Road trips can be fun, but they test your car and the last thing you want to have is a car wreck miles from home. Whether you're planning a road trip around the UK or going on a family holiday to France, you need to prepare your car for the long haul. Here at MyCarNeedsA.com, we've put together a few tips on how you can do this to ensure you have a relaxing holiday!
Insurance
One of the first things you'll want to do before hitting the road is to check your insurance policy to make sure you're fully covered. Similarly, you may want someone else to take over the driving for a while, meaning you need to take out temporary cover for the other driver. You can get temporary insurance for cars or trucks for 1 day or 30 days, depending on how long you need it.
You also need to check if you are certified to drive abroad and have all the necessary documents for the country you plan to visit.
Fluid Levels
An essential check for any long trip is to perform a simple inspection of all fluid levels to ensure your vehicle is running smoothly and reliably. Checking fluids is a quick and easy job to do and any driver can do it, even if you know nothing about cars. Here are the fluids you'll want to check:
● Windshield washer fluid
● Engine oil
● Coolant
● Brake fluid
Emergency kit
If you are traveling, it is always a good idea to carry an emergency kit containing items such as a first aid kit, essential medicines for any passenger, as well as paracetamol or ibuprofen, perishable snacks, a flashlight and an emergency kit.
Check the lights
As a car owner, it's important to check your lights regularly, but especially on long trips, to help you avoid potential accidents. You can use a friend or family member to help you with this, turn on all of the car's lights and signals, and have them walk around the vehicle to ensure they are working as expected.
Tyre pressures
Checking your car's tyre pressure is crucial, and the recommended pressure can be located in the manual for your car. Make sure the tyres are in good condition, have sufficient tread (1.6mm in the UK is the legal minimum), and that there are no bulges, calluses or flat spots.
Cover collapse
Even if you and your car are prepared for the road ahead, accidents and breakdowns can still happen, so it may be worth making sure you have breakdown cover before setting off.
Also Read: Car interior lights: To fuse your journey with fun and excitement
