What are your bad driving habits? These simple mistakes cost Brits up to £5,000 in car repair bills
MOST drivers will admit they are guilty of having a few regular bad habits out on the road.
But plenty of us will be making a number of driving mistakes that could end up costing thousands of pounds in repair bills.
Recent advice from the AA Garage Guide has broken down the most common errors British motorists make behind the wheel, and has warned of the hefty repair bills that can follow.
From ignoring warning lights to putting the right amount of air in your tyres, failing to understand how your car works can be costly.
Read on to see if you are guilty of these driving mishaps, and whether you could be facing an expensive trip to the mechanics in the near future.
Not checking tyre pressures - £250
It is always important to ensure that your tyres are inflated to the recommended level, as this can affect your handling of the car or lead to potential punctures.
Under inflated tyres will also wear out quickly, leaving you with non-roadworthy wheels.
New tyres can cost up to £250 each, so a full set will really leave a dent in your wallet.
Last-minute braking - £300
We might not always plan to brake suddenly, but regularly braking late will increase the wear on your brakes and tyres.
Slamming your foot down hard on the brake will burn away the pads faster, and could lead to disc damage or even break failure.
If you need this kind of repair, you will be forking out anywhere between £150-£300 for the bill.
Missing service intervals - £5,000
The biggest danger with failing to have your car serviced regularly is the risk to the engine.
With so many different elements that can go wrong, if one section of the engine isn't firing properly, it can destroy the entire mechanism.
Having your motor checked over at the recommended intervals by a professional could mean you avoid having to pay up to £5,000 to replace the engine.
Driving in the wrong gear - £850
Not selecting the right gear can do more than just jolt you around and increase your revs.
If you leave your car in a low gear while accelerating at high speeds, the added revs can do long-term damage to your gearbox and engine.
Similarly, driving slowly with your car in a high gear can put unnecessary strain on your motor.
If the damage is enough to wear out your gearbox entirely, it will cost you around £850 to replace in a manual car - and significantly more in an automatic one.
Driving through potholes - £35
It seems like common sense to avoid potholes, but if you aren't paying attention and do happen to hit one, the resulting damage can be an irritating repair bill.
The impact of a pothole is likely to knock your steering out of alignment, and while this may only be around £35 to repair, the inconvenience of having to take your car into the garage is just as costly on your time.
Overloading - £300
Drivers often forget that their car actually has a weight limit, including passengers and luggage.
You will need to check your handbook to find out the safe limit for your vehicle before loading up for a big road trip.
Overloading your car can do damage to your wheels and tyres, and is also against the law.
If you are caught by police with an overloaded vehicle, you will be fined up to £300 and given three penalty points.
Neglecting warning signs - £5,000
At least half of the British driving population aren't able to identify what all the symbols on their car's dashboard mean - and it could be extremely costly.
Ignoring warning signs could leave you in a potentially dangerous situation if your motor cuts out while you are driving.
Anything that appears red on your dashboard usually means you need to stop and turn the car off immediately, particularly if it is warning about an oil or engine problem.
Ignoring these lights could cost you your engine's life, and charge you up top £5,000 for a new one.
Riding the clutch - £450
One of the most common mistakes among new manual drivers is riding the clutch, where the driver doesn't take their foot off the clutch pedal entirely after changing gear, leaving it slightly engaged.
This will drastically shorten the life of your clutch, and see you paying up to £450 for a new one much sooner than necessary.
YOUR GUIDE TO CAR MAINTENANCE
Leaving lights on - £200
It doesn't take an expert to work out that leaving your lights on will churn through your battery power.
Be sure to check your manual to see if your car's lights turn off automatically when you turn off the engine.
If they don't and you forget to switch them off, you could kill your battery, which will cost as much as £200 to replace.