The AA has recently commented on common speed camera myths, urging drivers to slow down and pay attention to the limits. 

It’s believed by some road users that changing lanes can help drivers avoid detection by speed cameras. Whilst this was true at one time, modern speed cameras have multiple setups allowing all lanes to be covered. 

More often than not, there will be white markings across all lanes near speed cameras, allowing for a secondary check that shows how far the vehicle has travelled between two points. 

Cameras must be visible for drivers to be prosecuted 

Despite the Department for Transportation declaring that all cameras are required to be painted yellow, it is not true that they must be perfectly visible for motorists to receive a fine. 

So trying to contest your fine due to the camera being covered by an overgrown tree, isn’t going to work. 

First introduced in 1991, the first type of speed camera, the Gatso, was named after Dutch rally-driving inventor, Maurice Gatsonides. Still in use today, these cameras record how fast a vehicle travels between two points by capturing two images. 

Another type is the average speed camera, which works by capturing the speed of a vehicle at various points along a road, meaning drivers cannot just slow down on their approach. 

There's no limit for how many cameras can be involved in the average speed camera check and some have a network of up to 1,000 cameras. 

The final type is the Speed and Traffic Camera, which uses radar to see how fast a vehicle is going. A digital image is produced, showing the colour, type, make, model and registration number of the vehicle. 

The registered owner is sent a Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) within two weeks of being caught. Fines issued are a minimum of £100, with 3 points on your licence. However, these can be escalated depending on how far over the limit you were driving. 

Yes, speed cameras absolutely work. The London School of Economics estimated that between 1992-2016, speed cameras reduced deaths around 60 – 70%. The advice from the AA remains drivers shouldn’t look to avoid detection from cameras and should follow all speed limits and laws of the roads. 

Help to keep our roads safer by slowing down. Plus, you might save yourself some money! 

Make car repairs more affordable and spread the cost of your next bill into interest-free monthly payments. To apply for a Credit Limit and see local dependable garages and dealerships in your area, enter your vehicle and registration on 

Debunked: Common speed camera myths 

Cars are complicated machines, involving many systems and components. In order to maintain trouble-free motoring, there are a few important things every motorist should know and check regularly. 

The first port of call for any maintenance should be your owner's handbook. This gives details of all the user-serviceable systems in the car and how to check them. They will give vehicle-specific advice you may need to know. 

Even if you drive your car every day, you should be vigilant in checking these safety-critical items, some of them won’t need an inspection. You’ll interact with them directly by using your car, but it’s still prudent to be able to detect and rectify issues. 

With the average motorist spending over £800 on car repairs in 2021, it’s good to get ahead and be prepared. 

With many vehicles going largely unused over the pandemic, we’d recommend carrying out these checks every few weeks with normal usage, and especially before a long drive, e.g. 

before setting off on holiday, you'll want to do some checks

Make sure they are at the correct pressure, a pressure gauge is ideal, but a daily visual check will ensure you haven’t developed a flat. Check your owner’s manual for recommended tyre pressures. Be sure to pay attention to how heavily loaded the car will be, e.g. luggage and additional passengers. 

Keep an eye out for the tyres perishing, bulging or wearing unevenly. 

Get a helper to walk around your car whilst you test the various 

 and brake light settings. Also, check for the correct indicator and hazard warning light function. 

You’ll probably notice this without meaning to, but just check all your mirrors are still present, clean and correctly adjusted.

This is again something you directly interact with, but if the belt feels slack, overly tight or restricted or there is a different noise or feel when you clip in, don’t drive until it can be inspected by a professional. Before driving with children, check their seatbelts for them. 

It seems obvious, but there were over 800,000 cases of drivers needing to be rescued after 

 in 2015, according to a study by LV=. Be especially careful if you live or are travelling to remote areas where fuel stations could be few and far between. 

After you’ve started the car, check the dash for warning lights. It's good to do this regularly too, such as when you’ve reached your destination. 

Oil should not be missed in your vehicle inspection, make sure the oil level is between the minimum and maximum. The colour should be a dark brown, if the oil is black, check your service interval log for overdue oil changes. 

Coolant should also be monitored, the colour will either be red/orange or blue/green depending on the age of the vehicle. If the coolant is dark or colourless, take your car to a garage as it may need a 

Brake fluid and power steering fluid are similar to engine oil, check the level is correct, and the fluid is not excessively dark. 

For information on where to find the relevant tanks, consult your owner’s manual, as that will describe the location and appearance of the cap. 

With the possibility of being stranded far away from home, and the increased strain on your vehicle from elevated operating temperatures, checking your car over before a long trip is essential. 

Luggage and extra people can affect how your car performs and exacerbates any pre-existing issues with 

Ensure any roof rack boxes, bike racks and other attachments are well secured, be sure to check the loading capacity of your vehicle too, a plate inside the door is usually the best source of this information. 

If driving in Europe, make sure you’re equipped with the required safety equipment and know 

 or feeling from the steering, especially when turning. If you do, stop in a safe position and seek professional advice. 

Similar to the steering, before you start your journey, be sure your brakes feel and sound normal, long pedal travel or a squidgy pedal can indicate a leak, squealing or scraping can indicate worn pads. If anything at all is amiss, seek advice. 

When accelerating and cruising, listen for anything out of the ordinary, or if the car feels sluggish or slow to accelerate. Hesitation could be caused by various faults and may well be minor. 

Juddering when up to speed is often indicative of wheel miss-balancing, and under braking is usually caused by warped brake discs. If you experience any of these issues you should seek help as soon as possible. 

To make the whole process easier, check out Bumper’s interest-free monthly payments for car repairs. 

To be approved for a Credit Limit of up to £5,000 and 

search for garages and dealerships near you on the Bumper network, 

and enter your registration and postcode.

Safety checks - What to check before driving

Team Bumper met (for the first time in its entirety) in Lisbon last month for a week of collaborative workshops and team-bonding activities. 

In attendance, were our teams based in the UK, Spain, Germany and our development team based in Ankara, Turkey. 

The main purpose of the meet-up was to allow members of different departments to collaborate, chat and understand each other’s goals. 

During the update, teams stood to present who they were and their plans for the future. We heard from People, Engineering, Product, Sales, Risk and Compliance, Growth, and Operations. 

Before the trip, workshops were held by our People Team, to understand exactly what Bumper’s core values are; how we work together as a team, how we approach new opportunities and challenges, and how we interact with external stakeholders. 

 - We’re committed, enthusiastic and always give 110%. 

- We're inquisitive, drive change & positively disrupt. 

 - We embrace it, put our stamp on it & take pride in it. 

- We're passionate, tenacious and resilient; we get the job done 

 - We keep it real & we trust each other to do the right thing, in the right way. 

- We stay focused on the goal, avoid overcomplicating things & insist on transparency. 

One evening, we were joined by guest speaker, Alan Chambers, who discussed team motivation, how to create a winning mindset and what inspirational leadership looks like. Alan is a former Royal Marine Commando, Author, and Polar Adventurer. 

He led the first successful unsupported expedition from Canada to the North Pole by a British team. The expedition took them a whopping 672 nautical miles, through temperatures as low as -65°C. 

After seventy days out on the ice, Alan’s team planted the Union Flag on the 16th of May 2000. 

Lastly, some of the team took to the water for paddle-boarding and surfing, whilst others enjoyed a relaxing yoga session. 

For many of the team, working remotely across Europe, this was a great opportunity for them to get to know who they’re working with, face-to-face, without using a video meetings! 

“Very happy to meet every Bumpee face-to-face and spend time together. It was a great opportunity to collect unforgettable memories with each of you!”

Sumru, Talent and People partner (Turkey) 

“Glad to have met most of Bumper and had the opportunity to spend such a legendary time with each of you! I certainly enjoyed myself! A big thank you for the organisers!”

“Thank you to all organizers for this great retreat. It was great opportunity to meet all you in person. I hope to see you all again next retreat” 

“I had a blast! I had been hearing about this trip since I joined a year ago and it really surpassed my expectations big time. So proud to be part of Bumper; loved every minute of it!”

“Thank you all so much for making this retreat so amazing.” 

Bumper Lisbon 2022: Team collaboration event

By the end of the decade, open banking is set to become the dominant form of payment in car retailing. Low transaction fees and reduced exposure to fraudulent card transactions will benefit dealers greatly. 

Rather than relying on debit or credit cards issued by a third party, open banking allows customers to pay directly from their personal account into a dealer’s account. 

According to the Open Banking Implementation Entity, a standards body set up by the UK’s largest banks, the UK has seen exponential growth of open banking in recent times with 4.5 million regular users across all retail sectors and 1 million new users added every six months. 

James Jackson, CEO and co-founder of Bumper said, “Customer transactions are already being transformed by open banking across other retail sectors. Because of the high invoice values associated with automotive, we anticipate it becoming the dominant form of payment in dealerships by the end of the decade.” 

“Car buyers using open banking can make their payments online in a matter of seconds using just their bank account credentials. Also, because these payments require bank authentication within a customer’s banking app, it makes fraud significantly harder, giving a greater layer of protection to dealers. 

“While dealers offering open banking can expect to see their transaction costs halve by the removal of hefty fees associated with card payments. Other benefits include more secure digital payments, minimising dealers’ exposure to fraud, and full GDPR compliance.” 

“Open banking offers a solution that better meets the changing needs of customers looking for more convenient and smarter digital alternatives to cards.” 

“The addition of open banking further expands our suite of digital payment options, sitting alongside Pay Now and Pay Later, enabling dealers to offer customers the payment option that works best for their personal finances,” said Jackson. 

We expect dealers will offer the option of open banking for customers making large deposits, after-sales bills, GAP insurance and extended warranties. 

Starting this month, Bumper offers dealers an open banking facility, fully integrated with REALtime communications. 

To find out more, contact our sales team via 

Open banking set to be dominant form of payment in car retailing by 2030 

The Dealership of the Month for June 2022, Evans Halshaw Old Trafford, met with Bumper Account Manager, Chris, to accept their award this month.

Chris said, 'The team at Evans Halshaw Ford Old Trafford have been presented with this award for consistently utilising Bumper's PayLater within their aftersales process to support customers with any unexpected repair bills.'

'Since launching in February 2022, the team have gone from strength to strength culminating in a fantastic June with a special shout out to Dawn and Natalie who led the group for PayLaters since launch!'

Their exceptional customer experience has also been reflected in their Trustpilot reviews. One customer quoted, ‘

 was very convenient for me as it allowed me to spread the cost and it was interest-free. It was set up within minutes at the garage. Very pleased with Bumper especially the interest-free offer.'

Dealership of the Month June 2022: Evans Halshaw Old Trafford 

The research team at Bumper recently carried out a survey of 2,250 UK drivers over the age of 18 to find out how much they had spent on vehicle repairs in the last 12 months.

The survey found that 78% of drivers needed at least one tyre replacement over the past 12 months. The regions with the most replacements necessaries were:

 of their replacements was £121. According to National Travel Survey there are approximately 35.9 million UK license holders, which means an estimated £3.4bn has been spent on 

When asked if the cost was more or less than expected, 38% found the cost was more than expected, 41% said it was as expected, and 21% found the repairs to be less than expected. 

Bumper, CEO and Co-Founder, James Jackson said, ‘When it comes to the cost of maintaining a vehicle, our minds often just go to well-known expenses like petrol, insurance and MOTs. This research highlights the real cost to drivers is tyre replacements, highlighting that drivers in the North West need their tyres replacing more than anywhere else in the UK. 

‘It’s really important to keep an eye on your tyres to increase their longevity, by 

 and wheel alignment of your tyres, as well as by rotating tyres often. If an unexpected tyre replacement bill surprises you, you should be aware of the many different payment offers to help you manage the added expense, such as Bumper.’ 

Bumper is an interest-free payment option for repairs at garages and dealerships. Customers can apply online before their booking and get approved for up to £5,000*. 

To find out your maximum credit limit and see dependable garages in your area, enter your registration and postcode on the 

*The number of repayments, the amount of credit and the need for a deposit changes depending on the partner you choose, but it will always be interest-free! 

UK motorists collectively spend £3bn on tyre replacements 

Bumper has appointed Nick Squire as International Sales and Partnerships Manager. 

Nick will be responsible for strengthening Bumper’s position in Germany and Spain, as well as managing our expansion into further European markets. 

In his previous role, Squire headed up European and Global autoVHC programmes. With 20 years' experience in the automotive sector, starting as general sales manager at Ilkeston Co-op Motor Group, Nick is the perfect choice to lead Bumper as it takes its next steps into Europe. 

CCO and co-founder, Jack Allman, said, ‘We’re delighted to welcome Nick Squire to our fast-expanding team to spearhead Bumper’s ambitious growth plans across key European automotive retailing markets. 

‘Nick brings a wealth of experience to this new position having worked in the UK and international dealer sectors, including many of the markets we are targeting.’ 

Nick Squire said, ‘I’m delighted to be joining Bumper at the beginning of its exciting international journey and introduce new dealer products into new markets. 

‘There is a huge opportunity to grow Bumper into Europe. Having worked extensively in Germany and Spain my initial focus will be to grow sales in these markets and build partnerships with key strategic partners, OEMs and dealer groups.’ 

 is an interest-free monthly payment option for aftersales purchases. Applications are processed online in just a few clicks and customers receive an instant decision. 

To find out how Bumper can transform your aftersales department contact our sales team using the 

Bumper appoints International Sales and Partnerships Manager 

Owning a car can be costly, but not all repairs hit your wallet equally. Routine jobs, such as oil changes and air filters, are simple. What really stings are the big-ticket repairs.

In the UK, the most costly car repairs typically include catalytic converter replacement, head gasket failure, and transmission repairs, each of which can potentially cost thousands of pounds, depending on the vehicle.

If you’re hearing strange noises under the bonnet, read on to see the most expensive car repairs in the UK and their typical price ranges.

The most expensive types of car repair explained 

Wondering what the most expensive types of car repair are in the UK? 

Here, we explain the biggest repair costs and what makes them so costly. Remember, you can use 

 to split the cost of repair into interest-free monthly instalments.

Replacing or repairing a faulty alternator typically costs between 

The alternator keeps your car’s electrical systems in balance and maintains the battery’s charge, ensuring it stays in good condition. If it fails, your battery may run out of juice prematurely, causing startup problems. 

Signs of a failing alternator include difficulty starting the car, a burning rubber smell, or whirring and squeaking noises from the engine. Quick replacement can prevent bigger, more costly issues down the line. Don’t put it off!

Fixing or replacing a faulty catalytic converter can cost 

for parts, with labour potentially bringing the total to 

The catalytic converter helps reduce pollutants in your car’s exhaust. Signs of a failing converter include increased fuel consumption, poor acceleration, higher emissions, rough engine running, or even the engine cutting out. 

If your car fails its emissions test, the catalytic converter likely needs attention.

Clutch and related transmission problems 

Replacing a car clutch typically costs around 

The clutch allows your car to engage and disengage the engine from the gearbox smoothly. Signs of a failing clutch include a loose or spongy pedal, a higher-than-normal biting point, difficulty shifting gears, or a persistent burning smell while driving. 

Because clutch replacement is a labour-intensive job, addressing issues promptly can prevent further damage and ensure your car runs smoothly and safely on the road!

Repairing a faulty head gasket typically costs between

The head gasket seals the engine’s cylinders and keeps coolant and oil from mixing. Signs of a problem include high temperature gauge readings, sudden loss of power, thickened engine oil, or white smoke and liquid coming from the exhaust. 

Like other repairs on this list, head gasket issues are difficult and expensive to fix. Spotting them early can save your future self from a massive repair bill.

Replacing a timing belt, or ‘cambelt,’ typically costs between 

The timing belt synchronises the crankshaft and camshaft, ensuring smooth power transfer from the engine to the wheels. 

If it snaps, tears, or cracks, it can cause serious engine and powertrain damage. Because of its location, replacement is time-intensive — as soon as you notice an issue, contact a mechanic.

Replacing a car radiator typically costs between

A vehicle’s radiator maintains the engine's optimal temperature, preventing overheating and ensuring proper oil viscosity. 

A common problem is a leak. Leaks are usually caused by rust, but poor maintenance, manufacturing defects, or low-quality fluids can also be factors. 

When a leak occurs, replacement is usually better than a temporary patch, as ignoring it can lead to far more expensive engine problems.

What is the most difficult part to repair?

Opinions vary, but the engine’s head gasket is often considered the most challenging part to repair.

Accessing it requires extensive disassembly, and incorrect installation can lead to severe engine damage. Experience and time are essential for a perfect fix, making it one of the trickiest and most labour-intensive repairs on a car.

What is the most expensive damage to a car?

Engine and transmission failures rank among the most expensive types of damage a car can sustain.

For example, a blown head gasket or a failed transmission can cost thousands of pounds to repair or replace, depending on the vehicle, often surpassing routine maintenance or minor collision repairs.

What is considered a major repair on a car?

Generally, major repairs involve critical systems essential to a car’s operation, such as the engine, transmission, suspension, or braking system. 

These repairs are nearly always costly and require specialist mechanic knowledge. They also take longer than minor fixes.

Examples of major repairs include issues with:

Luxury and high-performance vehicles, such as Range Rovers, BMWs, and specialist sports cars, often have the highest repair costs.

This is simply because their parts are more specialised and the labour time and knowledge needed to fix them is intensive.

In addition, general diagnostics are complex, which can result in repair bills far exceeding those of standard cars, sometimes reaching several thousand pounds.

Taking good care of your car and maintaining it properly can help prevent or minimise the damage from failures like the ones listed above.

But there's no way to avoid every issue. Some car components simply break down over time, and there’s not much anyone can do about it. 

As a driver, the best thing you can do is understand what are the most expensive types of car repair in the UK and be aware of how your vehicle works, including how the major components fit together. That way, it’s easier to detect if your car isn’t running as it should.

Whether you’re facing an expensive repair or a small fee, Bumper is here to help.

Alastair Shephard

Content Writer