Every car will suffer from wear and tear over the years, but you should know that the way you drive can affect the rate at which certain parts of the vehicle wear. This means that there are always steps that you can take to limit wear and tear, which should keep your car in a better condition and prolong its life.

Practice Smooth Gear Changes

The majority of wear and tear comes from the use of the gearbox and the clutch, so it is important that you use these properly and practice smooth gear changes. Grinding a gearbox through clutch riding, clunky changes and using the wrong gear are all common mistakes that can lead to expensive repairs.

Avoid Harsh Braking & Acceleration

Car tyres will naturally wear down over time, but this will happen much faster if you accelerate and brake harshly. This can wear down the brake pads and the tread depth, which means that you may need new tyres for your car sooner rather than later. Instead, try to accelerate and brake as gently as you can to prolong the life of your tyres.

Reduce Speed Around Potholes & Speed Bumps

Have you ever driven over a pothole at full speed and felt your car undercarriage hit the surface? This is a horrible feeling and one that can do significant damage to the body of the car. This is why you should always reduce your speed around both potholes and speed bumps to protect the undercarriage.

Pay Attention to Warning Lights

You should never ignore the warning lights that come up on your dashboard and get any problem looked at as soon as possible. Continuing to drive when there is a problem can result in serious issues that could cost you a fortune. You should familiarise yourself with what all of the warning lights mean if you do not know – this information should be located in the owner’s manual.

Keep Up with Maintenance

In addition to the way that you drive, you also need to make sure that you know how to maintain your car. You should get into the habit of doing your own basic maintenance tasks, including topping up the types and checking the tread depth, topping up fluids and changing the engine oil. You should also stick to your car service schedule and MOT so that any problems can be detected and rectified.

This post should help you to prevent wear and tear and prolong the life of your vehicle. Cars will always gradually suffer from wear and tear, but there is a lot that you can do to limit this and keep your car in good condition.