Bumper has been selected to join Tech Nation's highly specialised growth programme for the FinTech sector.

The programme is specially designed for companies ready to achieve their potential and scale. It consists of insights sessions delivered by some of the most established fintech entrepreneurs, investors, and partners.

The programme lasts for six months and includes an in-depth induction, a series of learning sessions and networking events with key stakeholders.

A record number of applications have been narrowed down to just 31 companies. The companies include Automated Intelligence, Aveni, Balkerne, BankBI, Bankifi, Caura, Coincover, Credas and Creditable.

Bumper CEO, James Jackson, said, “It’s great to be recognised by this Government-backed programme which selects the 30 most exciting FinTechs in the UK to help support them through their growth phase and includes an international showcase tour to help raise Bumper’s profile and potentially new investment. Previous graduates of the programme include FinTech Unicorns including Starling Bank, TransferWise and Revolut”.

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

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 has teamed up with Ecologi to set and achieve goals for a carbon neutral future.

Bristol based, Ecologi, was set up to empower everyday people and businesses to help tackle the climate crisis. Funds raised go directly to planet saving projects. A key area of focus is Tree Planting, one of the best tools to help keep our temperatures from rising, and carbon reduction, the process of removing more greenhouses gases than are produced.

So far Bumper has funded the planting of 1,000 trees, which is 73.53 tonnes of carbon reduction. This is equivalent to 56 long haul flights, 148,428 miles driven in a car and 221 square meters of sea ice saved.

Bumper’s funding has already contributed to several green projects.

This project aims to provide long term access to clean water for families in the Zoba Debub district of Eritrea by repairing water boreholes. Boreholes are used in the region to access clean water however a large number are broken. Repaired water boreholes access naturally cleaned water purified as it percolates through pores in the rock and reduces the number of residents using fired wood as a means of purification.

Forest plantation on degraded grassland in Uruguay

Previously used for cattle grazing for 300 years, 21,298 hectares of land have been turned into sustainable managed forestry. The project, which is over seen by Rainforest Alliance, should remove 7,644,973 tonnes of CO2 in the next 60 years.

Our goal is to help plant 100,000 trees in the next 12 months and become a carbon neutral business.

To learn more about the work Ecologi is doing 

Bumper team up with Ecologi to tackle urgent climate crisis

A recent forecast produced by the DVSA predicted the number of MOTs carried out in October and November will be 60% higher than normal levels.

Their recent ‘Beat the Rush’ campaign caused one million vehicle owners to bring forward their test last month. More than one million MOTs that took place in September weren’t due until October 2020 – January 2021.

The DVSA said: “The key message now is for customers to book their MOT as early as possible. By encouraging customers to book early, we hope you are able to plan effectively for this busy period and maximise the number of MOTs you can complete.

For garages wanting to get involved in the DVSA’s ‘Beat The Rush’ campaign, you can find more information here. To find out more about how Bumper can help your customers with their repair bill in just a few clicks, click here.

If your MOT is due soon book in as early as possible. To split your next MOT or repair bill into monthly instalments at no extra cost and find garages in your area visit the Bumper website.

DVSA predict number of MOTs to be 60% higher than normal in October and November

Bumper are pleased to announce that they are now a Living Wage Accredited Employer.

The Living Wage Foundation campaigns for businesses to pay their staff a wage which meets everyday living costs.

Their proposed living rate is based on what real people need to live; a weekly shop, utility bills, rent and unexpected bills.

CEO & Co-Founder, James Jackson, said “As a responsible lender with a keen focus on treating customers fairly, it seemed only right to extend this to all our employees who all play such a vital role in offering a world class service to our customers and dealerships. The accreditation doesn’t just cover our direct employees, but also our contractors and suppliers – meaning our pledge has an even wider impact.”

Other companies taking part in the scheme include Ikea, Nationwide, Nestlé, Aviva and many others.

The new Living Wage is announced each year in November and Living Wage Accredited employers are expected to make any due pay rises within 6 months.

To find out more about the Living Wage Foundation visit 

Bumper is a Buy Now Pay Later provider for car repairs and servicing.

Bumper Becomes Living Wage Foundation Accredited

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 has been named the Best Finance Provider at the 2020 Motor Trader Industry Awards 2020.

The award ceremony was due to take place in October at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel but due to the recent government guidance surrounding Covid-19, the winners were revealed online each day throughout November.

This is the 5th award Bumper has won in the last two years, following on from our success in early 2020 and 2019:

CEO & Co-Founder, James Jackson, said: “I am so proud of what we have achieved over the last 2 years, beating a number of multinational brands to some incredible awards. It has spurred everyone at the company to keep working hard and continue to grow the brand – in a post Covid world.”

Congratulations to all of the other winners!

Bumper win Best Finance Provider at the Motor Trader Awards 2020

A clutch replacement in the UK costs between £300 and £700, with some models exceeding £1,200. 

If your clutch is slipping, hard to shift, or making noises, you may need a replacement. This guide covers costs, symptoms, and when to replace your clutch and flywheel.

How much does a clutch replacement cost? 

The average cost of a clutch replacement in the UK is £454.55.

However, prices can range from £300 to £900. Not all vehicles can be fitted with the same clutch, so prices may vary between different makes and models—and this also doesn’t factor in the total cost including labour. 

A car clutch connects and disconnects the engine from the transmission. Pressing the clutch pedal disengages it, allowing gear changes, while releasing it re-engages, enabling smooth power transfer to the wheels for driving.

Here’s a breakdown of clutch and flywheel replacement costs:

If car repairs and replacement parts have you worried, Bumper could help you with 0% interest 

 paid for in easy-to-manage monthly payments. 

As you can see above, clutch replacement costs vary a lot.

 it's important to understand where your money goes. Here's a breakdown of what's typically included in a clutch replacement fee:

Factors that affect a clutch replacement cost 

Why do clutch replacement costs change so much? Here are the main factors that may affect the price of your repair. 

There are a number of factors that indicate your clutch might need repairing, these include: 

If you're unsure or suspect your car may have one of these issues, it's highly recommended to ask how much is a new clutch and have an approved mechanic inspect it.

Ignoring the problem could put you and your passengers at risk and lead to more expensive repairs later.

What happens if you don’t replace a worn clutch?

If you don’t replace a worn clutch, it can lead to slipping gears, difficulty shifting, and eventual complete failure. This can make driving unsafe and cause more damage to your car, leading to a potentially more expensive new clutch cost in the future. 

How long does it take to replace a clutch?

On average, replacing a clutch usually takes about 4-6 hours, depending on your car’s make and model. 

Some cars may take longer if they’re harder to work on or more complicated in design, but a skilled mechanic can typically complete the job in a day.

A clutch should last upwards of 60,000 miles on a petrol car with good care and a considerate driving style.

There are certain things that will shorten the life of your clutch, such as: 

Yes, a clutch can fail suddenly, especially if worn down over time. 

You might notice slipping gears, difficulty shifting, or strange noises leading up to the failure. If ignored, it could completely fail, leaving you stuck and facing expensive repairs.

What causes a clutch to burn out quickly?

A clutch can burn out quickly if it’s frequently slipped, such as when riding the pedal too much, towing heavy loads, or driving in stop-and-go traffic. 

Poor driving habits or not replacing worn parts can also speed up wear. Drive carefully to keep your car in good health!

Is it cheaper to replace just the clutch or the flywheel too?

It’s usually cheaper to replace just the clutch, but if the flywheel is damaged or worn, it’s best to replace it too. Skipping the flywheel might save money upfront but could lead to bigger issues later.

The clutch interacts with other car components, so the flywheel and pressure plate may also need replacement. A flywheel is a heavy wheel attached to a rotating shaft connected to the engine, designed to smooth power delivery. 

The rivets can damage the flywheel and pressure plate if the clutch is worn too much. However, if replaced early, the flywheel can often be reused, saving you on a 

Can you replace a clutch without resurfacing the flywheel? 

Yes and no. Whether you need to replace the flywheel depends on how worn the clutch is. 

If the clutch was slipping for a while, the flywheel could be damaged. It's crucial to check the clutch early as soon as it feels worn or that it is slipping.

Other common clutch problems you should know

Alongside the clutch plate, flywheel and pressure plate, there is a hydraulic system that actuates the clutch. 

There are a few different types of issues that can be present with these parts:

When you release the clutch pedal, the hydraulic force from the spring in the pressure plate and often a return spring work to push the clutch pedal back up to the resting position.

A failing clutch master cylinder can cause this problem. As the seals break down and allow fluid to pass through, the pressure required to push the pedal back is dissipated.

If you’re hearing a whirring or scraping noise when the clutch pedal is depressed, which gets higher in frequency with the engine speed increasing, you may have a failed clutch release bearing. 

When you press the pedal, and the system applies force to the clutch pressure plate through the clutch fork, that force is applied to the spinning pressure plate through a bearing. 

Over normal usage, this bearing deteriorates and creates noise and sometimes vibration through the pedal. 

Hopefully, this article has helped you work out how much your clutch replacement will cost. 

Clutch replacements are, unfortunately, part of owning a vehicle. While they keep your car healthy, they can significantly dent your bank account—especially if you need a last-minute replacement. 

Alastair Shephard

Content Writer