Before you pack your car full and put your pedal to the metal to escape the Kentucky heat, there are a few things you should do before! Yes, spontaneous road trips are full of fun and unforgettable memories but you don’t want to end up on the side of the road 2 hours into the drive. Check out these 5 simple things you should do before a road trip this summer.
1. Clean it up!
First of all, you should clean your car since you are going to be in its hours and hours a day. During your trip, your car will fill up with gas receipts, fast food wrappers, and crumbs from your favorite road-trip snacks. You don’t want to start your road trip with garbage already in it, it will fill up fast and might start to smell bad. You don’t want to pull out your luggage and find it covered with sticky goo or covered in dirt. By cleaning your car before heading out, you will have more room for luggage and storage. While on the road it’s best to stay on top of a clean car by throwing away trash when you stop for gas.
2. Get it a checkup
The second and most important task before a road trip is to take your car into your local mechanic, like Auto Excel, for a quick checkup. Do this about a week before your trip so you know that your car’s fluids are full, tires are full of air (even your spare), and your brakes work well. This will give you time to fix any problems that your car might have and put your mind at ease knowing your car is reliable. Make sure to keep jumper cables, extra wiper fluid, and change your wipers so you can easily wipe away bugs.
3. Download
Before your trip preload your phone with helpful car apps like GasBuddy and Waze to help you find the cheapest gas prices and the most efficient routes during your trip. Download your favorite playlists, podcasts, or whatever you listen to so that it is available while driving those roads with no service. Keep your phone plugged into a charger to keep you powered up in case of an emergency.
4. In case of emergency
A really good idea is to join a roadside assistance program. Flat tires and accidents happen out of nowhere. If you get stranded on the side of the road it’s a lot easier to call your roadside assistance than trying to look one up at the moment. Roadside assistance is normally faster and more convenient to have.
5. Be Prepared
Last but not least, gather your documents and store them in an easily accessible area; the glovebox is the most common place to store these. This includes your insurance, registration, emergency contacts, roadside assistance, and any other important documents you might need. It’s easy to get pulled over in a new area because you are distracted by the new views.
Before you head out on any road trip be sure to stop by Auto Excel, we are located in Lexington. We will take care of you and your vehicle so you can get started on those summer road trips! Make your appointment with Auto Excel in Lexington today! You can find us at 271 Gold Rush Rd Suite 1, Lexington, KY 40503. See you soon!