Alastair Shephard

Content Writer

Alastair Shephard | Author

Annabelle Clarke

PR Manager

Annabelle Clarke | Author

Isobel Coughlan

Isobel Coughlan | Author

Since the start of the conflict in Iran, the cost of fuel has increased across the UK, with Northern Ireland the worst-affected area for both petrol and diesel. 

 February, the cost of diesel in the region has jumped by 38%, and petrol has risen by 21%. 

The North West, Wales, and the North East are also among the worst-affected areas for both increases in petrol and diesel. 

Regions worst affected by petrol increases 

Regions worst affected by diesel increases 

 February when Iran blocked the Strait of Hormuz due to US and Israeli airstrikes. 

Normally used to ship 20% of the world’s oil supply, the stoppage has caused wholesale oil prices to soar which is now impacting drivers at the pump. 

Since the start of the conflict, the cost of filling up a typical 55-litre car has risen from £73.05 to £86.05 for petrol and £78.31 to £104.31 for diesel.

The UK areas hit hardest by fuel price increases

Bumper, the automotive payments platform, has announced a new board appointment, welcoming fintech titan Richard Davies, CEO at Allica Bank. 

Davies has served on the boards of four of the UK’s six fastest growing fintech unicorns, bringing extensive high growth leadership experience. 

Under Davies’ leadership, Allica Bank was named the fastest growing technology company in the UK in both 2023 and 2024 in the Deloitte Fast 50, and the second fastest growing company in Europe by the Financial Times in 2025.  

Before joining Allica, Davies served as Group COO at Revolut, overseeing its expansion from five to 15 million customers and its entry into new markets including Australia, Singapore and the US. During his tenure, Revolut raised $500m in its Series D funding round. 

Davies has also held senior appointments at major banks, including serving as the inaugural CEO at OakNorth Bank, CCO of the UK Commercial Bank at HSBC, and in senior leadership positions at Barclays. 

As a Non-Executive Director, Davies recently spent four years on the group board of Zepz, the global remittance payments fintech, which owns WorldRemit and SendWave. 

Drawing on his high growth fintech experience, Davies will advise on strategy, governance and commercial expansion as Bumper continues to scale across Europe. 

Bumper was recently named in the FT1000: Europe’s Fastest-Growing Companies 2026. The inclusion marks Bumper’s sixth year in a row being recognised as one of the fastest growing businesses in Europe. 

Bumper has ambitious growth plans for the year ahead, including the upcoming launch of its first interest-bearing finance product, PayLonger, in the UK. The product will allow drivers to spread larger car repair bills over a longer period – complementing Bumper’s industry-leading interest-free Buy Now, Pay Later offering. 

James Jackson, CEO and Co-Founder at Bumper, said: “We are delighted to welcome Richard to Bumper’s board. His track record in helping scale some of the UK’s most successful fintech businesses will be invaluable as we continue our rapid growth across Europe. Richard brings deep strategic insight and a proven ability to guide high growth technology companies, and we look forward to benefiting from his experience as we continue to drive innovation across the automotive payments ecosystem.” 

Richard Davies said: “Bumper is scaling rapidly and advancing its position as a key technology partner for automotive retailers. Its powerful platform, innovation capabilities and clear strategic vision make it a compelling business to support as it enters its next phase of growth. I am excited to join the board and look forward to helping accelerate Bumper’s continued impact across the automotive payments landscape.” 

Bumper accelerates growth plans with addition of fintech titan Richard Davies to its board

Octopus Energy and Andersen EV have partnered to give drivers six months of free home EV charging. 

Delivered through Octopus Energy’s Intelligent Octopus Go tariff, the offer applies to anyone purchasing an Andersen charger from 1 March 2026. 

The offer could save EV drivers around 4,370 miles of free driving during the six-month period – the equivalent to an estimated £221 in savings. 

Octopus Energy’s smart EV tariff takes advantage of off-peak rates and renewable-led off-peak electricity. 

The launch aligns with the March ‘26 registration plate change to support new EV owners setting up home charging for the first time. 

The promotion covers Andersen EV’s full charger lineup, including Andersen A3, Andersen A2, and Andersen Quartz (compact model). 

Richard Sephton, Head of EV Partnerships at Octopus Energy, said: "Andersen is accelerating the EV transition by bundling the cost-saving power of Intelligent Octopus Go into its charger range.  

“By offering this as a bundled solution, EV drivers will unlock hundreds of pounds in annual savings that smart tariffs provide, delivering a premium charging experience that pays for itself." 

The news follows a promotion by the government to 

increase EV charger grants from £350 to £500

 covering almost of the cost of a typical installation. 

UK energy provider announces 6 months of free EV charging

Rising car maintenance costs are leaving workshops with a growing volume of partially completed safety-critical repairs, according to 

Bumper’s Automotive Aftersales Report 2025/26

Analysis from AutoBI, Bumper’s business intelligence arm, shows that in 70% of vehicle health checks (VHCs) where ‘red’ safety critical issues were identified, drivers did not authorise all of the urgent items recommended by the technician. The pattern points to a widening conversion rate challenge for franchised retailers as motorists manage shrinking household budgets. 

The report reveals the average repair bill has climbed to £597.48, the highest in five years and up 26% since 2021.  

With nearly half of motorists (47%) saying the cost of living is affecting their ability to maintain their car, 47% of affected drivers are choosing not to approve advisory (‘amber’) VHC items. Meanwhile, 38% of affected drivers are delaying recommended repairs, and 21% are skipping scheduled services, creating significant challenges for workshop conversion rates. 

Among drivers who declined urgent (‘red’) work this year, 46% said they couldn’t afford it and 33% said the work itself was too expensive. 

With more cost-pressured drivers keeping cars longer (91%) and shifting towards independents for lower-cost work (59%), the pressure on dealership aftersales retention continues to intensify. 

“Cost is still a critical decision factor for motorists and it’s worrying that so many drivers are having to leave urgent repairs unfinished because of affordability concerns,” said Jack Allman, CCO and Co-Founder at Bumper.  

“These figures underline the need for greater support to help drivers manage repair costs and get back on the road as swiftly and safely as possible. Dealerships must continue to balance competitive pricing with value-led propositions, transparent cost structures and flexible payment options to help drivers say yes to necessary work.” 

Most drivers leave workshops with urgent repairs incomplete as affordability pressures persist, Bumper report reveals

Most drivers leave workshops with urgent repairs incomplete as affordability pressures persist

The government has announced an increase in its EV charge point grant for renters, flat owners, businesses and households without a driveway. 

Until March 2027, drivers could save half the typical cost of an EV charger installation with the government’s grant, which has now increased from £350 to £500. 

The change will allow EV owners to access cheaper electricity rates at home or at work for as little as 2p per mile – the equivalent of Birmingham to London for £3.50. 

Increased access to charging at homes and businesses is part of a wider plan to gear drivers up for the upcoming “EV revolution”.  

The latest figures show access to domestic charging can save EV owners up to £1,400, compared with standard petrol vehicles. 

Schools will be eligible for a grant of up to £2,000 per socket, helping to build on the 3,700 sockets already installed. 

Another government scheme aimed at increasing adoption, the £2 million Electric Car Grant, has previously helped 55,000 drivers save thousands when purchasing a new electric vehicle. 

Aviation, Maritime and Decarbonisation Minister, Keir Mather said:  

“We’re taking action to make EV ownership the affordable choice for everyone – not just those with driveways. Bigger grants mean families, flat owners, renters and small businesses can now install a charger for almost half the usual cost, with home charging costing as little as 2p a mile. 

“Combined with our Electric Car Grant which has saved over 55,000 drivers thousands off the price of a new EV whilst boosting sales for carmakers, and record funding for our national public charging network, we’re backing the EV revolution for drivers, businesses, and industry.” 

Drivers could save half the cost of EV charger installation with new government grant boost

Grant boost could save half the cost of EV charger install

FT1000: Europe’s Fastest-Growing Companies 2026

The automotive fintech ranks at number 36 in the Fintech, Financial Services & Insurance category of the Financial Times’ prestigious list of Europe’s fastest-growing companies – and number 328 overall.

The inclusion comes after a year of impressive growth for Bumper, which last year expanded its suite of payment products with the launch of the UK’s first payments orchestration platform built for automotive, 

. Bumper Pro enables dealerships to combine in-store and online payments into a single platform – simplifying payments management, lowering costs and giving clearer visibility into sales and aftersales performance.

James Jackson, CEO and Co-Founder at Bumper

, said: “It’s an honour to be listed in the FT1000 for the sixth year in a row. The ranking follows another remarkable year of growth for Bumper – we surpassed £1.5bn in GMV, raised a further £8 million in funding and launched our new payments orchestration platform, Bumper Pro. We have ambitious plans for the year ahead and look forward to supporting even more dealerships to drive operational efficiency and reduce financial friction for their customers.”

Bumper named amongst Europe’s fastest growing companies

From 1 April 2026, some UK drivers will see an increase in Vehicle Excise Duty (VED), commonly known as road tax. 

The hike mainly affects high-emission petrol and diesel vehicles, as well as certain luxury and performance models.

Not all cars are affected. Most everyday cars will see smaller changes, while electric vehicles face updated fees for the first year.

Vehicle tax is based on CO₂ emissions, fuel type, and the vehicle’s list price.

Thinking about buying an EV? Electric cars will pay a flat first-year VED of £10. 

Cars costing over £50,000 (EVs) or £40,000 (petrol/diesel) are subject to the expensive car supplement of £425 per year for five years from year two of registration.

Cars most affected by tax changes in 2026

59 models fall into the highest VED band (over 255g/km CO₂). These are set to be hit with a £5,690 charge in the first year of ownership.

The vehicles that are mainly affected are luxury SUVs and performance cars, such as the following examples.

Owners of these cars will see a significant first-year VED increase. Standard annual rates apply from year two, unless the vehicle is over the luxury threshold.

See how the changes compare to 2025’s data.

Electric cars are no longer fully exempt from VED. Here’s a quick breakdown of what you’ll have to pay and when.

A new pay-per-mile scheme is expected in 2028, though nothing is confirmed yet.

Drivers will pay 3p per mile for EVs and 1.5p per mile for plug-in hybrids. Further guidance on administration and mileage reporting will be published closer to the rollout.

How car tax rises in 2026 will affect UK drivers

The 2026 car tax increase will hit owners of high-emission and luxury vehicles the hardest. 

To see how much you’ll pay, check your car’s CO₂ emissions and its list price, and remember that cars with powerful engines or high emissions will face higher first-year VED, while everyday models will see smaller increases. 

Choosing a more efficient petrol or diesel car (or an electric vehicle) can help reduce these costs. 

Planning ahead ensures you won’t be caught out by higher charges in April!

Knowing your car tax band can help you estimate prices.

Cars registered from 1 April 2017 pay a flat annual rate, with an extra luxury car tax for vehicles costing over £40,000 (£50,000 for electric cars). 

Older cars, registered between 1 March 2001 and 31 March 2017, are taxed according to CO₂ bands. Simply, the cleaner your car emissions-wise, the lower the tax. 

To check your band, you’ll need your car’s registration year, fuel type, and CO₂ emissions, which you can find in your V5C logbook. Or you can use the

Fuel costs will also change gradually in 2026. 

The 5p-per-litre fuel duty freeze runs until 31 August, after which it rises by 1p in September, 2p in December, and another 2p in March 2027. 

Petrol stations must now report price changes within 30 minutes via the new Fuel Finder scheme, helping curb sudden spikes. 

Drivers could save 1 to 6p per litre by closely monitoring prices.

If you use an electric company car, your Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) tax will rise slightly in 2026. 

From 6 April, BiK rates will increase from 3% to 4%, affecting both employees and employers. 

While still lower than petrol or diesel alternatives, it’s worth factoring this change into tax planning for EVs provided through your workplace.

London’s daily congestion charge is now £18. Electric vehicles are no longer fully exempt, but Auto Pay users receive a 25% discount, reducing the fee to £13.50. 

If you drive in the city regularly, this update could affect your daily commuting costs. Budgeting for these charges as early as possible ensures the new rules do not catch you out!

Other regulatory and tech updates to expect in 2026

2026 brings several updates for drivers, such as:

Staying informed on these changes helps drivers remain compliant and take advantage of new technologies. If anything else occurs, you’ll find the latest information on the Bumper blog.

The April 2026 VED changes continue the UK’s focus on reducing emissions through higher cost penalties.

High-emission petrol and diesel cars face higher first-year charges, while electric vehicles now contribute to road tax for the first time. So, it's a great time to prepare and even consider a more eco-friendly car.

Read more about owning a vehicle in the UK on the Bumper blog.

Staying informed can help you budget effectively and choose vehicles that minimise road tax costs. 

 to split the cost of last-minute repairs into interest-free instalments with Bumper. 

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

Car Tax Rises in 2026: What to Expect

The government has started trialling new digital driving licenses with the Government Digital Services (GDS) and DVLA. 

Currently being tested internally with small numbers of GDS and DVLA staff, the trial could see the rollout of a digital license in the GOV.UK One Login app later in 2026. 

The digital license will contain the same information as your license – name, photo, license number, date of birth, address, expiry date and driving entitlements. Physical cards will remain valid for drivers who choose them until at least 2030. 

The trial is part of a broader ‘GOV.UK Wallet initiative’, aimed at making all identity documents digital. 

Science Secretary, Peter Kyle, said the digital wallet “opens huge opportunities to make interacting with public services much easier by putting people in control of their own data.” 

New tech like the digital wallet is expected to save £45 billion in efficiency savings, according to a government report. 

Government’s new digital driving licence could save billions 

Industry news and key updates affecting drivers and dealers.

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