Use these tricks to make your car last for 200,000 miles

Americans are keeping their cars longer than ever before — in fact, a big percentage of vehicles on the road now have racked up more than 100,000 miles.

The average age of all cars on the road in the U.S. is more than 11 years — up from only about eight years in 1995. And while Americans have been keeping cars longer ever since the Great Recession, doing so has also become a lot easier than it was years ago.

“Big improvements in powertrain technology, rust prevention, lubricants, and more have led to game changing improvements in reliability and durability,” Consumer Reports stated in a recent report. “Now, almost any car can make it well into six-figure territory with proper care.”

The financial benefit of keeping your car longer

? If you want your car to last for the long haul, it’s important to pay attention to a few crucial things.

Read more: These cars have lasted drivers 200,000 miles

Tricks to make your car last 200,000 miles

While you may still get hit with unexpected car trouble, Kiplinger has rounded up a few things you can do to help prevent long-term and costly damage — and squeeze as much life as possible out of your car:

• Always do the scheduled maintenance that the owner’s manual recommends.
• Pay attention to little things: any funny noise or smell could mean something is wrong.
• Avoid short trips: when the engine doesn’t have time to warm up, it has to work harder. So if you’re making frequent short trips, just let the car heat up before driving it.

Read more: The least and most expensive cars to maintain