Preparing for a Road Trip: the Essential Checklist

Whether you’re embarking on a long journey to visit family in another part of the country, or you’re planning a road trip route for summer, we’ve got the ultimate checklist for making your vehicle ready for those long distance drives.

All vehicles 

Tyres

We’re looking to check both the tyre pressure and the tread depth. 1.6mm is the minimum legal requirement for tyre tread, so if you’re anywhere near that number, we’d suggest replacing your tyres before setting off on a long distance journey. Your tyre pressure guide will be either on the inside of your doorframe or in your vehicle’s handbook.

Fluids

Your water coolant and brake fluid should be amply filled up. The coolant will remove excessive heat from your engine, which is essential on those summer days when you’re stuck in traffic. Your screen wash will also need checking. It’s important to keep your windscreen clean to allow you to keep an eye on any potential hazards.

Lights

Make sure all your lights are working, from your headlights to your indicators. It’s important your lights work for both visibility when driving in the dark and general safety for yourself and other road users. You’ll need someone to help you with this, as you won’t be able to check things like your brake lights from inside your vehicle.

Air con

This is a special one for summer (though you should get your air con serviced regularly as standard!). You don’t want to be stuck sweltering inside a warm vehicle during traffic if you can help it. Ensure your air conditioning system is working properly for maximum convenience and comfort on your journey.

Fuel cars

Fuel

This seems like an obvious one, but it can be easy to assume you have enough fuel and then realise you’re miles from a fuel station when your light comes on. Make sure you fill up when heading off, or at least ensure you have enough fuel to get you to a planned service station on route. Don’t forget that the more weight in or on your vehicle, the higher the fuel consumption will be.

Oil

You should check your oil regularly, but it’s especially important before a long journey. The engine needs oil to ensure it gets enough lubrication, and your car will break down without it. Check the dipstick and confirm the oil level is between the minimum and maximum markers.

Electric cars

Luckily for you electric car owners, there are slightly less things you need to check, due to the lack of fuel and oil needed to run your car. However, checking the battery is an absolute must, and we recommend using Zap Map to plan your route according to when and where you’ll need to recharge. The map incorporates all charging points in the country to provide you with the most efficient route to ensure you don’t run out of juice along the way.

If you have any issues with your car, take it to a qualified to mechanic to get everything fixed so you don’t face any major problems while you’re away from home. You could also book your car in for a service prior to your trip to give you proper peace of mind.