Splitit and 1stMILE are partnering to introduce flexible payment options at the automotive repair shop counter, enabling customers to spread costs while supporting repair shops’ cash flow amid rising emergency expenses.
1stMILE and Splitit are joining forces to bring point-of-sale instalment payments to automotive repair and maintenance customers, in a move aimed at helping drivers handle surprise bills without delaying essential work.
The companies said the programme, branded 1stMILE Buy Now, Pay Later powered by Splitit, will allow eligible customers to divide repair and maintenance charges into monthly payments using a credit card they already own. The service is set to begin in thousands of automotive service markets before expanding across 1stMILE’s network of more than 17,000 partner shops nationwide.
The pitch is straightforward: customers get more breathing room at the till, while repair shops get paid in full upfront. Splitit said the experience is designed to work through the payment terminal, with no separate loan application, credit check or approval process. 1stMILE said the integration adds another layer to its platform, which combines financing, loyalty and protection tools for the automotive aftermarket.
The timing reflects a wider problem for repair businesses. PYMNTS Intelligence recently found that automotive repairs are the most common emergency purchase, with a median spend of $574, while many consumers still worry they cannot absorb an unexpected expense. That tension often leads people to defer or decline necessary work, a pattern that can hurt both vehicle safety and shop revenue.
Ran Landau, chief technology officer at Splitit, said auto-related purchases are a clear example of where card-linked instalments can solve a practical problem, adding that the rollout marks one of the largest point-of-sale instalment launches of its kind. Rob Murphy, vice president of credit services at 1stMILE, said consumers now expect payment flexibility in vehicle maintenance and repair as much as in other parts of their financial lives.
The partnership also underlines how some payment firms are trying to distance themselves from more traditional buy now, pay later products, which often require a new account or fresh underwriting. Splitit’s model uses existing credit lines instead, which the company says can support higher approval rates and preserve the shopper’s current card relationship. For 1stMILE’s lending partners, the arrangement may also help drive more card use and engagement without asking customers to adopt another payment product.
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