A former car dealer has taken to TikTok to warn drivers not to make two common mistakes that could lead to astronomical repair bills that are not covered under warranty.

Abigayl Andre regularly posts short videos to her social media platforms in which she shows unique features found on the latest models and shares tips that can help viewers save money.

In a recent video, Abigayle warned that drivers should never buy a diesel car if they only do short journeys, stating that one component will go faulty at a much faster rate.

She advised: “Don’t get a diesel car if you’re doing less than 10,000 miles per year, don’t do it to yourself. The DPF [diesel particulate filter] is going to get faulty and, what do you know?

“You’ve got a repair bill that is over £1,000, and that’s your fault. It’s not covered under warranty, no matter how new your car is.”

Whilst diesel cars are not as popular as they once were, some drivers like to choose them due to their superior fuel economy over a petrol model.

However, Abigayle warned that this could be a false economy for drivers who do less than 10,000 miles per year and are therefore at risk of clogging the DPF, a filter that captures exhaust soot in a bid to reduce emissions.

A complex and expensive component, driving a diesel car regularly on short trips or in heavy traffic will cause it to clog up at a much faster rate.

Later in the video, Abigayle also suggested that drivers make sure to keep on top of their vehicle’s servicing, in particular knowing when to change the oil.

She added: “Service your car. Do you know how many people I used to speak to, crying down the phone because they’ve got a £7,000 repair bill?

“Why? Because they didn’t service their car and the engine has gone kaput. It needs oil, oil is necessary unless it goes kaput.”

No matter how new a vehicle is, it is vital that drivers stick to the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance schedule that is printed in the owner’s manual.

Typically, vehicles have an interim and major service each year, which could involve changing fluids like the oil and coolant, plus replacable parts such as the brake pads and air filter.

Drivers can also prevent expensive damage from forming by regularly checking fluid levels and tyre pressures, with many experts advising this is done once per fortnight or before every long journey.