How to Check Your Car Before a Road Trip

Staff
Co-Authored

Planning on going on a road trip soon? Before you do so, you should check your car to make sure that it is in good condition and running well.

If you spend a little time preparing your vehicle for the trip beforehand, you can avoid most problems that might ruin your fun along the way.

1 Look over the vehicle for signs of issues. While there are a number of specific things you’ll want to check for as you prepare your vehicle for a road trip, a general inspection is a great way to identify any issues you might otherwise miss. Check the condition of the windows, the state of the vehicle’s body, and look for anything that stands out as unusual.^[1]
- Make a note of any issue you spot to be sure you address them before the trip.
- This first inspection will inform the things you focus on as you continue preparing your vehicle.
2 See if your windshield wipers need to be replaced. Like any part of a car, windshield wipers can wear out from use. They may also simply dry out and crack over time. Test your windshield wipers and make sure they can displace water effectively. If not, they’ll need to be replaced.
- Use windshield washer fluid or some water to test the effectiveness of your wipers.
- If your windshield wipers are visibly cracked, they need to be replaced.
3 Make sure your tires are properly inflated. Driving on underinflated tires can increase the chances that you’ll have a blowout by causing damage to the tire’s sidewall. It will also hurt your gas mileage. On tires installed by the factory, you can find the right tire pressure in the owner’s manual, but you can also find the…