Car insurance - Tips & Advice - Car maintenance
Holidays can take a lot of planning. From choosing where to go, to booking the hotel and organising time off work. Then there is the packing and getting the children organised, before you even get to the airport and start the much-awaited trip. For those people who choose to drive to their holiday destination, be it in the UK or in Europe, there is the added pressure of making sure that you get there safely and without any drama.
When you are driving long distances, there are so many things that can happen – from encountering traffic jams to the idiosyncrasies of the roads and habits of drivers in the countries you are passing through. If you are planning on driving long distances then the most important thing is to be as prepared as possible – and that means taking some standard precautions with your car.
If you have the chance to do so, you might want to take your car in for a service, just to make sure that it is in the best of health. If you don’t, or you have recently had it serviced, then stick to the following.
Check your fluid levels
Before you set off, you need to make sure that all your car’s fluids are at the right levels. So this means checking:
- Oil – so that your car will run smoothly all the way to your destination
- Water – so that your car won’t overheat
- Anti-freeze – if you are travelling in winter (going skiing for instance)
- Wash fluid levels – in order to keep your front and rear windscreens clear
All in working order
Take enough time before you set off to make sure that all the important parts of your car are in good working order. If you have noticed that anything about your car hasn’t been quite right, do get it checked out before you go – such as ‘spongy’ brakes, or problems with steering. As a matter of course you should also check:
- Tyre tread – check that there is adequate tread on your tyres. The legal minimum is 1.6mm, so if your car’s tyres are under that then they should be replaced. If they are near to this, you should also consider changing them before you travel
- Tyre pressure – your car’s manual should tell you the right tyre pressure for your car, so you can make sure that all your tyres are set at the right level. You may also want to check this again while you are away as the added weight of passengers and luggage can make a difference
- Lights – make sure that all your front, side and rear lights are in working order, as well as giving your indicators the once-over
- Washers and wipers – you don’t want your visibility to be impaired so check that these are doing their job properly and replace your wiper blades if they are worn or damaged
Be prepared
You should also make sure that you take certain things with you in case you do encounter any problems. Make sure that you have spare oil, water and anti-freeze in case you need to top your car up. You should also make sure that you have a working spare tyre as well as a jack in case of punctures.
If you are driving abroad, then there are certain regulations that apply. Depending on the country you are driving to, you may need a full set of replacement bulbs, headlight beam deflectors for night driving and a warning triangle in case of breakdown. It important that you check out what you need before you go. The Motoring into Europe website is a very good resource.
And of course, if you are travelling long distances then it makes absolute sense to have the right level of car insurance in the event of an accident, and emergency breakdown cover should you run into trouble. Direct Line can help you with exactly the right level of insurance and breakdown cover for your trip.
|
