{"id":3203,"date":"2023-02-08T21:52:55","date_gmt":"2023-02-09T03:52:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/going-places.thegeneral.com\/how-to-make-your-car-last-longer\/"},"modified":"2025-08-27T10:04:22","modified_gmt":"2025-08-27T15:04:22","slug":"how-to-make-your-car-last-longer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thegeneral.com\/going-places\/blog\/car-and-driving-basics\/how-to-make-your-car-last-longer\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Take Care of Your Car So It Lasts Longer"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">You sink a lot of money into your car, so it\u2019s only natural that you want to protect your investment. While all cars are subjected to wear and tear, keeping your car well-maintained can prolong its life. Help your car last well over the 100,000-mile mark and save the money that would go towards a new vehicle with these pro tips.&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:264,&quot;469777462&quot;:[900],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[1]}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-drive-safely\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Drive Safely<\/span><\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Think twice before racing the person next to you or opening your windows and speeding down the highway. While these activities may feel exhilarating in the moment, they can shorten your car\u2019s lifespan (and cause an accident). Hitting the brakes quickly can wear down your brake pads, use extra fuel, and place undue stress on parts of your car. Accelerating quickly can weaken your engine prematurely, especially in cold weather. Besides, there\u2019s incentive to drive safely as most car insurance companies offer <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thegeneral.com\/blog\/how-to-clear-your-driving-record-to-save-on-car-insurance\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">safe driver discounts<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">.&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:264,&quot;469777462&quot;:[900],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[1]}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-read-the-owner-s-manual-nbsp-nbsp-nbsp\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Read the Owner\u2019s Manual<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:264,&quot;469777462&quot;:[900],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[1]}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">If you haven\u2019t already, read your owner\u2019s manual from front to back. It contains everything you need to know about your car\u2019s safety features and maintenance needs. In addition, you\u2019ll learn how to customize your vehicle and identify what needs fixing and when. Essentially, the manual will help you preserve your vehicle.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:264,&quot;469777462&quot;:[900],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[1]}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-clean-your-car\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Clean Your Car<\/span><\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Despite popular beliefs, cleaning your car isn\u2019t just about outward appearances. Rust, dirt, and other debris can harm your vehicle over time and lower its <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thegeneral.com\/blog\/how-to-trade-in-your-car\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">resale value<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">. Lingering dirt can harm your car\u2019s paint job, which can eventually harm the body underneath. Experts recommend giving your car a thorough wash and underbody rinse regularly. How often you should wash your car depends on where you live, local weather, where you park, etc. Overall, once or twice a month should suffice.&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:264,&quot;469777462&quot;:[900],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[1]}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-don-t-neglect-car-maintenance-nbsp\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Don\u2019t Neglect Car Maintenance<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:264,&quot;469777462&quot;:[900],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[1]}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Keeping your car well-tuned is the key to keeping it healthy long term. Change your air filters, check your oil, pay attention to your tires, and don\u2019t wait to get things fixed. Check out our guide to car maintenance to learn how to craft a maintenance schedule.&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:264,&quot;469777462&quot;:[900],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[1]}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-save-your-ac-nbsp\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Save Your AC<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:264,&quot;469777462&quot;:[900],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[1]}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Try to preserve AC where you can. Your AC is powered by your vehicle\u2019s engine, so using AC unnecessarily puts additional pressure on said engine. Park in the shade, cover your windshield when you park, and air out your car before driving to keep things cool without using your AC. Parking in the shade can also protect your car against the sun\u2019s harmful rays, which fade and damage paint jobs and interiors over time. While rolling down your windows can reduce AC usage, it also creates drag and increases fuel consumption, so find a balance between the two.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:264,&quot;469777462&quot;:[900],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[1]}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-utilize-your-parking-brake\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Utilize Your Parking Brake<\/span><\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Your vehicle\u2019s brakes are controlled by what\u2019s called a parking pawl\u2014a device that locks your transmission when you park. Parking on an incline can stress your parking pawl and\u2014while rare\u2014break or dislodge it. Experts recommend using your parking brake even when you park on flat land. Going a long time without using your parking brake can cause the attached cables to age poorly and break when you need them.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:264,&quot;469777462&quot;:[900],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[1]}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-avoid-short-trips-and-traffic-if-possible\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Avoid Short Trips and Traffic (If Possible)<\/span><\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Short trips can shorten your battery\u2019s lifespan as they don\u2019t allow your vehicle to warm up to a temperature that prevents wear. A slow engine, dim headlights, and a battery warning light on your dashboard are all signs that your battery is weakened. While we know this is a luxury, try to avoid traffic when you can. Stop-and-start driving uses your car\u2019s components more than smooth driving.&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:264}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-have-a-quality-insurance-policy\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Have a Quality Insurance Policy<\/span><\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">If your car needs repairs from a collision or another covered event, car insurance can protect you against financial losses. Get a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thegeneral.com\/quote\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">car insurance quote<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\"> in under two minutes or read more on our <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thegeneral.com\/blog\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">insurance blog<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">.&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:264}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Learn how to prolong your car\u2019s life with these tips from The General. Your car is a major investment, so keep it healthy and well-maintained to make it last.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":3204,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[55],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3203","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-car-and-driving-basics"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.6 (Yoast SEO v27.6) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How to Take Care of Your Car So It Lasts Longer | The General<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn how to prolong your car\u2019s life with these tips from The General. 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