Five terrible habits that could be killing your car and costing you £1,000s – including paint protection mishap

FIVE terrible habits could be killing your car and costing you thousands, experts have revealed.

You could be running your motor and racking up repair bills without realising – even when you take steps to protect it.

The team at Autocar put together a list of some of the worst offenders, including how trying to save your paintwork could do more damage than good.

The roundup included some basic things like ignoring regular maintenance and dashboard warning lights or leaving the car sitting for too long.

However, there were also some more niche entries which could catch Brits out if they’re not careful.

Cutting Corners

It’s tempting to try and save money on small repairs but cheap parts can be a hindrance in the long run.

While they plug a gap, the budget options are often lower-quality and won’t last as long, meaning you have to shell out a little less a lot more frequently to stay on the road.

This is especially important when it comes to safety-critical components like brakes so going to a good garage and opting for the slightly pricier replacement is always a better idea in the long run.

Silly Shifting

The three-point turn is one of the most basic manoeuvres new drivers learn but an often-ignored error when carrying it out could turn your motor into a money pit.

When turning around, or doing anything that involves switching between reverse and forward gears, most will just shift without a care.

However, you should never shift into reverse while the car is still moving forward and vice versa, even if it does save a couple of seconds.

Doing so can cause severe damage to your gearbox, including wearing out the gear teeth and stressing the transmission.

Always wait until the car has come to a dead stop before making the switch.

Mod Mayhem

Plenty of Brits love to modify their cars, whether to make them go a bit faster or just jazz up their look a little bit.

But the experts warned that too many mods can hurt your chances of selling it down the line.

Small changes like new alloys or an upgraded sound system can boost the price, but beware any visible stylistic changes or significant mechanical configuration.

You may find that not as many potential buyers as you imagine love your changes and you might have to knock some zeroes off the asking price.

Clutch Rider

Another easy way to wear out your gearbox is to ride your clutch pedal when not changing gears.

Using the pedal to coast along regularly or even just resting your foot on it can have damaging effects in the long run.

The clutch relies on powerful springs which, when you press the pedal, pull sets of metal plates apart from one another.

Even relatively little pressure on the foot peg can engage these springs, causing them to wear out more quickly.

Likewise, you shouldn’t leave your hand on the gear stick once you’ve shifted or you risk putting extra strain on the sliding gear cog it’s attached to.

Cover Chaos

Most of the expert tips concern neglecting or mistreating your car in some way, but trying to keep it protected can also have unintended consequences.

Many proud car owners keep their prized possessions under a cover to try and reduce its exposure to the weather and prevent the paintwork from damage.

However, doing so all the time can lead to a true car-killer of a problem.

Covers trap in moisture so it’s always a good idea to give the car a bit of fresh air on a regular basis.

Otherwise, you could see damp start to spread and, even worse, rust springing up faster just like if it was kept in a damp garage.