How much your bad driving habits will cost you: From slamming your doors to avoiding the car wash

Whether you drive a Bentley Continental or a Ford Fiesta, all car owners know that feeling of sinking when you realize it’s time for a trip to the mechanic.

More than 10 million British motorists are at risk of more than £500 worth of damage to their cars, new research has found.

Bad driving habits can lead to high repair bills for even the smallest things – and the list of dents and bumps most likely to bring your vehicle into the shop has been revealed.

From not regularly cleaning the exterior to slamming doors, typical day-to-day actions can wreak havoc over time – adding up to your bill by the hundreds.

Hitting potholes and speed bumps can also cause a number of different problems, as can shifting gears to reduce speed or hitting the clutch.

Riding the clutch is another costly mistake as replacing the pedal can cost you a whopping £568.65 (file image)

The most common bad habits are avoiding the car wash and resting one hand on the gear lever. Research by Comparethemarket shows that more than 18 million Britons are unaware that these habits can cause harm.

Slamming the doors can also cause damage to a car’s body – something to be aware of even after a stressful day at work.

Replacing the bodywork costs £353.47 on average, draining the wallet, while wear and tear on a shift fork in the gear lever costs £116.64.

Potholes are the bane of many motorists’ lives, and hitting them can be a costly mistake. Replacing tires costs £292.27 and repairing alloy wheels can add up to £135, while repairing an exhaust adds a further £105.77 to the total.

Delaying a trip to fill up can damage your fuel pump, the experts say, and replacing a fuel pump is very expensive, costing £500.

Riding the clutch will result in a bill of £568.65, the cost of replacing the pedal.

And not using antifreeze or engine coolant in winter is even more expensive, as repairing a head gasket can cost £585.18.

Breaking late can also cause expensive wear and tear as replacing worn pads can cost you up to £316.89.

But it’s possible to change your habits for the better with a little at-home car maintenance.

Julie Daniels, a car insurance expert, said: ‘It’s important to be aware of any bad driving habits you’ve picked up, and the impact they can have, to ensure you don’t unknowingly cause damage to your car.

‘If you do have to book your car in for a repair, you may wonder whether it is worth doing this through your car insurance.

Postponing a ride to fill up can damage your fuel pump, say the experts, and replacing a fuel pump is very expensive (file image)

Failure to use antifreeze or engine coolant in winter could cost motorists up to £600 in damage (file image)

“If the repair doesn’t cost much more than your deductible, it might be better to pay for the damage yourself and keep your no-claims discount, because a claim can often increase your car insurance premium.”

Expert mechanic Ron Podrasky said, “One of the worst driving habits is stalling aggressively when driving fast. This can lead to excessive brake wear and vitrification of the rotors, making the brakes less effective.

“Not using the transmission to slow the vehicle also increases wear on the braking components.

“I would advise drivers to perform the maintenance recommended by the manufacturer at the recommended intervals to keep their vehicles in the best possible condition.

‘Wash and if possible the outside in wax to keep the paint intact. And always react to strange noises or abnormal performance by having the car checked by a mechanic.’