Pre-road-trip car check

What's inside

1. Get scheduled maintenance done if it's due

   Do it at least a week before departure: if something turns up, you'll have time to fix it or order a part instead of racing the clock the night before.

2. Check oil, coolant, brake fluid and washer fluid levels

   Bring an extra liter of the right oil grade — topping up with your own on the road beats hunting for an exact match in an unfamiliar shop.

3. Check pressure in all tires, including the spare

   The spare is the one people check least often — and it fails you at the worst possible moment. Do it along with the other four.

4. Inspect tread for cuts and sidewall bulges

   A sidewall bulge means don't drive on it, period — swap the tire before you go. At speed it can blow out without warning.

5. Check brake pads and discs

   Check remaining pad thickness — a long trip with a loaded car wears brakes faster than everyday city driving.

6. Check all lights and pack a spare bulb kit

   Turn signals, brake lights, high and low beams. Several European countries legally require carrying spare bulbs — check the rules for the countries you're entering.

7. Check the wiper blades

   Worn blades mean hours of smeared rain on the windshield during a long drive — replace them if you see streaking or hear squeaking.

8. Check the battery and its terminals

   Make sure the terminals are tight and free of corrosion — not every stop on a long route will have someone around to help jump-start you.

9. Inspect belts and hoses for leaks

   A cracked belt or a hose weeping coolant is exactly what fails under the sustained load of a long drive, not sitting still in a garage.

10. Run a quick OBD diagnostic scan

    A code scan takes about 10 minutes at any shop and can flag issues that aren't visible or audible yet but will surface on the road.

11. Check the AC and heater

    You'll need both if the route crosses climate zones — southern heat or mountain cold is not the time to discover the vents don't work.

12. Check your license, registration and insurance dates

    Confirm the policy covers every day of the trip and every country on the route — not just your home country.

13. Arrange insurance valid for the countries you'll enter

    A Green Card or local liability policy — border control can turn you away without it. Check current requirements for each country on the route ahead of time.

14. Set up a toll transponder or road-toll app

    Every country runs a different system — vignettes, transponders, apps. Sort it out in advance; the fine for an unpaid toll is often many times the toll itself.

15. Plan fuel stops on remote stretches of the route

    Mark the gas-station gaps on the map ahead of time and don't let the tank drop below a quarter there — don't count on a station just appearing.

16. Wash the car, including the inside of the windows

    Grime on the inside of the glass turns into smeared halos from oncoming headlights at night — like driving without your glasses.

17. Load luggage correctly

    Heavy items go low and close to the seat backs; nothing loose on the rear parcel shelf — under hard braking it becomes a projectile.

18. Check the standard safety kit: triangle, vest, first aid kit, extinguisher

    Same kit as for everyday driving, but before a long trip double-check the expiry dates on the first aid kit and extinguisher — replacing them mid-route isn't easy.

19. Pack spare fuses

    A small assorted set covers most cases — a blown fuse can kill your lights or windows, and it costs pennies and takes a minute to swap if you have one on hand.