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You could risk causing huge damage to your car just by making one mistake when driving.

Millions of us drive cars on the roads every day. We use them to get to work, do our shopping, and for some of us, driving a vehicle like a bus or a lorry is our entire job. But there's one thing many of us do incorrectly every time we get behind the wheel - and it could be damaging our vehicles.

One woman on social media recently said she learned the hard way that it's "actually bad" to drive your car when it's low on fuel, and it's not just because you run the risk of running out of petrol - or diesel - while on the road.

Cars are all fitted with a light on the dashboard that comes on when the vehicle is low on fuel. This helps you know when you need to visit a petrol station, as you can't drive a car with no fuel. If you don't make a detour to the nearest petrol station as soon as you see this light, however, you could be doing severe damage to your vehicle.

A woman named Brenna shared a video on TikTok in which she said she originally believed the fuel light was just there to tell you when you needed petrol, because running out of fuel could leave you stranded, and potentially in danger if your car came to a stop on a dangerous road like a motorway.

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But there's actually an even more important reason to fill up your car as soon as you see the fuel light.

Brenna, from the US, said: "I've been driving for 20 years, and today I learned why it is actually bad to drive with your low fuel light on, and it's not just because you might run out of gas."

The woman didn't actually highlight the reason why in her video, but as commenters helpfully pointed out on her behalf, driving with low fuel in your car can damage the fuel pump and even reduce your engine's performance over time.

One person said: "You will burn up your fuel pump. And they are not cheap to replace."

Another added: "When you run your car with low fuel, your engine suck up the sediment at the bottom of the gas tank. Therefore, fill before you're on empty."

According to Kwik-Fit, driving regularly on a low tank can cause long-term mechanical damage to your car that will be expensive to repair. Your fuel pump relies on petrol to stay cool and lubricated, so running your car with a minimal amount of fuel in it can cause the fuel pump to overheat.

You can also cause issues with your filter and fuel injectors by running on low fuel, which can reduce engine performance. Dirt and rust settle at the bottom of your fuel tank, and when levels are low, these can be sucked up into the fuel lines.

Kwik-Fit claims that good fuel habits are a simple yet essential way to maintain car health and ensure driver safety. To avoid ever running on empty and damaging your car, consider the following tips:

• Refuel before hitting a quarter of a tank
• Plan ahead for long journeys
• Use fuel additives every few months to maintain the health of your injector and engine
• Get regular fuel system checks during your car service

They also state that while modern cars can give you around 50 miles after the fuel light comes on before you run completely empty, it's always worth topping up as soon as you see the light to avoid any risk of damage or accidents.

While it is not illegal to run out of fuel on the road, if your vehicle causes an obstruction or a dangerous situation, police may deem it careless or inconsiderate driving under the Road Traffic Act. This can come with a fine and up to three points on your licence, so it's never a good idea to ignore your fuel light.