Road Trip Car Checklist
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links. This site also contains affiliate links to products besides Amazon and we may also receive a commission for purchases made through those links too (at no additional cost to you).
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!
Pin For Later:
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc, or its affiliates.
These are great tips for road travel. I agree that a backup plan is critical. I’ve broken down in some very remote places and was glad I had thought about some backup plans.
Thank you! I am very big on backup and backup/backup plans for that very reason!
Great tips for a road trip! I’ll be doing more of those this summer so these will definitely be helpful to be prepared!
Thank you! Some of these I learned the hard way when I first started out driving cross country LOL
Lots of good advice here. And since it seems road trips are going to be the way many choose to travel in the near future it’s a timely piece as well.
Thanks! Lots of times we take our cars for granted and forget to check things. For me its usually the windshield wiper fluid….
Ever since the pandemic started I’ve not been flying or traveling beyond my own province here in Canada, and so I’ve been ALL about the road trips. I’m already planning several for this summer, so thanks for this awesome checklist. It’s all really good advice that will come in super helpful!
Thank you! I typically road trip everywhere so I’d figured I’d share some lessons that I had learned the hard way LOL
These are fantastic tips! I am planning a road trip this summer and I will definitely keep these tips in mind.
Have fun on your road trip!
These are really good tips for a road trip . I plan on doing a few in the summer.
Thank you! Road trips are the main way we vacation at our house 🙂
All such great tips and essential things to be aware of when going on a road trip. Having a physical map, a gas can and the portable tire pressure checker are ones I need to make sure I have. I never thought about checking the condition of my wipers but that’s a good one!
Thanks! On my newer car, I often get an air pressure notification which started freaking me out on my trips. I realized that it seemed connected to cold temps early in the morning when I was driving longer. I would stop and check, but my air pressure would be fine. It would go away once I reset and it warmed up. Mini heart attacks each morning.
These are all great tips! I actually don’t think I check anything apart from gas before heading out on the road which is really bad.
LOL, I used to not even check that! After a few issues, I’ve learned what to look at before I head out
Great tips. We always take our car in for a quick check up before we take a big road trip! I hope we never run into car trouble on the road!
I’ve had tires blow out a few times and other random issues. Luckily nothing super major yet!
Thank you for sharing these great tips and advice! Roadtrips are so much fun when your ready!!
Yes! If it wasn’t for road trips (and camping) we wouldn’t have gone anywhere this last year
This is timely! Many are headed out for spring break road-trips!
Spring break fun! Hoping everyone gets where they need to go with no car problems 🙂
Thanks for the great tips! I’ve needed a paper map a few times on road trips.
Yup! It’s always out in the middle of nowhere- LOL
This is a great list! One time we were in Colorado in Winter and didn’t have windshield wiper fluid. It was snowing like crazy….we could see anything!
It is scary! When mine froze, I had no idea what happened. I grew up in MN but was living in Fl….never crossed my mind because I never thought of the different kinds! LOL
Thanks for the checklist. I never did it but it makes sense. Don’t know how we never thought about it:)
I never thought about it until I had problems on the road. LOL I’m glad you haven’t had any issues yet!
Great reminders. Before our road trips I usually take the car in for a checkup. I’m hoping COVID numbers stay down so we can have our annual road trip this summer!
Fingers crossed for you! Our trips are mostly camping again this year, just in case 🙂
Smart, thorough, yet simple and straightforward checklist. So important to make sure the car is safe and ready before taking it on an adventure.
When I was in college, I just crossed my fingers and hoped for the best. Now I understand better the importance of car safety!
Excellent checklist. It reminds me to check the garage for that gas can I bought a while back.
Thank you!
What great tips and perfect timing for summer!
Thank you!
Great road trip tips! My last few trips have been in a new car, so aside from making sure the tire pressure is good, I just go! I usually don’t fill up with gas until I’m either across the border or way out of the Lower Mainland of Vancouver, gas is always cheaper elsewhere!
I remember my brother talking about the higher gas prices when he lived there. I do enjoy having a newer car and less car problems!
Great tips. After a couple of close calls out west, we are now in the habit of scoping out where gas stations are when we hit half a tank.
I do that when I drive through Indiana- too many temp rest area closures due construction has caused several close calls!
What a great resource! Thanks for the tips!
My husband always thinks I’m crazy for bringing paper maps. “We can just use our phones,” he always moans. While he might prefer to drive around until cell phone service picks up again, I like being prepared!
Same! If I don’t have a paper map, I download one to my phone so I don’t have to depend on service 🙂
This is such a great checklist for road trips. I’ll definitely save this for our summer road trip!
Very important to do that car check before a roadtrip. I know because I faulty winshield i didnt know about had me park for an hour and half when I got caught up in rain on the road to Wyoming
I learned the hard way about that as well!
These are great tips for keeping people safe.
Great advice! We love to road trip, and always make sure to have our car serviced before a long trip. We also print off copies of maps and directions. I think the only thing we haven’t done, is carry a gas can. Great post!
Thank you!
Great list! There are some things in here that I didn’t think of.
Thank you!
I have had some close calls with gas on road trips in the middle of nowhere. This stress could easily be avoided with a gas can. Great tips!
I hate the close calls with gas. Now we just need a safe way to have the gas can with our pets since we no longer have a trunk to keep them separate!
I always struggle to remember everything I need to have ready for a trip – but having lists like this make it such a breeze! Thank you for taking the time to write it all out
My pleasure! Hope it helps!
Great tips – something my older boys need to remember as they start driving back and forth between college campus. It’s only two hours, but you never know!
True, and good practice for when they go on road trips with their friends!
Great tips for the road trip. Summer is not very far ;), will definitely use your tips. Thank you.
You are very welcome! Hope they help 🙂
Excellent check list for the vehicle, before leaving on a trip! It covers everything.
Thanks! Hope it helps!
I’m allll about road trips – especially last summer and this upcoming summer. I’ve got 3 3-week trips planned this spring/summer/fall and these tips are a great reminder of what to do before you leave!
Glad you found it useful!