The boot is full, the navigation knows the route and your accommodation is waiting. But your car still has to cope with hundreds of kilometres in the heat, long waits in traffic jams and the extra load of luggage. A check just before departure can uncover problems that might otherwise only show up on the motorway or far from your usual garage.
Before your summer holiday, check the tyres and adjust their pressure for the load, as well as the levels of operating fluids, the brakes, lights, wipers and battery condition. Check your documents, insurance, route plan and how your luggage is secured. If the car shows a fluid leak, overheating or unusual noises, have these issues dealt with at a garage before you travel. A simple checklist is a preventive measure, not a guarantee that a breakdown will never happen.
Start early, not on the day you leave
Ideally, set aside time to inspect the car several days before your trip. If you discover a worn tyre or the need to replace brake components, you will still have time for a workshop visit and a test drive. On the other hand, it is not advisable to carry out a major untested repair just before departure and immediately set off on a journey of a thousand kilometres.
In its summer checklist, the German automobile club ADAC lists tyres, oil, cooling, the battery, lights and brakes. A long journey in high temperatures can reveal weaknesses that may not be apparent on a short trip to the shops. If your scheduled service falls during your holiday, have it completed at home beforehand in line with the manufacturer's maintenance plan.
Also look at the instrument panel. The engine, oil-pressure or coolant warning light must not be treated as an irritating decoration to ignore while you pack. If a red warning light comes on, follow the vehicle manual; continuing to drive may cause damage or compromise safety.
Tyres: it is not enough that they do not look visibly flat
Measure tyre pressure when the tyres are cold, following the vehicle manufacturer's specifications and taking into account a full passenger load and a loaded boot. The recommended value may differ between normal use and holiday loading. Find the correct pressure on the vehicle label or in the manual, not on the tyre sidewall, which may state a different technical value.
Check both sides of every tyre where accessible: uneven wear, cracks, bulges or embedded objects all deserve attention. If a tyre is damaged or significantly worn, do not risk assuming it will last for one more holiday. A spare wheel or repair kit is useful only if it is usable and you know what to do in the event of a puncture.
When travelling in a loaded car, measure the pressure before setting off, not after several hours of driving. Air heated inside a tyre may show a higher reading, so releasing air according to a chart intended for cold tyres can leave them underinflated. Watch for any TPMS warning light on the journey, but do not rely on it to detect every type of damage immediately.
Oil and cooling: small checks before a major load
Check the engine oil as specified in the vehicle manual, on a suitable surface and under the recommended conditions. In a vehicle with a dipstick, observe the prescribed waiting time after switching off the engine; for electronic measurement, follow the onboard system's instructions. The level should be within the permitted range, and any top-up must meet the manufacturer's specification.
Check the coolant only when the engine has cooled down safely. Opening a hot pressurised system can cause serious scalding. If the level repeatedly drops or a wet patch appears beneath the car, do not postpone diagnostics until after your holiday. A cooling problem is particularly unpleasant when driving slowly in a traffic jam during hot weather.
Top up the windscreen-washer fluid with a product suitable for the current season. Check the wipers and windscreen, as insects, dust and heavy summer rain can quickly impair visibility. Do not put homemade, untested mixtures in the reservoir, as they may clog the nozzles or damage materials.
Battery, air conditioning and brakes
High temperatures also put strain on the battery. If the car is already reluctant to start, the battery is old or it regularly discharges after sitting for a longer period, have its condition and charging system checked. Replacing it blindly may not solve a problem with the alternator or an electrical drain while the engine is off.
Air conditioning is not just a matter of comfort. When travelling in hot weather, it helps keep the cabin at a tolerable temperature and supports the driver's concentration. If it cools poorly, smells bad or makes unusual noises when switched on, prompt servicing is better than experimenting with refrigerant at home. Adding refrigerant yourself without diagnosis will not address a possible leak.
Watch for unusual vibrations, a longer braking distance or metallic noises from the brakes. If these occur, do not continue without a professional inspection. On a long mountain journey, brakes may be under greater strain than on level roads. Using lower gears correctly when descending helps limit overheating, but it does not replace a functioning braking system.
Luggage must stay where it belongs
Place heavy items as low as possible and as close as possible to the rear seatbacks, in accordance with the vehicle's design. Do not leave a heavy suitcase loose on the luggage-compartment cover: it can become a dangerous projectile during hard braking. Use tie-down points, a net or another securing system as specified in the manual.
Keep within the vehicle's permitted weight and axle-load limits. A roof box changes air resistance and the car's handling, requires proper attachment and has its own weight limit. Overloading is not only a matter of higher fuel consumption, but also of braking distance and stability. The vehicle manual and the roof-box manufacturer's instructions take priority over general advice from the internet.
Keep hand luggage, documents and drinking water within reach, but do not leave them loose near the pedals or under the driver's seat. When travelling with children, check that the child seat and its harness are correctly secured according to its instructions. Never leave a child or animal alone in a parked vehicle: the interior can overheat very quickly, even in seemingly mild weather.
Documents, roadside assistance and crossing borders
Before leaving, check that your driving licence, vehicle registration certificate, required travel documents and insurance are valid. Requirements for a green card and other documents depend on the countries you are visiting; verify the current requirements with your insurer and through official information from the destination countries. When travelling in a rented or company car, the owner's consent may be required depending on the terms of the trip.
Check what your roadside-assistance cover includes and its limits for towing, a replacement vehicle and accommodation. Save the telephone number somewhere accessible without an internet connection. Do not forget electronic motorway vignettes, any local toll systems and the rules on mandatory equipment in the countries you will be travelling through.
Prepare an offline map and an alternative route for navigation. Plan breaks and allow for delays at borders or during peak traffic. An overly ambitious arrival time creates pressure to drive faster and for longer without rest.
A short checklist for the day of departure
Walk around the car once more: the tyres have no visible damage, the pressure matches the load, the lights work and no fluid is leaking beneath the vehicle. Check that the boot is closed, the roof box is secure and visibility through the windows is clear. If overheating or another serious symptom occurs during the journey, stop safely and assess the situation according to the vehicle manual.
Your holiday does not begin by setting off at the exact planned minute at any cost. A brief pre-departure check is cheaper and less stressful than looking for a garage on the motorway, but safety takes priority even when the accommodation has already been paid for.
Sources
- ADAC – Travelling by Car on Holiday: What You Should Check Before Departure (summer vehicle check) – https://www.adac.de/rund-ums-fahrzeug/reparatur-pflege-wartung/pflege/auto-vorbereiten-urlaub/
- ADAC – Holiday Check Before You Travel: How to Prevent Breakdowns (tyres, operating fluids and safety) – https://www.adac.de/der-adac/regionalclubs/wuerttemberg/adac-urlaubs-check/
Gabriel Čatár
I'm interested in everyday things we encounter but don't always understand. From technology and personal finance to practical guides and fascinating facts about the world. At Offpitch, I focus on topics worth exploring in greater depth, checking the facts and explaining them in a clear, accessible way. My goal is to make sure readers take away something useful from every article.
