Your car is a substantial investment, and you’ll want to keep it running for as long as possible while avoiding expensive repairs. But you may be doing the wrong things – or failing to do the right things – to extend the lifespan of your car. Here are 7 ways you may be shortening the life of your car: 1. Buying Cheap Insurance When you’re looking for auto insurance, don’t make price your only consideration. Make sure that the company and policy you choose will pay for parts from the original manufacturer and that your insurer will guarantee the repairs it authorizes. Repairing your car with substandard parts and shoddy workmanship will only cause more problems in the future. 2.