Are You Going On a Road Trip? Here’s How to Prepare Your Car

You’ve always wanted to go on a road trip with your family since the day you got the keys to your car. And now, you’re finally making it happen. You already learned the inner workings of your vehicle and bought some accessories for the adventure.

But the most important thing to prepare for this trip is your car. From finding the cheapest tyres to making sure everything is in tiptop shape, here are some tips on how you can get your car road trip-ready:

• Take it on a routine maintenance check.

It doesn’t matter if you had your car checked last week or a month ago, you have to take it on a routine maintenance check before you hit the road. This gives your mechanic the opportunity to check if your fluid levels, tyre pressure and oil are all in good condition. They can also check your battery, lights and wiper blades to make sure that they’re in good condition and won’t cause you any problems while you’re on the road. With an expert looking at your car, any issues can be detected easily and fixed, so you won’t have to worry about a car breakdown in the middle of nowhere.

• Replace your tyres if needed.

A flat tyre is such a common problem when you’re going on a road trip. But when you’re travelling with family, that’s the last thing that you’d want to happen, especially with kids. So if you haven’t replaced your tyres since you bought your car, this is the time to invest in new ones that will help you ensure that you won’t encounter any flat tyres while you’re on the road. Of course, it would also help to make sure that you have a spare tyre in case you run into something that would cause a flat tyre. This is also a good time to learn how to change a flat tyre if you still don’t know how to do it.

• Make sure that you’re prepared for any emergencies.

Aside from personal things and snacks, you should also pack an emergency kit for the road. This should include some basic tools for fixing some problems in your car, a reliable tyre repair kit, a flashlight, some jumper cables and of course,a  first aid kit. It’s also very important to take note of the roadside emergency numbers that you can contact should you experience any problems on the road. And if you have the extra budget, you can always invest in a car breakdown cover that you can use if your car gets into any trouble while you’re driving. Of course, having a spare key would come in handy just in case you lock yourself out in one of those pit stops.

• Pack only the things that you need for your trip.

Here’s the thing: it’s so easy to overpack thinking that you’ll be bringing your car anyway. But you have to think about how carrying such a heavy load could make your car work extra hard. This puts you at a higher risk for car troubles while on the road, especially if your car isn’t used to being loaded to the brim. So instead of packing your entire house, make sure that you only bring what you need. Organise your things for easy access and place them strategically in your trunk, so that the weight is distributed efficiently.

• Give your car a good wash.

You’ll be spending a lot of hours stuck inside your car during your road trip. So it only makes sense to clean your car from the inside out to make it as comfortable as possible. Clean your car seats, consoles, floors and of course, your exteriors to get rid of any dust and dirt that could make it uneasy for your family to spend a long time inside your car. It would also be smart to put some mini trash bins inside the car, especially if you have children. This will make it easier to maintain the cleanliness of your car while you’re traveling.

Finally, don’t forget to plan your route ahead of time. Buy a map and take note of any possible pit stops where you can enjoy a good meal, go to the loo or just stretch your legs. And if you ever need to spend the night somewhere, make sure to book a hotel ahead and plan your trip around those times, so you can reach your accommodation just in time for your kids’ bedtime.