The strangest thing I ever saw a person do that was ruining a car was to load a 15-foot roll of carpet across the roof of a hatchback and secure it with shrink wrap. That was an oddity and something we should never do to our vehicles.

Do you take your car for granted? Most of us do. We expect our cars to perform every task we need them to, but some things we ask our cars to do will ruin them. Is it worth the high cost of replacing the car for a single trip you need to make?

Here are six things you need to stop doing right now that are running your car.

1. Your roof can’t take all that weight

The roof of your car isn’t made to hold hundreds of pounds. According to MoneyWise, most car roofs have a limit of 165 pounds of extra weight. Anything above this amount can compromise the structure of your vehicle. Adding weight to the roof also leads to accidents and puts more stress on the interior of your car. Check the weight rating before adding any items to the roof rack.

2. Ignoring the maintenance schedule is ruining your car

The manufacturer of your vehicle put together a maintenance schedule that you need to adhere to. The purpose of this schedule is to keep your vehicle running properly for a long time. Don’t put off the regular oil changes or fluid checks simply because it interrupts your day. Your day will be interrupted even more if your car breaks down and you’re stuck on the side of the road.

3. “Penny, your check engine light is on”

Anyone familiar with The Big Bang Theory also knows the Penny character drove around with a car that had a check engine light on for a long time. She ignored this light, and eventually, the engine blew. Don’t let this happen to you. If you see a warning light on your dashboard, head to the repair shop and let them fix the problem to avoid ruining your car.

4. Don’t change directional gears when your car is going the opposite way

If you’re rolling backward down your driveway, don’t throw the car into a forward gear while going backward. This is a great way to ruin the transmission. If you don’t think it’s a big deal, keep in mind that a transmission replacement will cost between $1,800 and $3,400.

5. Stop parking outside (unless you have to), it’s ruining your car

Many people don’t have the benefit of a garage, but if you have one, use it for your car. If you’re not going to use the garage for your car, or you don’t have one, park your vehicle in a place where it can be protected. Regularly apply wax to help protect the paint and check the car for critters that might be looking for shelter from the weather.

6. Stop driving your car too little

The growth of work-at-home jobs has created a society where we rely less on our cars than ever before. If you spend many days at home without going out, you’re not driving your car. It’s important to drive your car at least once every few days to ensure the battery doesn’t become drained, the fluids stay strong, and the tires work right. It might seem odd, but you need to drive your car. It’s an important part of extending the life of the vehicle.

Car care is about what you do and what you stop doing

Caring for the vehicle you drive every day has as much to do with what you do to extend the life of the car as what you stop doing. Check out some car maintenance tips from Ramsey Solutions that can help you keep your car on the road longer.

If you want to learn about more things you’re doing that are ruining your car that you need to stop right now, check out the next article. If you take care of your car, it will take care of you.