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Road trips are refreshing, invigorating and a travel lovers’ delight. It is essential to prep your car for safer road trips. Here is a six-point checklist for the same.
Check your service record
Things to look out for with regard to this step is checking if you are due for an oil change or factory service. In case you are within 500 miles of the scheduled next service, make sure to get it done before the trip. When going for a full-service oil check, services would check the other fluids as well.
Check your tire pressure
A very basic but a very important step, a tire with less pressure than is recommended may cause a flat or even a blowout. This is a dangerous situation. So do check your tire pressure, for all tires including the spare before setting out on your road trip.
Check your license, insurance, and registration
First, check the expiry date for all the documents. Especially insurance. If you are going for a long road trip, this is the most important step. Make sure you have all the documents handy. Keep a scanned copy on your computer or on your smartphone as back up. And a xerox copy of all these documents including your identity proofs for easy access.
Check your tread depth
Check your tires for any sign of tread wear. Any uneven wear must be checked out before you set out on a long road trip. Check the tread depth also in this instance to ensure that the tires aren’t worn out. This can be done either using a tread depth tool or a penny.
Check your lights and indicators
A simple way to do this is to turn on your car lights and walk around your car. This will ensure that you check they are all working. Once you are done, turn on each turn signal and take a walk around. You could ask a friend to help you check the brake lights. Ask him/her to press your brake pedal while you do the check.
Check your wiper blades
Clean off your wiper blades and test them out. If you notice that the rubber is rough, brittle, dry and/or cracked and/or leaving streaks on your windshield, it is time for you change the wiper blades irrespective of what weather you expect.
Wash and wax your car and check the inside of your vehicle while you are at it as the last two things to do before heading out. And you would be all set to own the road!
The people over at REEDMAN TOLL CHEVROLET, want to make sure you stay safe on your next road trip, bring your car in and have them check it out before you hit the road!