Alastair Shephard

Content Writer

With millions of motorists preparing for summer holidays and long-distance travel, experts are warning drivers to pay close attention to their dashboard warning lights — particularly one that could signal serious engine damage if ignored.

Experts are urging drivers to take immediate action if they see a red oil can icon appear on their dashboard, warning that it could mean the engine is not being properly lubricated and may be at risk of catastrophic failure.

When the oil warning light comes on, the best thing you can do is stop driving straight away.

Without proper lubrication, the engine components can grind together, leading to extreme wear — or even complete engine failure. Continuing to drive in this state could result in a costly repair bill.

Drivers are advised to turn off the engine, check underneath the car for any signs of an oil leak, and inspect the oil level using the dipstick. 

In some cases, the issue can be resolved by simply topping up the oil. However, if the warning light remains on after this, it’s essential to call for breakdown assistance and avoid restarting the engine.

Another critical symbol to watch out for is the red battery light — usually a rectangle with plus and minus symbols inside — which can indicate problems with the car’s charging system, including a faulty battery or alternator.

Even if the vehicle seems to be running fine, a battery warning light means it could stop working at any moment.

Once the battery dies, you’re going nowhere. It’s always better to get it checked before it leaves you stranded.

Brake system alerts are also not to be ignored. A red circle with an exclamation mark may signify a handbrake left on — but it can also warn of low brake fluid or mechanical failure in the braking system.

If the light doesn’t go out after you’ve disengaged the handbrake, it could mean there’s a serious fault with your brakes. In that case, you must see a professional as soon as possible. Driving without fully functioning brakes puts everyone at risk.

One of the most misunderstood warning lights is the amber engine management light — which can sometimes be mistaken for less urgent alerts. However, the colour and behaviour of the light make all the difference.

If the engine warning light is amber and steady, it’s usually safe to keep driving for now — but you should book a check-up as soon as you can. If the light is flashing, though, it suggests a more serious issue like a misfire, and you’ll need to drive cautiously straight to a garage.

Know your warning lights before it’s too late

With modern vehicles relying heavily on digital sensors and warning systems, dashboard lights are often the first sign that something’s wrong. Ignoring them could lead to breakdowns, costly repairs — or worse, a dangerous situation on the road.

Warning lights aren’t there to be ignored. They’re an early alert system designed to protect both your car and your safety. If you’re unsure, always err on the side of caution and speak to a qualified mechanic.

Drivers urged to ‘see a professional immediately’ if this dashboard warning light appears

Bumper has launched a new open banking integration with Pinewood.AI, enabling car retailers to process Pay by Bank and Pay by Card services directly from their dealer management systems (DMS).

The integration is already live across 200 UK dealerships with a pipeline of sites to follow. 

The integration works by retailers sending payment requests to customers by email or SMS, with a link for them to pay directly from their bank accounts. In addition to the ease of use, open banking provides enhanced security and protection against fraud for both retailers and customers.

It also facilitates Bumper’s Pay by Card service using credit cards, debit cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay. 

Dealers can benefit from lower transaction fees, faster payments and reduced administration time. 

The integration provides intelligent routing of payments to maximise savings and remove friction, only displaying payment methods relevant to the customer based on pre-set thresholds. 

The move sees Bumper becoming Pinewood.AI’s sole provider of open banking services in the UK. The two tech companies have a long-standing partnership with Bumper’s PayLater service offered through Pinewood.AI’s vehicle health check tool.

“This major integration expands our relationship with Pinewood.AI and is already delivering significantly lower costs per transaction for dealers, compared to traditional card payments,” said Daniel Christie, Bumper’s Head of Sales.

“By integrating with existing dealership ecosystems, it brings together all our payment options in a more efficient way for retailers using the Pinewood Automotive Intelligence Platform, enabling them to offer customers more choice when paying their bills,” he said.

Commenting on the rollout Kim Costello, Global Chief Marketing Officer at Pinewood.AI said: “We’re delighted with this latest integration with Bumper, following the completion of a successful pilot at the beginning of the year.

“Offering Bumper’s Pay by Bank directly on Pinewood.AI will help streamline retailer processes by avoiding the need for them to work across different systems.

“The integration is already delivering the convenience of an open banking option for car owners, while helping our retailer clients cut administration time and reduce transaction costs.”

Pinewood.AI has confirmed it is currently working on its next integration with Bumper: PayPad. This powerful solution will enable dealers partnered with Pinewood.AI a unified payment experience, enabling them to process every type of transaction through Bumper, including in-store PoS payments, remote card transactions, secure bank-to-bank transfers and flexible Buy Now, Pay Later options.

Bumper expands Pinewood.AI partnership with Pay by Bank and Pay by Card

Research by Bumper has identified a disconnect between dealers actively futureproofing their aftersales operations to handle EVs and hybrids and customers planning to own them.

While an overwhelming majority of dealership workshops (92%) describe themselves as being “prepared” or “very prepared” for EVs and hybrids, just 15% of customers currently own one and only 13% plan to purchase one in the next three years.

The findings come from Bumper’s newly published 

, which polled the views of 4,269 car owners and 520 service advisors to identify the operational challenges faced by service departments and consumer pain points. 

“As legislative pressure grows on carmakers to sell higher proportions of new EVs, our study shows how dealers have moved to invest in their workshop operations by tooling up and training for EVs and hybrids,” said Daniel Christie, Bumper’s Head of Sales.

“However, there is a disconnect between what dealers now have in place and the EV ownership and buying intent of their customers,” he said.

Most service advisors (40%) believe EVs will represent the biggest trend shaping aftersales over the next five years, followed by the economic landscape (12%) and technological advancements (11%).

Despite the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) across many sectors, only 19% of service departments plan to adopt AI tools for diagnostics, scheduling or customer services in the next 12 months.

“The aftersales market is at a pivotal moment, where the adoption of innovative tools, preparation for EVs and a focus on affordability will determine future success,” said Christie.

“While advances like interest-free finance and digital tools have proven transformative, dealerships must invest in training, staffing and infrastructure to meet evolving customer needs.

“The research also identified how emerging trends such as AI, mobile servicing and self-check-ins offer opportunities for growth, but their adoption remains tentative. The sector’s ability to adapt to these technological and market shifts will be crucial for long-term competitiveness and customer satisfaction,” he said.

Bumper's Automotive Aftersales Report 2024/25

Bumper study identifies “disconnect” between dealers’ readiness for EV aftersales and customers’ plans to go electric 

The cost of living crisis has prompted nearly half of consumers to reconsider the way they approach vehicle maintenance and servicing.

Forty-eight per cent of the 4,269 car owners polled for the forthcoming Bumper Automotive Aftersales Report 2024/25 said they have adjusted their habits due to increased financial pressures.

The majority (90%) plan to keep their cars longer, reflecting a shift towards more cost-conscious decision-making.

Over half (51%) said they were exploring independent garages for more affordable servicing, while more than a third (38%) are choosing not to authorise advisory repairs, prioritising essential over non-urgent work. 

A significant minority (15%) reported skipping vehicle servicing because of costs. 

“The findings reveal a largely proactive approach to vehicle maintenance. However, the cost of living crisis has prompted shifts in consumer behaviour, with a significant portion of car owners looking for more affordable options, delaying non-essential repairs and using financial assistance to spread their servicing costs,” said James Jackson, Co-Founder and CEO of Bumper.

“Trust, cost and quality remain central to consumer decision-making, benefitting dealers nimble enough to adapt their aftersales propositions to the changing needs of their customers,” said Jackson.

The full Bumper UK Automotive Aftersales Report 2024/25 will be published shortly.

Cost of living crisis prompts nearly half of consumers to reconsider how they get their cars serviced

Drivers have been warned against using a new car accessory made famous by social media.

The device, which became popular on the video-sharing site TikTok, could see motorists hit with a big fine of up to £1,000.

Shaped like a hand, the device can be changed to make gestures to other road users through the rear window – and can even give other motorists the middle finger!

Experts have now stressed how the lights could obstruct the rearview mirror and therefore breach the Highway Code.

They warned the tool could be distracting for other drivers, prompting road rage and increasing the risk of a collision.

Failing to comply with the rules could see motorists slapped with a hefty £1,000 fine and three points on their licence. Those driving larger passenger and goods vehicles could be forced to pay a higher fine of £2,500.

The new sign, which can be picked up for as little as £2 on TikTok, isn't the only LED-lighting mistake facing road users. 

Common LED car strip lights are also likely to breach The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations (1989), which banned lights displaying a red glow at the front or back of a vehicle.

Popular "social media" accessory that could land drivers a £1,000 fine

We're please to announce Bumper has secured a £2 million investment from 

This is the first investment from London-based Salica and follows funding earlier this year from Suzuki Global Investments and Marubeni Ventures.

The additional funding comes at an important time for the business as it marks the millionth customer using its digital payment platform and its first acquisition, with the recent purchase of AutoBI, the provider of business intelligence tools for car retailers. 

Bumper has also been recognised as one of the fastest growing European startups in 2024 in the newly published 

James Jackson, Co-Founder and CEO, said: “Attracting high-profile investors of the calibre of Salicia Investments vindicates our approach to delivering a seamless digital payments platform for dealers in the UK and across Europe. 

“This year Bumper will facilitate £300m worth of car repairs, with one million customers having now used our services to fund over £0.7bn worth of aftersales bills. Salicia’s investment will empower us to achieve the ambitious growth plans we have set for 2025.”

Jemma Bruton, Managing Director of Salica Investments, said: “We are delighted to support Bumper, a highly successful fintech which is transforming the way car repairs are paid for through its pioneering digital solutions. This investment underscores our confidence in the business, its leadership and its growth potential.”

Bumper secures £2m funding from Salica Investments

Bumper obtiene 2 millones de libras de Salica Investments

Bumper has been listed in the Sifted 250 — an annual list of the top 250 European startups with the highest percentage revenue growth over the past three financial years.

Backed by the Financial Times, the list consists of companies that are headquartered in Europe, founded in or after 2014, and have a revenue of at least €500k in the most recent financial year.

Together, the 250 startups on the list employ over 25,000 people across Europe, have generated revenues of over €6.8 billion, and raised over €70 million in capital.

Bumper ranked 50th in fintech and 216th overall, with 70 employees, a latest revenue of €13.9m and a compound annual growth rate of 96.87%.

Also included in the list is Buy Now Pay Later provider, Zilch. Digital bank, Allica, topped the list.

Earlier this year Bumper was included in the Financial Times list of fastest-growing top 1000 companies in Europe — a list of companies with the highest annual growth rate in revenue over the period 2019 and 2022.

Bumper Listed in Sifted 250: Europe's Fastest Growing Startups

Bumper aparece en Sifted 250: Las startups europeas de más rápido crecimiento

Bumper has completed its first acquisition with the purchase of AutoBI, the specialist provider of 

The Telford-based business was founded in 2019 and its web-based AutoBI dashboard

provide near real-time updates on critical information about all aspects of an automotive business including CRM, sales, service, parts and finance.

The acquisition will enable Bumper to enhance its digital payments platform with increased insights for its dealer partners.

All staff will transfer with the business and founder Jonathan Sharman will continue as its CEO.

of Bumper said: “AutoBI is a perfect fit for Bumper and this acquisition is a key part of our strategic goal to become Europe’s largest automotive payment and data platform. 

“AutoBI’s ability to generate thousands of near real-time reports will enable us to provide our dealer partners with greater visibility of data and insights across their businesses, helping boost their profitability, efficiencies and cost savings.”

“We’re delighted to welcome the AutoBI team to the business. This is our first acquisition and we will review further opportunities as they arise.”

Jonathan Sharman of AutoBI said: “The AutoBI team 

excited to become part of Bumper and support its growth in the UK and Europe as the leading finance platform for car retailers.

“The synergies between the businesses will enable us to seamlessly add further value to Bumper’s dealer proposition.”

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