 and others at £200 or more.

Some even use monthly subscription price models, allowing you to 

mobility cars are fitted with location trackers

often if several drivers have access to the vehicle or if none live at the customer’s address. The tracking information is only examined if the Motability scheme believes the car is being misused—and they’ll always talk to the customer before doing so.

Advanced car trackers can detect GPS signals underground, ensuring your vehicle remains visible to police even if hidden in containers or transported across Europe.

Yes. Most car trackers connect to smartphone apps which show you where your car is and its recent journeys.

Most car trackers work over any range and don’t have any limitations. The car location information is also usually accurate to within three metres. 

AirTags are cheaper than some car trackers, but it’s not recommended that they be used as car trackers. They don’t support live tracking for objects that are in motion, so you won‘t have live updates on your vehicle’s journey. 

Car trackers are an excellent modern solution to car theft—and they’re a powerful tool for peace of mind. Whether you travel frequently or live in an area with a high rate of break-ins, a tracker can help you deter theft and monitor your car’s position.

Learn more about looking after your car on the Bumper blog now.

Theft isn’t the only expensive problem car owners face. Last-minute repairs can also put a dent in your budget. 

, you can split the cost of repairs into monthly payments at no extra cost. 

Apply online for up to £5,000 and choose from 1,000s of trusted repairers. 

How Do Car Trackers Work?

 give back if you drive well? That’s true for black box car insurance, and it’s a popular option for new drivers who usually face steep premiums.

If you opt for this insurance, you must install a black box that records your driving habits. The information is sent to the insurance company and directly impacts your premium.

 the safer you drive, the cheaper your insurance is.

Below, we’ll explore black box car insurance, its benefits and drawbacks, and whether it’s the right option for you.

Black box insurance (also known as telematics insurance) uses a small black box that monitors your driving. 

This data creates a driving score and shows how safe you drive. Higher scores are given to safer drivers, and they can lower your insurance premium when it’s time to renew.

Many drivers opt for black box insurance to save money and to adopt safer driving habits. Plus, it makes the roads safer for all—can’t beat that!

Black boxes track a range of driving metrics, including:

Black boxes come with plenty of benefits, and they’re especially popular for inexperienced drivers and those with high premiums. Here are the main advantages:

The advantages of black box car insurance are impressive. However, before you proceed, take a few moments to consider both sides.

Here are some potential disadvantages of black box car insurance:

Black boxes are easy and quick to install and don’t affect your car’s performance. Here’s a step-by-step rundown of a black box fitting:

All done! It’s that simple—you don’t have to roll up your sleeves.

In some cases, an insurer will require you to install the black box.

If this happens, they’ll send the self-fit box by post with simple installation instructions. You should follow these and fit the box within the first 14 days, otherwise your policy will become invalid. 

Your technician will install the black box in a discreet position—usually under the car’s dashboard. The fitting may change depending on your car’s make and model.

However, you can be confident it’ll be out of sight and mind.

Technically, yes, you can remove your black box.

But this would violate the terms of the policy and could lead to your insurance being cancelled. 

Only the insurance company can see your black box driving data.

Companies know privacy is a top concern and ensure your driving data is protected at all times. You can read your chosen insurer’s data protection policy to learn more.

Most black box car insurers allow you to check your driver score via an app. This way, you can see how you’re driving and improve your habits if need be. 

That’s a wrap on the mystery of black box car insurance. This unique policy allows drivers to potentially access cheaper premiums and save money by proving they’re safe on the roads.

Always weigh up the pros and cons before going forward to make the best decision for your driving habits and finances.

High insurance premiums can be an unwelcome surprise, and so can last-minute car repair bills.

What is Black Box Car Insurance?

Getting a speeding ticket isn’t on anyone’s to-do list. Unfortunately, this happens more often than you'd think.

 statistics show that 44% of drivers speed on 30mph roads, and up to 45% go over the 70mph motorway limit. 

Remember, speed limits are there for a reason and the best way to avoid a ticket is to drive safely. However, if you receive an unfair ticket, you might want to dispute it. 

Keep reading to learn how to appeal a speeding ticket and whether it’s even worth it.

You should appeal a speeding ticket if you suspect your car number plate has been cloned or if your car has been stolen. In these cases, you must contact the police, explain what’s happened, and provide evidence.

But what about if you or someone you know was driving?

If you received a speeding ticket but weren’t driving the car, you need to provide their details, or you’ll face a fine and 

When you get a speeding ticket, you first get a Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP). This asks you to confirm whether you were driving. So, if you weren't, you should submit the real driver’s information. 

You must plead ‘not guilty’ to the speeding offence when completing either form. 

If a police officer caught you, you wouldn’t receive a NIP. Instead, you’ll get a Fixed Penalty Notice that doesn’t allow for a ‘not guilty’ submission.

It’s usually not worth appealing a speeding fine.

you can’t directly appeal to the police. So, you might end up with some expensive legal fees.

Also, if your appeal isn’t successful, you might face an even larger penalty than the original fine.

It’s rare for a speeding ticket appeal to be successful. Before you begin, consider whether you have legitimate reasons and evidence for an appeal.

Even in cases where you’ve sped over a reduced motorway limit on an empty road, you’ll still be found guilty because the set limit is the law. 

Want to appeal your speeding fine? Here are some common reasons for dispute:

Appealing a speeding ticket in the UK is simple. Here are the main steps you’ll need to take:

1. Respond to the NIP and state you’re not guilty of speeding.

2. You’ll receive a court summons — prepare your evidence and consider working with a traffic offences solicitor.

4. The court will then decide whether your appeal is or isn’t successful.

Can you avoid points from a speeding ticket?

You can avoid points on your licence by attending a speed awareness course.

However, this isn’t offered in all cases, so you might have to take the points. 

Also, once you attend a speeding course, you can’t go to another for three years. This rule is in place to keep repeat speeders from dodging points.

Should I appeal a speeding ticket without evidence?

If you don’t have evidence to support your case, you shouldn’t appeal the speeding ticket.

You’ll likely waste time and money trying to appeal your case, and you may be slapped with another big fine if it’s found unsuccessful.

What happens if I ignore a speeding ticket?

If you don’t respond to the speeding ticket NIP within 28 days, your case will go to court, as failing to provide the required information is also an offence.

If you’re convicted you’ll get six penalty points and possibly a fine.

Understanding how to appeal a speeding ticket is helpful, but the real power lies in knowing whether it’s worth the battle. 

And remember, you can avoid speeding tickets 100% of the time by following the limit!

Speeding tickets can be expensive, just like last-minute car repair bills.

How To Appeal a Speeding Ticket

Have you noticed the term ‘insurance group’ while shopping for a car or comparing quotes? 

 groups are a system for assessing a vehicle’s insurance risk based on various factors.

Learn what insurance groups mean, how they work, what impacts your premium, and tips to lower your costs below.

Car insurance groups are groups used by the insurance industry to set premiums. They first appeared in the 1970s to simplify car insurance quotes and to judge potential risks.

Today, vehicles are assigned an insurance group from 1 to 50, with 1 being 

Cars in lower groups generally cost less to insure, while those in higher groups are pricier. Rare, fast, or expensive cars often fall into higher groups, leading to higher premiums. 

Overall, the group system helps insurers calculate premiums, providing a baseline, though other factors also affect the final cost.

What do car insurance group letters mean?

Each car insurance group is assigned a letter representing the car’s safety ability.

Without understanding the letter system, you can’t figure out your insurance group meaning. Here’s a quick overview:

Car insurance group ratings don’t only feature letters. They also have numbers, for example 1A or 21 D.

There are 50 different car insurance groups. Let’s break them down:

The first group includes the cheapest cars to insure, thanks to added safety features. Most cars in this category have the letter E, indicating enhanced safety and theft deterrents. 

Examples include Fiat 500, Toyota Aygo, and Vauxhall Corsa.

The 10 to 20 group is above the 1-10 range, with cars being affordable but pricier than lower groups.

Common cars in insurance group 10-20 include the Mazda 2, Peugeot 208, Renault Clio, Toyota Yaris, and Ford Fiesta.

20 to 30 is the mid-range insurance bracket. 

Cars in this group are pricier but offer a good balance if you’re looking for speed or a larger vehicle without breaking the bank, such as Citroen C3, Ford Kuga, and the Vauxhall Astra.

In the 30-40 insurance group, there's a shift from practicality to performance and power. 

This range includes sports models and higher-end vehicles, which tend to be more expensive to insure.

Examples include Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Audi A5, Ford Focus, and Abarth 595.

 typically covering powerful and prestigious vehicles like high-end SUVs and luxury cars.

For instance, Jaguar XF, Volvo V90, Audi TT, and Jeep Grand Cherokee are all in this bracket.

Now we’ve broken down what the letters and numbers mean, let’s take a closer look at how car insurance groups work.

The ABI Group Rating Panel determines a vehicle's insurance group. 

Made up of members from the Lloyd’s Market Association and the Association of British Insurers, the panel uses data from 

 to assess the car's risk and also its insurance cost.

You can check your car’s insurance group by using online databases and checkers. 

For example, major insurance provider websites and price comparison brands offer online checker tools. 

has a reliable one if you want to check it now. 

 If your car was registered after 1st August 2024, it will be under the new Vehicle Risk Rating system and not the old insurance groups.

What are the cheapest car insurance groups?

The lower the insurance group, the cheaper your annual premium will typically be. So, cars in groups 1 to 5 are generally the least expensive to insure. But there’s no set rule.

Below, we’ve highlighted some popular models in these groups, which are known for their lower insurance costs:

Other factors that affect car insurance costs

Alongside insurance groups, other factors can boost your annual premiums. 

For example, younger drivers tend to get higher quotes as they lack experience and are more likely to have

Location can also affect your premium, as some areas have more theft and vandalism, leading to higher insurance costs.

Likewise, some jobs and industries are at higher risk than others, so your occupation could raise your premium.

Lastly, insurance companies always consider your driving history. You might face higher costs if you’ve had previous claims, a driving conviction, or recent penalties.

You can’t influence all factors that make up your car insurance costs.

However, there are ways to lower your premium. We’ve left a few popular strategies below:

So, that’s the UK car insurance groups in a nutshell. Knowing these helps you make smarter car purchases and allows you to understand how your insurance premiums are generated.

High insurance premiums can put a strain on your wallet, just like surprise car repair bills.

, you can split the cost of repairs into monthly payments at no extra cost.

Apply online for up to £5,000 and choose from 1,000s of trusted repairers.

Car Insurance Group Meaning - Complete Guide

Dealers offering discounts on servicing and repair work risk trading customer retention for eroded margins and long term damage to their businesses, according to new research. 

Three-quarters of the 4,269 car owners polled for the forthcoming Bumper UK Automotive Aftersales Report 2024/25 said they expect dealers to offer an initial discount on the prices they quote for aftersales work. 

When it comes to subsequent jobs over half (51%) expect the same level of discounts and nearly a quarter (23%) expect even larger discounts. Only 20% view such discounts as a one-off offer.

Dealerships who fail to offer the same, or greater, discounts on subsequent visits run the risk of losing repeat business with 57% of respondents saying it would affect their likelihood of returning.

However, the research found dealers offering interest-free financing to spread the costs of bills were likely to have stronger customer retention rates, with 89% of respondents saying they were more likely to return to a dealer providing it as an option.

“Discounting can only ever deliver a quick fix as it erodes profit margins and once withdrawn can have a damaging impact on repeat business,” said Daniel Christie, Bumper’s Head of Sales.

“The research shows how interest-free monthly payment options deliver a more consistent long-term solution to winning business and then retaining customers, while delivering transparency and protecting margins,” he said. 

The research also identified that over a quarter (27%) of customers spent between £500-£1,000 on servicing and repair work in the last 12 months. 

Higher and lower bills were equally balanced with 21% paying £250-£500 and 21% paying £1,000-£2,000. Bills totalling up to £5,000 were paid by just 3% of respondents.

Dealers urged to rethink “quick fix” discounting on workshop bills, or face margin erosion

Bells Motor Group is a family-run business operating Kia and Volvo dealerships in Northampton and Bedford. With over 55 years of experience in the automotive industry, the group excels in a customer-first approach. 

Bells has worked with Bumper since January 2023, using PayLater through Bumper’s Keyloop integration to split the cost of customers’ repair and service work into interest-free monthly payments. 

A recent feature update to the Keyloop integration added automatic payment reconciliation. Payments taken through Bumper are automatically reconciled in the Keyloop DMS, negating the need for advisors to double-key payments. 

Automatic payment reconciliation has resulted in tangible results for Bells. Less time spent double-keying customers’ details has resulted in an average saving of 

Considering operational costs, it’s estimated this time saving equates to 

Clive Bell said, ‘Bumper’s new automatic payment reconciliation for Keyloop has massively improved our group’s efficiency. Previously, advisors had to double-key customers' payments; once on the Bumper system and then again on Keyloop. 

‘The process was heavily error-prone and time-consuming for advisors. This new feature automatically updates both systems meaning time can be allocated to other tasks. We’ve found this new feature has saved 4.5 hours per day across our business.’ 

Bumper’s digital payment solutions are built specifically for the automotive market. Register your interest to speak to one of our payment experts now.

Bells Motor Group Case Study: Improving workshop efficiency by harnessing digital tools

We’re celebrating our latest Dealership of the Month – Citygate Kia Slough. 

The Slough-based site had an impressive Month using Bumper’s PayLater to split the cost of customers’ repair bills into monthly payments. 

Doubling the number of transactions year-on-year, the team saw a 21% increase in conversion and an 86% increase in redwork value. 

The team use the Bumper RTC integration to further streamline the process. 

PayLater allowed the service team at Kia Slough to deliver on their commitment to outstanding customer service. 

Charlotte Miller (Kia Slough service team) said: “Whenever one of my customers comes in for a service, I explain we have two payment options – in full or monthly. This really gives drivers peace of mind as they aren’t always aware that option exists for car repairs. 

“Quite often the repair bill is unexpected, so it just eases people’s minds when they find out they need extra work. 

“It’s great for the customer because they drive away happy and it’s great for us as we get that work over the line we otherwise might not have secured.” 

Customers praised the site for being helpful, knowledgeable, and friendly. On Trustpilot, Alma wrote: “Very helpful and friendly team”. Kristof said: “I’ve got my service bill sorted with Bumper. They offered me a payment plan in just a couple of minutes. It’s really simple.” 

Congratulations to Katherine, Charlotte, Natalia, Charlie and the whole team at Citygate Kia Slough! 

Alastair Shephard

Content Writer