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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, the new name for Auto Service Finance, 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.

 

 

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