Preparing Your Car For Summer Holiday Time

Whether you’re planning a staycation this year or going on a road trip abroad, it pays to make sure that your car is holiday-ready.

Nobody wants to miss their flight or spend hours of their annual leave in a garage just because they overlooked some basic vehicle maintenance checks before leaving home.

Responsible motorists, will, of course book their car in for regular servicing with a reputable garage in line with the terms of their vehicle’s warranty and/or carmaker’s recommendations,

A good vehicle technician should be able to identify and rectify any faults or issues, but there are a few simple checks you can do yourself to avoid any holiday driving glitches.

First, check your coolant levels. Coolant protects your engine and stops it from overheating – something which can easily happen if you’re stuck in slow traffic on a hot day.  To keep your engine well lubricated and running smoothly, you should also check your oil levels.

Never leave home without your locking wheel nut key – and put it somewhere you can easily find it, just in case you have a puncture.

It’s time consuming – not to mention embarrassing – if you can’t find it when roadside assistance arrives.  If you’re happy to change your flat tyre yourself, then make sure you’ve got your car jack.

About tyres, inspect the tread and sidewalls for nails or other impairment and keep tyres inflated in line with the manufacturer’s guidelines.  Luggage such as heavy cases, tents and rucksacks, as well as additional passengers, will all add to a car’s weight so you may need to inflate tyres to a higher-pressure level than usual.

If last year’s sweltering summer heat is anything to go by, air-con is now essential in the UK, so make sure yours is working properly. And, dry, dusty conditions in warm weather aren’t great for visibility, so don’t forget to keep your windscreen wash topped up.

Other holiday checks include making sure car roof racks are secure, so they don’t damage your car or work loose while you’re driving. Also, don’t overload your roof rack.

Satnavs are a marvellous invention, but they’re not 100% reliable and you can sometimes lose your GPS signal in rural parts. Pack a good old-fashioned road map as back up, and to help you plan your route.

Similarly, give yourself a fighting chance of avoiding the worst of the traffic by setting out early in the morning – or even the day before a bank holiday, if it’s at all possible. And, as obvious as it sounds, don’t forget to fill up with fuel before you go.

You should have some idea of how much you’ll need to reach your destination, so don’t wait until the fuel light comes on. By the time it does, you might be in a deep dark forest or on a remote moor miles from the nearest filling station.