Road Trip Car Checklist

Car Check Before Road Trip

If you are going on vacation, there are several things that you will want to remember for your safety car check before your road trip. These things can be easy to overlook so make sure to keep this post easily accessible for an easy reminder of the different things to go over. Keep in mind, there are additional items to check if you are entering colder climates or seasons. Make sure to grab the free printable road trip car checklist at the bottom of this post before your road trip to help ensure safe and smooth travels. This list will help you decide whether you are good to go, need a tune-up, or in need of someone else’s car for your upcoming adventures.

Basic Car Check

1. Check all your headlights and turn signals 

No one wants to get a ticket in another state for something so simple.

2. Check your brakes

You will want to know that you can trust your brakes when driving in general, but especially when driving through places that you are not familiar with. You may be encountering sudden sharp turns or wildlife that you will need to brake quickly for.

3. Check your tires, (air pressure and tire treads)

If your tires aren’t safe, you risk blowing a tire out which can be dangerous, not being able to stop as quickly, and possibly getting stuck with unnecessary delays during your trip. Keep a tire pressure gauge in your car so you can check your air pressure when needed. This way you will know if you need to put air in them or if you need to start looking for a new tire.

4. Check your fluids; antifreeze, oil, windshield wiper fluids (winterize if necessary)

Checking your fluids before your trip will help you know if you need to schedule an oil change or realize that you may have a leak. Windshield wiper fluid is important so you can drive safely. You want to be able to remove any excess water, mud, or road salt from your windshield while you are driving. If you are entering an area where the temp will get close to freezing; make sure your wiper fluid is the non-freezing kind. I can tell you firsthand that it is not fun to lose visibility due to your wiper fluid freezing and trying to find a place where you can warm your car up enough to thaw it out just so you can empty it and replace it.

5. Check your windshield wipers

Visibility is super important in areas you are not familiar with. You may be able to get by with old wipers that barely work where you live, but it’s much harder in places that you have never been.

6. Check your gauges (especially your gas gauge)

This is probably self-explanatory, but this is not a good thing to discover your gas gauge is broken when you are driving cross country.

7. Check your spare tire and any equipment needed (example: a car jack and lug wrench)

If you have a spare tire, check to make sure everything is there and in working order. Believe me, it is useless to know how to change a tire and then realize that someone borrowed one of your tools and never put it back (personal experience). If you don’t know how to change a tire, it’s a good time to learn. Even if you have AAA, this can save you time if they are saying it will take several hours before they can assist you. If you know you might need help loosening the lug nuts, you might want to consider getting a tool that will help like an automatic car jack or electric impact wrench.

8. If you are entering colder climates, do a bit of research to find out how your car and tires do with snow and ice

This will give you an idea of what you should do if you encounter a storm. You will also discover if you need to consider adding weight to your car to help it gain better traction.

Things to do Before a Road Trip:

1. Get a gas can

Even using an app, you may run into situations where the nearest gas station is much farther than you thought. Wind and inclines will also contribute to you running out of gas faster. Road construction and gas station closures are unpleasant surprises that can contribute to this highly stressful situation. It’s also important to be aware that in rural areas, some gas stations do close overnight (another personal experience). It’s best to avoid the risk of running out of gas and try to fill up once you get down to ¼ tank of gas or 50 miles left. Most importantly, bring a gas can with you as a backup.

2. Download or have a paper map

If you are traveling to places where service is spotty (mountains and rural areas) you may not have service to be able to use GPS. Brush up on your map reading skills!

3. Check the cell phone laws where you will be traveling

Again, no one wants a ticket when you are on vacation and some states are very strict.

4. Have a plan in place in case something happens to your car

It is always good to have a backup plan in case of a breakdown, accident, or severe weather. Have an emergency fund available, travel insurance, or a list of people that you can call for help that may live in the region. I have crashed with friends and family last minute due to hurricanes and sudden car repairs. These instances are not common, but they do happen. They can be very stressful, but they do not have to ruin everything. Take a deep breath and follow your backup plan.

Time for Your Adventure

Road trips are one of the Low Budget Travel Tips talked about in an earlier post and they provide a unique way to see more of the country you are visiting. Make sure you and your car are fully prepared before you embark on your next adventure by following this quick Car Check before your road trip. Relax and enjoy your vacation with peace of mind that you and your car will be safe and ready for anything.

Don’t forget to grab your free pdf Road Trip Checklist Below!

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