Bad driving habits can shorten the life of your car. If you don’t recognize or avoid these habits, they could lead to permanent effects on your vehicle. Instead of taking your car to the local auto repair shop, be aware of these three driving habits to avoid. 

How Do Drivers Damage Their Vehicles?

1. Driving on Low Gas

Driving a vehicle until it’s nearly out of gas could overheat your fuel pump. The fuel pump is located in the fuel tank. Filling the tank cools it, which is integral to keeping your car in optimal working condition. Overheating becomes a bigger problem in the summer, but even in the winter, too much heat can still cause your vehicle to wear out more quickly. Avoid this by keeping your fuel tank at least half-full. 

2. Speeding Over Bumps and Holes

Slamming into potholes and speeding over speed bumps will damage the car’s steering, alignment, and suspension. Always check ahead of your vehicle for large holes or cracks in the road, and switch to the other lane if possible. If an unavoidable speed bump or potholes is coming up, approach it slowly to minimize the potential damage to your vehicle.

3. Shifting to Or From Reverse Without Stopping

There are many shortcuts we pick up as we become mature drivers, but some of them put you in the fast lane to the auto repair shop. Switching to or from reverse while your car is still moving will damage your transmission. Although your transmission is designed to shift gears, it isn’t meant to do so while driving. Come to a complete stop before switching to reverse or switching back to drive.

If any of the above driving habits have damaged a part of your car, take it to Safe Auto Service. This ASE-certified auto repair shop in Meriden, CT, has skilled technicians that offer quality maintenance on all vehicles, including wheel alignment, oil changes, engine tune-ups, and more. Visit their website to view their full list of services or call (203) 237-4311 to make an appointment today.