Get Your Car Road-Trip Ready for the Holidays in Four Easy Steps

If you’re fortunate enough to get some time off from work during the holiday season, there’s a good chance that you’ll spend the time travelling with your family – and you’ll probably be driving.

Get Your Paperwork in Order ahead of the road-trip

• You’ll need all of the things that your state requires in order to legally drive, including your driver’s license, your car’s registration and proof of current insurance. Your state may also require proof of current safety and/or emissions tests. Make sure that your car also displays any required stickers.
• If you use a service for roadside assistance, make sure that you have your membership card. You’ll also want to make sure that the service’s app is installed on your phone and ready to go because you’ll usually get quicker service through the app than by calling.
• If your credit card company offers emergency travel assistance, print the paperwork showing what’s offered and how to claim it.
• If you’re driving to an unfamiliar destination, you might find it helpful to print driving directions in case your phone loses its GPS signal.

Make Sure Your Car’s Maintenance is Up to Date

• Don’t forget to inspect your windshield wipers to ensure they’re in good condition, as they are vital for visibility during your trip.
• Check the maintenance schedule in the instruction manual and make sure that you’ve had your car serviced according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. If you’ve missed a service interval, take care of it before you go.
• Get the oil changed. It’s always a good idea to change your car’s oil before going on a long road-trip unless you already did it recently.
• Check the car’s fluid levels.
• Have the car’s brake system inspected unless you’ve already done so in the past year. Remember that stopping a vehicle is always more difficult in severe weather, so you want to confirm that the brake system is as efficient as it can be.

Get Your Car Ready for Severe Weather

• Make sure that your tires are inflated to the pressure recommended by the manufacturer. Look at the wear indicators to confirm that the tread depth is appropriate.
• Replace old wiper blades. Consider using a de-icing wiper fluid if you’re likely to experience below-freezing temperatures.
• Confirm that your headlights work properly. Consider using a restoration kit if the lenses are cloudy; it only takes a few minutes and can greatly improve your visibility.
• Confirm that your spare tire is in good condition.
• Make sure that the battery holds a strong charge and won’t have difficulty starting the car in cold weather. Many auto parts stores will test your battery for free.
• Get an emergency kit together for cold weather. Some of the items that you might want to consider putting in the kit include emergency blankets, hand warmers, flashlights, extra batteries, jumper cables, a windshield scraper and a first aid kit along with some water and non-perishable snacks.

Give Your Car a Thorough Cleaning before the road-trip

• Remove any items from the car that you won’t need during your trip. Your bags will probably fill the trunk and may consume some space in the car’s interior as well. You don’t want the cabin to be crowded and uncomfortable.
• Throw away any garbage in the car.
• Vacuum the car’s interior thoroughly.
• Replace the cabin air filter if you haven’t done so within the past year. A new air filter generally costs about $20, and you can usually find your car’s existing filter behind the glove box. Check the instruction manual to confirm. Replacing the filter will only take a few minutes.
• Get some cleaning wipes from the local auto parts store and use them to clean the dashboard, door trim and other plastic components. If your car has leather seats, get some leather conditioner as well to make the seats soft and shiny.
• Clean the insides of the windows with a glass cleaner.
• When you’re done cleaning the interior, take your car through the car wash. It’s always fun to give your car an extra bit of shine for the road, and washing your car will also ensure that the windshield is completely clear for maximum visibility.