The Ultimate Car Checklist Before Going On Holidays

If you’re driving to your holiday destination this year, chances are you’re in for a long and exciting adventure. To make your drive enjoyable and stress-free, we’ve compiled the ultimate car checklist to ensure you have everything you need for the journey. Being prepared is key when it comes to a long drive, and could potentially save you lots of time and waiting for help if something happens on the journey. Read on to find out all the essentials you need for your long car journey, helping you get to your holiday destination safely. 

Vehicle

The best place to start when ensuring you’re prepared for a long drive is by checking your vehicle is ready for the journey. A well maintained vehicle will prevent you from encountering any roadside mishaps or breakdowns. 

The Tyres

Your tyres are the point of contact between your car and the road, making them an important part of your road trip preparation. See our tyre checklist below to help you ensure your tyres adhere to all the correct UK Tyre Laws, and to find essential maintenance tips for your tyres. You can also check out another blog where we’ve listed must-have accessories to keep your tyres in shape. 

• Seasonal Tyres: It is important to ensure your vehicle is equipped with the right tyres, for example summer, winter or all-season tyres, depending on the season you’re driving in. 
• Wear Level / Tread Depth: Checking your tyre tread depth is a quick and easy task that will give you peace of mind that your tyres are safe and ready for the long drive. The legal tyre tread depth in the UK is 1.6mm and can be measured using a 20p coin. 
• Tyre Pressure: If you’re heading on a road trip, chances are you’re carrying some additional load to what you’d normally be carrying – for example more passengers or luggage. It is important to ensure your tyre pressure reflects the change in load and is set to the right PSI before the journey. This applies to all 4 of your tyres, and the spare one!

The oil level

Engine oil plays an important role in keeping your engine healthy on a long drive. Oil lubricates the moving parts of the engine to reduce friction and damage to your engine. It is important to check the oil levels in your vehicle before a long drive to ensure that you have sufficient oil. This will prevent any breakdowns caused by your engine and allow you to enjoy a smooth drive to your destination.

If you have an automatic transmission, there are benefits from regularly flushing the transmission oil too.

The brake fluid

Brake fluid is another important one to check before embarking on your road trip. Brake fluid lubricates your brake discs and pads to reduce corrosion, and also contributes to your vehicle’s overall braking performance. Checking your brakes should be part of your regular car maintenance, especially if you have noticed a difference in the way your brakes feel when you press them. 

The brake pads

Once you’ve checked your fluid, we’d also recommend checking your brake pads for any wear or corrosion before setting off on your journey. If your brake pads are worn down, you won’t have the maximum stopping power. Worn down brake pads usually cause a screeching sound, vibration whilst braking or you may notice it is taking your vehicle longer to slow down than usual. If you notice any of these signs, give your brake pads a quick look over before setting off on a long journey. 

The cooling fluid

Cooling fluid helps to reduce engine rust and corrosion, making it another important part of the long-drive checklist! Checking your coolant levels is quick and easy, as the coolant reservoir is often transparent and will be marked with a fill line to indicate where the coolant level should be. 

The battery

The battery health of your vehicle will determine whether your car is going to get you home again once your holiday comes to an end! Keeping your car battery in good condition will ensure that your car is ready to start whenever you need it. We’d always recommend checking your battery before a holiday trip because you never know when it might fail you. 

The windscreen washer fluid 

This simple top up of washer fluid will ensure you always have full visibility whilst driving to your destination. Especially on long drives, it is hard to predict the different types of weather you may encounter, so being prepared to clear away any dirt that has splashed up from the road’s surface onto your windscreen is vital. 

The windscreen wipers are functioning correctly 

As mentioned above, it is hard to predict the conditions you’ll drive in on a long journey, and it is just as important as the washer fluid to ensure you have fully functioning wipers that can clear away any obstructions on your windscreen for full visibility during your drive. 

The lights are functioning correctly 

Ensuring your lights are functioning properly is a vital part of your pre-journey checks. This includes headlights, brake lights, fog lights and any dashboard lights. It is important not to overlook this step, even if you are driving during the day. Some hazardous conditions or fog will require you to use your lights at a time of day you’d not expect to use them. It is always a good idea to have a spare headlight bulb incase you find that one stops working during your journey. 

The air conditioning

A car full of passengers and equipment on a hot day is bound to get uncomfortable. If your car has air conditioning, we’d always recommend an air con check before you set off, especially if you’re driving in the summer months. Staying cool and comfortable whilst driving will make you more alert and comfortable, allowing both you and your passengers to enjoy a safe journey. 

The fuel level

This one might seem pretty obvious, but ensuring you have enough fuel for your drive will guarantee you the miles to get to your destination. It’s always a good idea to have a little extra, or make a note of any service station stops you might want to take for a rest and a refuel. 

Seatbelts, carload, roof box, racks, trailer

Hitting the tarmac on an adventure with family and friends is bound to mean a fuller car than usual with more passengers and also their luggage. To ensure the safety of your passengers, first make sure every seatbelt is in full working order. If you do have passengers on each of your back seats, it is important to assess your view of the road through your rearview mirror and how these passengers could obstruct the view. With more passengers and luggage comes a heavier weight of the vehicle, and as mentioned earlier in this article, a change in tyre pressure will be needed to accommodate this. If you’re taking along extra equipment in a roof box, or on racks, make sure these are safely installed and the weight has been accounted for. 

Driving licence, car insurance, travel insurance, breakdown cover, assistance, MOT

If you’re hitting the road for a while, making sure you have all the right documents is paramount to a stress-free journey. You’ll want to check that you have your driving licence on hand for the journey, and ensure that all of your insurance policies are up to date. Car insurance to cover you, your passengers and your vehicle in the case of an incident, plus travel insurance to cover your health and wellbeing whilst you’re away from home. Breakdown cover is also an essential if you’re heading out on a long road trip – the last thing you or your passengers want is to be stuck roadside on the way to your destination!

Take spare fluids with you

If you are planning a very long journey, it is always a good idea to pack some extra fluids like oil, washer fluid and engine coolant. If you find yourself needing a top up, this will save a pricey trip to a roadside service station. 

Equipments

Safety equipment for a road trip is often overlooked by many motorists. We’ve listed some essential equipment that you should pack with you for a long drive – some of which are actually a legal requirement. 

A triangle

Safety triangles are to be used in the event of a breakdown where you are stationary and causing a potential hazard to other drivers. They are a legal requirement to notify other motorists of an upcoming hazard. 

A safety waistcoat

If you do find yourself stuck at the side of the road, wearing safety waistcoats will make you much more visible to motorists passing by, keeping you safe and out of danger. In some countries, safety waistcoats are also a legal requirement. All passengers may need to wear a waistcoat when roadside, so make a note to check the local requirements if you’re travelling to another country. 

If you are driving to a European country, you can find more information on European driving kits and the equipment you need to ensure your safety. 

A jack and a spanner to change the wheel in case of a puncture

Punctures are a common problem for motorists who are on long journeys. If you know how to change a tyre, we’d highly recommend equipping your car with the right tools to change a punctured tyre yourself – this will help you get back on the road quickly and safely, without waiting for roadside assistance. 

A fire extinguisher

Having a fire extinguisher in your vehicle is important to ensure the safety of you and your passengers, plus the safety of other motorists. These extinguishers are designed to put out small fires that may occur in or outside of your vehicle. 

A blanket

A blanket not only keeps passengers comfortable during a long drive, but will also be a saving grace if you find yourself in a situation where you have broken down or are stuck roadside in cold weather or at night time. 

An emergency foil blanket

If you are stuck roadside for longer than expected and temperatures drop, having a foil blanket on hand could be crucial to yours and your passengers safety. Foil blankets prevent hypothermia by reflecting body heat back to your body. Temperatures can get very low when you’re stuck at the side of the road, so we’d recommend packing one of these for your journey. 

A first aid kit

All sorts of accidents can happen with passengers on a long journey. That’s why we always recommend carrying a first aid kit with you in the event of anyone needing medical assistance. Whether this be something like a cut needing a bandage or plaster, or something a little more serious like a burn which needs dressing. Having a first aid kit on hand will help you or your passengers feel more comfortable in the event of an incident whilst you wait for further medical assistance. 

A flashlight

Having a portable light source is very much recommended when you’re heading off on a long drive. If you find yourself having car trouble in the middle of a dark stretch of road, a torch will make finding and solving your problem much easier. 

A pair of gloves

It is important to stay as comfortable as you can when driving a long journey, and that’s why we recommend packing a pair of driving gloves. These will reduce hand fatigue caused by steering wheel vibrations, and will also keep your hands warm in cold weather.

To make sure you’re as prepared as possible, take a look at breakdown kits which are equipped with everything you’ll need in the event of a breakdown. 

A scraper (for winter)

A scraper is an essential tool to keep in the car especially if you’re driving in winter conditions. If you take a rest stop and find your windscreen obstructed with snow on the return, you’ll be equipped to clear is away and ensure you have full visibility for the next part of the drive.

Snow chains (for winter)

If you’re driving in winter conditions, some extra equipment you may want to pack includes snow chains to keep you safe in cold, icy and snowy conditions. Snow chains increase your grip in snowy conditions, allowing you to drive as safely as possible during tough conditions.

Navigation

Last but not least – there will be some navigational checks to make on this list to make sure you get to your destination safely and efficiently, giving you more time to make the most of your holiday. If you’re travelling from the UK to somewhere else in Europe, you may want to consider how Brexit has affected road trips around Europe. 

Map & journey planning

If you’re heading somewhere new or unfamiliar, it is always good to take a look at your route prior to your road trip to familiarise yourself with the roads you’ll be driving on. This will also prepare you in the event of any road closures as you’ll be more aware of the alternative route. 

Sat nav

Most motorists like to use a digital sat nav to assist them with their journey, and we’d recommend you also do this for your trip. The sat nav should be up to date with real-time traffic, road closures and diversions, and will give you the quickest route to your destination. 

Road conditions and closures

Before you set off, and midway through the journey, it is always a good idea for you and your passengers to be on the listen out for any road closures or unexpected conditions that may impact your journey. 

Traffic

Checking for any unexpected traffic conditions throughout your journey will ensure you’re always prepared for any delays and will give you the chance to choose an optional route if another is available. 

Toll roads and parking charges

Have you checked if any additional charges could be required as part of your journey? If you’re passing through toll stations, you’ll likely need to pay a fee – and it’s worth checking that this doesn’t need to be done in advance! 

Summary

This may seem like a long tedious checklist to carry out before an exciting adventure, but being as prepared as possible is the key to a safe and successful journey! We’ve covered everything in this article so you’ll be more ready than ever for your road trip. Driving to a holiday destination is an exciting prospect and ensuring all the items on this list are ticked means you’re guaranteed to get your holiday off to a great start.