Are These Bad Driving Habits Damaging Your Car?

Since we passed our driving tests, we’ve naturally fallen into our one way of driving, which should, of course, be a safe one. But did you know that there are some common driving habits that actually cause damage to your car? In this article we reveal the most common driving habits that damage your car which we can all claimed to have executed at some point in our lives! But which if these have you fallen foul of? Is it driving too fast over speed bumps or accidentally hitting that pothole on the way to work - read on to find out more. 

The most common driving habits damaging your car

1. Driving fast over speed bumps

We get it, you’ve got places to be, but one place you’ll be heading to if you go over speed bumps too fast is your local repair centre. Designed specifically to slow you down, speed bumps have been carefully placed for a reason — to reduce the risk of speed-based accidents. Driving over a speed bump too fast can cause significant damage to the underneath of your car - particularly if your car is low to the ground. 

2. Hitting potholes

We’ve got something of a pothole pandemic on our hands, so unfortunately, you can’t go far without meeting one. However, hitting one, whether unintentionally or intentionally, could end up costing you a fair amount in repairs. From buckled alloys to punctured tyres, not to mention tracking what’s all out of whack, pothole damage is responsible for almost a third of all vehicle damage on UK roads. 

3. Driving with low fuel in the tank

It happens to us all, but did you know how damaging it can be to drive with low fuel levels in the tank? Running your car on low fuel risks loosening the sediment in the bottom of the tank, causing grief for the filter and the fuel pump. In general, you should refill your fuel tank before it drops below a quarter full.

4. Braking late

We’re not talking about the emergency stops that you only do occasionally (but that can be lifesaving), but consistently late braking. It puts a strain on your brake pads and discs! This can be dangerous as well as costly, so leave plenty of time to respond to hazards accordingly, so that you have plenty of time to brake when you need to. 

5. Driving an overloaded car

Despite modern cars getting bigger, you still shouldn’t carry excessively heavy loads. Your vehicle’s owner’s manual should tell you what its maximum weight capacity is; anything over that will put stress on the brakes, accelerator and suspension system. 

6. Excessive revving

If you’re in the habit of revving your engine to warm up the car (or maybe you think it just sounds good), you don’t need to do this — it could be adding wear and tear to your vehicle’s motor! Modern cars are ready to drive as soon as the engine is turned on.

7. Ignoring warning lights

We know, we know: warning lights mean expense. However, that expense won’t go away on its own, and the longer you leave it, the more damage that the issue is doing. This leads to guess what — more expense! 

8. Resting your hand on the gearstick

This is an odd one but, believe it or not, keeping your hand continually rested on the gear stick can cause damage to your vehicle — as well as being really bad practice when you’re driving. By resting your hand on the gear stick for longer than the standard gear change, you’re putting pressure on other elements that are designed to come into play for a short period of time only. 

9. Riding the clutch

Riding the clutch involves failing to lift your foot off the clutch pedal after changing gears. This means that the car will overrev and result in excessive wear and tear of the clutch plate — and clutches aren’t cheap!