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Halfords Cycle2Work VS DASH*
A VOUCHER-FREE ALTERNATIVE TO HALFORDS CYCLE2WORK
DASH is a Cycle to Work provider and a direct alternative to Halfords Cycle2Work. Both let employees save 28%–47% on bikes and equipment through salary sacrifice, but DASH replaces Letters of Collection with a single online store, adds monthly subscriptions and bike-share access, and carries no 15% retailer admin fee. There are no vouchers, no upfront employer funding, and setup takes under 15 minutes.
~1,500 Retailers
Halfords Cycle2Work partnered retailers
Halfords Cycle2Work works with around 1,500 partnered retailers. DASH places no restrictions on where employees shop and can facilitate orders with any UK bike shop, of which there are over 3,900.
3,900+ Retailers**
DASH can facilitate any UK retailer
Leading brands are switching to DASH
Why choose DASH over Halfords Cycle2Work?
Companies switch from Cycle2Work to DASH for three reasons: a flexible, voucher-free experience for employees; less admin and no upfront cost for employers; and bike-share access through DASH Flex. Here's how each one works.
A better employee experience
DASH replaces Letters of Collection with a single online store of 140,000+ products, the UK's largest cycling catalogue. Employees shop across any UK retailer, order in minutes and have gear delivered directly, instead of taking a voucher to one shop and spending it in a single go.
No admin fees, no upfront cost
Many bike shops charge an admin fee of around 15% to employees using the Halfords scheme, eroding their tax savings. DASH charges employees no such fee, needs no upfront employer funding or finance agreements, and takes under 15 minutes to set up.
Bike-share with DASH Flex
Halfords Cycle2Work offers purchases only, so no subscriptions or bike share. DASH Flex opens up salary sacrifice access to bike share providers such as Lime, Forest and Voi on short-term rolling contracts, so employees can switch as their needs change.
DASH Vs Halfords Cycle2Work Comparison Table
DASH
Halfords (Cycle2Work)
Voucher-free (no Letters of Collection)
Yes
No
Bike & equipment purchases
Yes
Yes
Flexible bike & e-bike subscriptions
Yes
No
Flexible bike share (Forest, Beryl etc)
Yes
No
Purchase through any UK retailer
Yes
No
Seamlessly order across retailers
Yes
No
Order more than once a year
Yes
No
Largest online bike catalogue in UK
*
Yes
No
No retailer admin fee (~15%) to employees
Yes
No
Live product pricing & availability
Yes
No
No upfront employer funding required
Yes
No
Reduced employer admin burden
Yes
No
No ‘end of hire’ fees
Yes
Yes
Monthly rolling contracts
Yes
No
Theft Cover included with subscription
Yes
No
Halfords (Cycle2Work) operates as both a scheme provider and a bicycle retailer. That gives extra discounts on Halfords products, but employees wanting items Halfords doesn't stock face additional admin, and many bike shops charge a fee of around 15% to accept the voucher. Employees have access to the Halfords and Tredz catalogues plus around 1,000 partner retailers, against DASH's 140,000+ products across any UK retailer.
Why Top Companies are Switching to DASH
Comparing employee experiences
Flexibility: DASH offers subscriptions with monthly flexibility, unlike Cycle2Work's purchase-only voucher model.
Freedom: With DASH employees shop as often as they like across multiple stores. Cycle2Work employees must spend a single Letter of Collection at one retailer, in one go and are usually limited to once a year.
No hidden fees: DASH charges employees no admin fee. Many shops add around 15% to Halfords-scheme orders, eating into the tax saving.
More products, more choice
More Choice: DASH has the UK’s largest cycling catalogue with savings of up to 80%.
Delivery: Skip the voucher-and-collection wait, DASH delivers gear directly to employees.
Lime & more: Access bike-share providers like Lime, not available on Cycle2Work.
Retailers: DASH can facilitate shopping with any retailer in the UK.
Speedy enrolment. Automated deductions.
Zero HR headaches.
Launch in under 15 minutes and join top companies switching to DASH.
A modern, streamlined employer experience
Automation: Replace Cycle2Work's voucher workflow with DASH's fully automated payroll deductions.
Fewer Questions: A shopping-style experience means fewer employee queries reaching HR.
Less admin. No upfront funding.
Funding: Unlike Cycle2Work, which requires you to fund employee orders upfront, DASH needs no upfront payment or financing.
Effortless Accounting: No waiting on invoices before an employee gets their bike.
Find out more about how DASH can revitalise your cycle to work scheme
Have a question?
See our FAQs or speak to an expert
What is the difference between DASH and Halfords Cycle2Work?
The main difference is that DASH is voucher-free and Halfords Cycle2Work is voucher-based. With Halfords, employees receive a Letter of Collection and spend it in one go at a single retailer. With DASH, employees shop online across any UK retailer, order more than once a year, and can also use bike subscriptions and bike-share providers such as Lime and Forest, none of which Cycle2Work offers.
Why is DASH better than Halfords Cycle2Work?
DASH combines bike and accessory purchases, flexible bike and e-bike subscriptions, and bike-share providers on a single online platform, whereas Cycle2Work offers purchases only. DASH has the UK's largest cycling catalogue (140,000+ products) and requires no vouchers, no upfront employer funding and no 15% retailer admin fee that many shops add to Halfords-scheme orders.
What is a Letter of Collection?
It's the voucher used by Halfords Cycle2Work. Employees apply for it, then take it to a single retailer and spend the full amount in one go. DASH removes this step entirely as employees simply shop online and check out.
How much will DASH cost my business?
Nothing. There are no setup costs or fixed fees, and no requirement to pay upfront or enter financing to cover employee orders, DASH takes care of that. Whether you pay upfront or monthly, and whether or not you pass on employer NI savings, DASH should run at a surplus or be completely cost neutral.
How much will my employees save with DASH?
Typically between 28% and 47%, depending on their income tax band. If an item is on sale, total savings can exceed 80%. And unlike the Halfords scheme, there's no 15% retailer admin fee eroding that saving.
How do I switch from Cycle2Work to DASH?
Switching takes around 15 minutes, with no upfront cost or finance agreement. Book a demo or complete onboarding, and our team sets up your account, configures payroll and enrols employees. You can replace your current scheme or run DASH alongside it.
I already have a Cycle to Work scheme, can I still use DASH?
Yes. DASH does everything other schemes do and more, and is happy to run alongside your existing provider to give employees more choice and flexibility.
*Comparison based on publicly listed information from major UK Cycle to Work schemes.
**Halfords retailer network information taken from Reward Gateway.
Savings of 28%–47% depend on the employee's income tax band and savings over 80% apply to discounted items. The 15% figure refers to admin fees charged by some bike shops to employees using the Halfords Cycle2Work scheme. Figures should be reviewed against current provider terms before publication.
**Halfords retailer network information taken from Reward Gateway.
Savings of 28%–47% depend on the employee's income tax band and savings over 80% apply to discounted items. The 15% figure refers to admin fees charged by some bike shops to employees using the Halfords Cycle2Work scheme. Figures should be reviewed against current provider terms before publication.