Alastair Shephard

Content Writer

Joseph Law

Bumper Content Writer

We are excited to announce our latest partnership with CitNOW, which will continue to offer increased flexibility for customers when paying for repairs through CitNOW’s workshop app.

Now customers will be able to see required repair work with dealers using CitNOW via video and apply to split their bill into monthly instalments in just a few clicks.

Chief Technology Officer, Colin Tinto commented, ‘What has become clear during this pandemic is that consumers are becoming more accustomed to communicating and transacting digitally and are realising that the associated processes can be a lot more efficient. As we emerge from lockdown, convenience will continue to be a priority for consumers, which is why it made perfect sense for us to partner with Bumper.

“Like us they are a leader in their field, and, more importantly, they share our vision for cutting-edge digital solutions that benefit car buyers”.

The integration is available now in the CitNOW workshop app and is free to eligible sites.

Bumper is an interest free solution for car repairs and services that is customer-centric and responsible. To get your Credit Limit and find participating garages and dealerships visit the Bumper website.

Announcement: Bumper and CitNOW partnership offers increased flexibility for drivers

We’re delighted to announce a partnership with RTC Automotive Solutions. The collaboration will see Bumper’s aftersales payment integrated into RTC’s aftersales platform and will mean Bumper’s ‘Buy Now Pay Later’ service will be easily offered to aftersales customers at dealerships using RTC’s software.

RTC’s Aftersales management technology, which provides dealerships with inbound booking, workshop loading and management, electronic vehicle health check and deferred work contact capabilities, now also includes the ability to offer customers the option of splitting their payments across a number of interest-free instalments.

Decisions are offered and processed immediately within the platform using Bumper’s proprietary risk management technology, helping to speed up the customer approval process and enabling dealerships to sell work that might have otherwise been declined.

Bumper is now used by more than 2,000 dealership sites in the UK, including sites belonging to brands such as Jaguar, Land Rover, Peugeot, Citroën, Ford and Vauxhall. The business has also started working with Volkswagen Group brands across the country. Dealerships typically pay a percentage of the work sold using Bumper to the company.

James Jackson, Co-founder and CEO of Bumper, said:

“Having the ability to offer customers flexible payment options is becoming increasingly important to retail businesses, and dealerships are no different. Customers also have high expectations for convenience and by integrating our solution with RTC Aftersales, we will be able to provide dealerships with a quick way of streamlining the approval of work, with the ability to split payments a seamless part of the process”.

Richard Robinson, Chief Operating Officer at RTC, said:

“We’re constantly looking to develop our solutions and integrate with new partners. The ability for our dealerships to offer their customers a simple way to choose flexible payments as part of the approval process for any required work will ensure a smoother aftersales experience.”

Find out more about RTC’s Aftersales platform here.

Bumper is an interest free financing solution for car repairs and services that is customer centric and responsible.

New RTC and ASF integration offers customers seamless application process

Bumper and Vehicle vision have formed a partnership enabling dealerships to offer a fully digital experience to customers.

Vehicle Vision’s Aftersales product, which enables technicians carrying out workshop inspections to record videos and share them with customers, now also includes the ability to offer customers the option of spreading the cost of any repair work across a number of interest-free instalments and an additional option to pay now if preferred.

The new integration gives customers greater financial flexibility in uncertain economic times and reduces the need for service advisors and customers to interact during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Managing Director of Vehicle Vision, Steve Dean, said: "This announcement comes at a hugely important time for car dealerships, garages, but also for motorists.

“As well as empowering dealerships and garages to provide customers with total financial flexibility in relation to repairs, which could be a real lifeline for drivers during tough economic times, the Bumper integration also provides efficiencies and real opportunities for increased business where works may have been put off due to tighter household budgets.

“The integration also provides customers and dealerships with an additional opportunity to trade safely.”

There will be three options to pay for repair work, with customers retaining the ability to pay on collection of the vehicle, on the platform.

Bumper Co-founder, Jack Allman said, “We are delighted to see Bumper integrated within Vehicle Vision.

“Giving customers flexibility and convenience is more important than ever – particularly in the current environment. By combining our two platforms we are enabling dealerships to provide a fully digital experience to their customers.

“We see customers transacting in under 115 seconds on average, so this provides a huge time saving to service departments. Together Vehicle Vision and Bumper act as a digital service advisor - an additional resource for a dealership.”

The new feature is available within the Vehicle Vision aftersales platform at no extra cost.

Vehicle Vision and Bumper Integration Enables Dealerships to Provide Fully Digital Experience for Customers

Bumper have partnered with OEC’s click-to-book system, which allows customers to book work with garages online in seconds.

The integration will give customers the opportunity to book appointmensts online and split the cost of their repairs into monthly instalments, completely interest free.

Seamless and stress-free process for all parties

Andreas Heider, OEC Vice President of Product, said, “We have integrated our offering so that our mutual clients can process and pay for their car repairs and service smoothly and without hassle.

“Not only will this partnership drive revenue and help support dealerships, but it will also offer customers the benefit of interest free payment methods.

“In these challenging times, we recognise the need to offer alternative and affordable payment options that create a seamless and stress-free process for all parties.”

Affordable payment options in challenging times

Jack Allman, Bumper CCO and Co-Founder, said, “In these challenging economic times, it’s more important than ever to offer different and more affordable payment methods when household budgets are feeling particularly squeezed.

“This integration will drive revenue for dealerships and help customers with interest free payment options”.

The Bumper integration is available now for garages using OEC’s online booking system. To have the feature installed or for more information contact OEC on olb.support@oeconnection.com or Bumper on sales@bumper.co.uk.

Bumper & OEC announce car repair online booking partnership

Car owners will expect dealer workshops and independent garages to offer greater flexibility in how they pay for servicing and repair work post-lockdown, according to research by Bumper.

Bumper polled the views of 2,635 car owners during the latest lockdown and found customers 

concerned about being presented with expensive bills

, especially for work deferred by the pandemic.

When asked for their main concerns about getting cars serviced or repaired, over half (58%) cited cost, with inconvenience an issue for just 3%; while 36% said it was a combination of both.

The research also identified the current preferred method of payment among owners was evenly split between debit cards (40%) and credit cards (38%).

However, when asked what size bill would prompt them to pay by using interest-free credit instead, the majority (38%) said they would use it for any amount. Over a quarter (27%) said they would use it for bills costing over £250, 22% for bills over £500 and 13% for bills over £750.

“Our research shows how consumer attitudes towards servicing and repair work has changed with customers now expecting greater flexibility in how they pay,” said James Jackson, Bumper’s CEO and co-founder.

“Car owners are used to spreading many of their motoring costs, so the ability to buy-now-pay-later would remove some of the pain typically associated with paying for services and repairs,” he said.

Bumper provides an interest-free digital payment platform for vehicle repairs and services, enabling owners to spread their costs.

Formerly Auto Service Finance, the multi award-winning UK fintech company delivers an instalment financing solution using proprietary AI enabled technology to facilitate real-time lending decisions.

Bumper enables dealerships and garages to sell a larger proportion of red and amber work, reducing workshop downtime, with no risks or liabilities, while also creating greater customer loyalty.

Co-founded by CEO James Jackson and CCO Jack Allman, Bumper is rated 89 in the 2021 FT 1000 listing of Europe’s fastest growing companies. Bumper works with 2,500 franchised dealers, over 650 garages and major car brands across the UK and Republic of Ireland, helping over 100,000 drivers to fund their servicing and repair bills.

Bumper is based in Sheffield and London, with a tech development centre in Ankara, Turkey.

Customers expect greater payment flexibility from garages post-lockdown, finds Bumper research

 from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has revealed the average age of cars on UK roads is now 8.4 years - the highest ever on record.

The closure of car showrooms for long periods throughout 2020 meant fewer new cars were registered.

Currently, the average car on UK roads was built in 2011, with 10 million cars in service since 2008 or earlier.

The growing average age of vehicles on the road means consumers are more at risk of having to pay for unexpected repairs.

With the UK’s economy struggling to recover from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, over half of UK adults would find it very difficult or impossible to immediately pay an unexpected bill of £500 or more.

Consumers who are struggling to pay or would prefer to spend their disposable income elsewhere are increasingly turning to Buy Now Pay Later to alleviate some of the stress and pay back large bills in manageable instalments.

Bumper helps drivers split repair bills into interest-free payments, so they can keep their car in tip-top condition without breaking the bank.

Apply for a credit limit and search for local garages in our network by 

has been writing about cars for over seven years and writing for Bumper for over two, blending his passion for automobiles with a talent for storytelling.

Joseph has written about engineering and cars for Autozilla, Komaspec, and several engineering manufacturers. When he's not writing or tinkering with one of his five cars, Joseph dreams of owning an Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale.

Average age of cars on UK roads increases to 8.4 years

Congratulations to the team at Snows Winchester for winning Dealership of the Month for June 2021.

The site first joined Bumper back in May 2016 and has since helped hundreds of customers pay for their car repairs over interest-free monthly instalments.

The Winchester team pride themselves on great customer service and frequently receive 5-star reviews on Trustpilot.

‘Very clear and concise explanation from the Service Advisor on the benefits of spreading the costs of repairs and very easy and quick to set up.’ – Keith (Snows Winchester Customer)

‘Good service and professional team. I will highly recommend.’ – Sergio (Snows Winchester Customer)

account manager, Marc, has looked after the site since they came onboard, he said, ‘The team at Snows Winchester have seen some great results from helping customers spread the cost of their service work.

There is always a friendly and professional atmosphere when I visit and the service advisors use Bumper to their advantage, increasing customer satisfaction and retention.’

Well done to the team at Snows Winchester!

Bumper helps drivers split repair bills into interest-free payments, so you can keep your car in tip-top condition without breaking the bank.

Winchester winners: Snows Winchester named Dealership of the Month

Congratulations to the team at John Clark VWPC Dunfermline, who’ve won Bumper’s Dealership of the Month for July 2021.

The team’s commitment to providing their customers with the best possible experience was exceptional, and it was great to see that offering Bumper has become an integral part of their aftersales process.

Joining Bumper earlier this year, the team at Dunfermline have helped nearly 50 customers split their repair bills and drive away happier and safer.

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