Overlooked Habits That Might Be Secretly Damaging Your Car

It’s always a good idea to take care of your vehicle. You want to ensure that it runs smoothly and looks good on the outside. In addition, maintaining your car ensures that you have safe, reliable transportation that won’t cost you a lot of money in repairs. Unfortunately, several overlooked habits might secretly be damaging your car in ways you don’t realize.

1. Overloading Your Vehicle

A common mistake that people make with their vehicles is overloading them and exceeding the weight limit. It’s far too easy to believe that if it fits in the car, it’s good to go, but that’s generally not the case. Loading too much weight into your car when you’re moving, traveling for the holidays, or getting some supplies from the hardware store puts a lot of strain on your suspension, tires, and brakes. In addition, an overloaded vehicle is often seen as a driver error, so if you get into an accident with an overburdened car, your insurance may not cover the damages.

2. Hitting Potholes and Bumps Too Hard

A commonly overlooked habit that might be secretly damaging your car is not slowing down enough when coming up on potholes or speed bumps. At best, hitting these things too hard can create a mildly uncomfortable bump for you. At worst, you risk damaging your suspension and alignment system. It may even knock off your muffler or damage your rear bumper. It’s best to slow down when going over bumps or dips and drive around potholes whenever possible.

3. Neglecting Cleaning

Many of us should clean our cars more often. You can’t rely on rain to get the job done, so you should take it through a car wash or dig out the hose and sponges at home. Leaving dirt, grime, bird droppings, and other irritants on your vehicle can damage the clear coat. A diminished clear coat allows exterior elements to eat away at the paint and weaken the overall body of your vehicle. This weakened state can make things less safe if you get into an accident, so it’s a good idea to keep things clean. It’s not only safer, but your vehicle will look a lot nicer too.

For more information on keeping your car in good condition, trust the experts at River North Collision Repair. We’ve got years of experience and are trained professionals in paintless bumper repair in Chicago. Stop by one of our shops and see what auto body services we have to offer. For any specific questions, comments, or concerns, don’t hesitate to contact us anytime or check out our helpful blogs to see if we have the immediate answers to your query.