A spokesperson said : “ No driver is perfect , and we ’ re all probably guilty of doing one or two of these things from time to time . But problems arise when these habits go on and on , and aren ’ t nipped in the bud .

“ Most families rely on their vehicles to get by in their day-today lives , so anything you can do to protect its mechanics will save you having to fork out for hefty repair bills sooner than necessary .”

Riding the clutch or ‘ cruising ’ is a really bad _habit

1 . Resting your hand on the gear stick

As well as being a potentially dangerous way to drive , resting your hand on the gear stick could also damage your car in the long run . If you do this a lot , you may be applying pressure to the selector fork or other internal parts of the gearbox without even realising it . Over time , this could cause these components to wear out much quicker than they should . This can lead to noisy gears , or the inability to select a gear properly and smoothly .

2 . Riding the brakes

Keeping your foot on the brake for too long causes the braking system to get too hot , in turn damaging it and accelerating the usual wear and tear . Instead , move down the gears to allow the car to slow itself , and use the brake only when necessary , like when you ’ re coming to a complete stop .

3 . Cruising

Riding the clutch or ‘ cruising ’ is a really bad habit . Not only does it reduce the amount of control you have over your vehicle , but it also speeds up the natural wear and tear of your clutch , so you ’ ll probably have to pay to get it replaced more frequently than should be the case .

4 . Revving the engine when cold

While parked overnight the oil in your engine will eventually settle at the lowest point it can , so when you get in your car the next morning and start revving the engine wildly without giving it time to properly circulate the oil , there can be metal on metal friction that damages the components .

5 . Overloading your vehicle

Overloading your vehicle places unnecessary strain on the brakes and suspension , increases fuel consumption and probably exhaust emissions too . So , don ’ t keep anything in your car that doesn ’ t need to be in there .

6 . Flooring the accelerator in a high gear

Accelerating at low revs , or in too high a gear , means the engine is working harder . This also means that it ’ s being put under unnecessary strain . Change down a gear and allow to revs to rise gradually before changing up . This is particularly relevant when carrying heavy loads or when climbing hills .

7 . Hitting potholes and speed bumps

Potholes are the bane of most driver ’ s lives , but you really should pay attention and take care not to hit any . When you hit a pothole , the impact can cause buckled wheels , lumps in the tyre , and even cracked alloys . It can also upset the tracking and wheel balance .

8 . Late braking

It is far better to slow your vehicle smoothly and gently , than to brake harshly at the last minute . Doing the latter places huge strains on the brakes , wearing out the pads and discs much faster - both of which aren ’ t exactly cheap to replace !

LeaseVan . co . uk