Are you planning to go to the other side of America or abroad? Everything is booked, the hotel, the campsite, the tours, the excursions... It doesn't matter what car you have,  a new GMC or an old Dodge challenger 1995, are you sure your car is ready for a holiday?

Follow our 10 tips to make it!

1. Plan for the overhaul and technical control of your car

The first thing to do is to check the date of your last technical check performed. It would be inappropriate for the date to be exceeded when you go on holiday, this could be the subject of a ticket ... In addition, the technical control allows you to ensure (or not!) that your vehicle is safe and poses no risk.

As well, refer to the maintenance book regarding the overhaul of your car. It may be worth planning one, especially if your last technical check was more than a year old (compulsory only every 2 years). 

A word of advice: anticipate your visit to the garage as best as possible, the summer periods are often very busy for mechanics.

2. Check tire wear and shock absorbers

• Tires: To avoid any risk associated with handling, it is important to check the overall condition of your tires. They must be prepared to endure a fairly heavy load on a long journey while taking into account the weather, the rain can quickly be invited.

• Tire wear: First, make sure that your tires don't have any significant tears or scratches, or objects embedded inside. Also, check tire pressure, and adjust if necessary by taking into account the manufacturer's recommendations according to the vehicle load (visible in the maintenance book or at the driver's side door).

• The shock absorbers: It is also recommended to check the condition of the shock absorbers before going on holiday, if only for your comfort, especially on a long journey. To do this, try to rely on the car's reaction when braking, turning or driving on a damaged roadway.

3. Control levels

You then need to control the levels of the different liquids, especially the brakes, which pose the greatest "threat" from a safety point of view.

• The brake fluid. : Ideally, the level should be as close as possible to the maximum, although this does not pose serious problems if it is between the minimum and the maximum (regular wear of the brake pads). In this case, you just have to do the extra. However, if the level is below the minimum, this reflects a malfunction of the braking system... a visit to the garage is highly recommended.

• Motor oil level: Then it is necessary to do the same for other liquids by relying on the markers to make the extra

• Cooling liquid: Check when the engine is cold 

• Power steering liquid: Check when the engine is shut down 

• Ice-washing liquid: a special mosquito-repellent liquid may be useful

• Motor oil liquid: If necessary, the supplement should be done with the same oil

Note that in case of high heat, your engine may have trouble cooling down. If there is a leak of cooling liquid, it can even lead to an overheating of the engine…

4. Make sure the air conditioning works properly

Air conditioning should not be underestimated, especially in high heat and on a long journey. If you feel that cold air is taking a long time and the vents are showing signs of moisture, check your air conditioning system. It is also advisable to go to the workshop every year in order to change the refrigerant (about 20% loss per year).

5. Check the condition of the windshield and windshield wiper blades

Overall, be sure to check that your windshield does not have any signs of impact, shrapnel, or even cracks. Obviously, this can affect your visibility but also note that a simple impact can quickly become a crack in case of shock ... 

So be careful when checking before you go on holiday, if an impact is easily repairable, this is not the case for a crack that involves a change of windshield.

It is also necessary to check that your windshield wipers are working properly. It may well be that the rain or even the storm points to the tip of its nose during your holiday and rubbers not fully fulfilling their functions will leave traces of water that could hinder your visibility and put you in danger.

6. Loading the trunk of the car 

Who says departure on holiday means luggage in a mess? On this side, a large car often solves any organizational problems even if this is not always the case. Be careful, however, not to over-clutter your trunk, or risk obstructing your rear visibility.

A roof box can be useful for a clear view, especially for long journeys that often involve a lot of highways.

You should also pay attention to the total load weight of your vehicle, which must not exceed the limit indicated in your car’s manual. If you exceed this weight, the handling will be impacted during braking, a turn, or even a simple gust of wind.

7. Check signage

Another important point to check before going on holiday is signage. Make sure your headlights and flashers are working properly. To do this, use a partner who is standing outside the car to tell you about a possible malfunction. Test your crossing lights, stoplights, recoil lights, flashers, and also the lights on your dashboard. A car that does not report properly is often the source of many accidents, so don't overlook this part.

8. Prepare your tools

Finally, plan a few tools to take before you go on vacation. This is not to make you bad luck but at least you will be equipped in case of a hard blow and you may even be able to avoid a visit to the local garage (with an anti-crack bomb for example).

9. Prepare mandatory papers and documents

For a long trip, taking breaks is important, but it is also advisable to change drivers regularly to reduce the risk of fatigue-related accidents. To do this, consider checking with your insurance company that people who may drive your car are entitled to do so.

Also, take the opportunity to check your various options in case of a breakdown or accident, this could save you unnecessary expenses, especially if you need assistance, something we do not wish you of course.

Also think before you go on holiday to make sure that you have all the necessary papers (driver's license, credit card, up-to-date insurance...), the checks being very frequent in the summer.

10. Plan your route: avoid traffic jams

Finally, with the same aim of spending as little time as possible on the road and especially in traffic jams, it is strongly advised to plan your journey according to the planned road traffic, before you leave on holiday for better organization. Google maps will be very useful in planning your route because it takes into account the announced traffic estimates. You can also find the app on your mobile that can use GPS if you need it.