Preparing your car for a long road trip is essential for a safe and hassle-free journey. We have taken a few trips that have extended thousands of miles, and here is how we prepare our car for a long road trip. Whether you have the skills to do it yourself, or you need to take your car to the mechanic or dealership, it’s worth having these items checked off for peace of mind before you hit the road.

1. Check your car’s fluids: Change your engine oil if it hasn’t been changed in a while. Ensure that your car’s oil, coolant, transmission, power steering, and brake fluid are topped up and at the proper levels. We take our vehicle to the dealer service center for this work but it could be done at home.
2. Check the brakes: Check your brakes or have your auto mechanic/dealer make sure that your brake pads and rotors are in good condition. If they are worn, replace them before your trip.
3. Check your tires: Check your tire pressure to ensure it’s at the recommended level. Also, inspect the tread for wear and tear, and replace the tires if necessary. Don’t forget to check the spare tire if you have one. If your car doesn’t automatically monitor tire pressure, buying a handheld tire pressure gauge is a good idea. Bring the gauge with you on the road to monitor tire pressure. Extreme temperature changes can cause tire pressure to drop unexpectedly.
4. Check the battery: Inspect your battery and make sure it’s clean and free from corrosion. If the battery is old (more than 3 years), consider replacing it before your trip. It is my experience that batteries always fail at the worst time.
5. Keys or Key Fobs: Most cars use electronic key fobs so if you have two, bring a spare. We had an issue where one of ours was stolen from the hotel valet on a trip. Having a backup is also a good idea if one fails, as we just experienced a battery dying on one of our key fobs.
6. Check the lights: Ensure that all your lights are working correctly, including the headlights, taillights, turn signals, and brake lights.
7. Check the wipers: Ensure your wiper blades are in good condition and that the windshield washer fluid is topped up. Apply RainX, or a similar product, to the windshield to help with visibility if you encounter a large storm on unfamiliar roads.
8. Pack an emergency kit: Prepare or buy an emergency kit that includes a first aid kit, a flashlight, flares or reflective triangles, and a tire repair kit.
9. Perform a test drive: Finally, take your car for a test drive to make sure everything is in order. Listen for any unusual noises, check the handling, and make sure everything is working as it should.
10. Plan your route: We plan your route in advance using an app called Roadtrippers in addition to Google Maps. Many cars now have GPS, and we do use that on the road, but we have found that sometimes Google Maps are better and more up-to-date than the car’s GPS. We also download the maps for offline use on our phones in case we encounter any dead spots or network outages.

When renting a car, we often assume that the car is in good working order. However, it is still beneficial to check that the tires, lights, and wipers are functioning properly in addition to performing the cosmetic damage check. Also, bring along a tire pressure gauge and an emergency kit (or pick one up), as it’s better to be over-prepared than to be stuck on the side of the road needing something you don’t have.

Checking off these items prior to hitting the road will go a long way in making for a pleasant journey!