With summer fast approaching, you may have exciting plans to go on a family road trip. The UK is filled with so many great road trips, so your adventures can take you just about anywhere in the country. 

However, a road trip requires a vehicle that you can depend on, which means you’ll need to make sure everything’s in working order before you depart. Failure to do this could derail your trip, leaving you stranded as you wait to be rescued.

To prevent this from happening, we’ve put together a handy preparation guide for you to follow. This should ensure your vehicle’s vital components have been thoroughly checkedbefore you set off. 

Tyre checks 

Your tyres are extremely important during a road trip and the two features to check for are tread depth and pressure. 

To check your tyre pressure, head to your local garage and use the tyre inflation pump. You’ll find the information about your tyre pressure in the vehicle handbook or on the wall of the tyre. 

You can check your tread depths by placing a 20p in the grooves of the tyre. If you can’t see the outer band of the coin, your tyres are above the legal limit. However, if your tyres are below the legal limit of 1.6mm, you risk a fine of £2,500. 

Car maintenance

When it comes to car maintenance, you can do the basic checks yourself or book your vehicle in at a servicing station near you if you want a more thorough check. The main things to look out for include oil levels, wiper fluid, air filters, battery capacity and lights. Each feature will be essential for a smooth road trip. 

Packing the car

Depending on the size of your vehicle, space may be at a premium. This makes optimal packing essential, especially if you’ve got young children. 

Always start the loading process by popping the kids in the car first as this will show you how much space is available. Next, load your boot to its max. If you still need more space, a roof rack could be a great solution. 

Be sure to pack emergency equipment too just in case your vehicle has trouble along the way. A physical map, water, torch and snacks are a must for this.

Planning stops

Road trips can be long, so stops are needed for driver and passenger comfort. We recommend planning your stops in locations where you can refuel or charge your electric car as this will kill two birds with one stone. 

It may be a good idea to stop in locations where you can stretch your legs too. A large services lets you walk around for a while and get a bite to eat before another long drive.