Essential checks before a long UK road trip

Before you load a single bag

A long drive across the UK is one of the great pleasures of car ownership. Whether you are heading to the Scottish Highlands, a cottage in Cornwall or a ferry port on the south coast, the difference between a relaxed journey and a miserable one is usually decided before you turn the key. Ten minutes of checking the car and twenty minutes of planning will spare you far more than that in stress, and in the worst case, it will spare you a recovery truck.

Do these checks at least a day before you leave, not on the morning itself. If something needs replacing, you still have time to sort it properly rather than driving with a problem and hoping for the best.

Under the bonnet: oil, coolant and screenwash

Park on level ground and let the engine cool completely before opening anything. A warm engine means hot coolant under pressure, and that is not something to take chances with.

• Engine oil: pull the dipstick, wipe it clean, push it back in fully and pull it out again. The level should sit between the minimum and maximum marks. Top up in small amounts and recheck rather than pouring in a whole litre at once.
• Coolant: check the level in the expansion tank against the cold markings. If it needs topping up, use the correct mix of antifreeze and water for your car, and only add it when the engine is cold. A coolant level that keeps dropping is a warning sign, not a top-up job.
• Screenwash: fill it properly with a good concentration of screenwash, not plain water. Summer motorway driving coats your windscreen in insects, and a weak mix will smear rather than clean. In winter, use a stronger concentration so it does not freeze in the jets.
• Brake fluid: the reservoir is usually translucent, so you can see the level against the markings. If it has dropped noticeably, get it looked at before you travel.

Tyres: the one check most drivers skip

Tyres are the only part of the car in contact with the road, and they are the most common cause of roadside breakdowns. Check them when they are cold, meaning before you have driven more than a mile or so, because pressure rises as they warm up.

• Pressure: look up the correct figures in your handbook or on the sticker inside the driver's door pillar. Often there is a higher setting for a fully loaded car, which is exactly your situation on a road trip. Do not use the number on the tyre sidewall; that is a maximum, not a recommendation.
• Tread: the legal minimum in the UK is 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the tread, but anything under 3mm is worth replacing before a long drive. The classic 20p test gives you a rough idea, and the tread wear indicators built into the grooves give you a definite answer.
• Cuts and bulges: run your hand around the sidewalls and look for bulges, cracks or objects embedded in the tread. A bulge means the structure is damaged, and that tyre needs replacing, not repairing.
• The spare: if you carry one, check its pressure and make sure the jack, wheel brace and locking wheel nut key are all present. A spare you cannot fit is just extra weight.

Lights, wipers and visibility

Ask someone to help you check the lights, or use a wall or shop window to see the reflection. With the ignition on, work through headlights on dipped and main beam, front and rear fog lights, indicators on both sides, brake lights and the reversing light. A failed bulb is an easy fix at home and an instant reason for a police stop on the motorway.

While you are at the front of the car, look at the wiper blades. If the rubber is split, hardened or leaving streaks, replace them. Check the windscreen for chips too. A small stone chip has a habit of turning into a long crack when the temperature changes or you hit a pothole, and a cracked windscreen can fail an MOT.

Build a breakdown kit that actually helps

You do not need a workshop in the boot, but a few sensible items make a real difference if you end up on the hard shoulder or a remote layby.

• A torch with working batteries, plus a spare set
• A high-visibility vest for each person travelling, stored in the cabin rather than the boot
• A warning triangle, though never use one on a motorway
• Jump leads or a portable jump starter
• A basic tool kit and a tyre pressure gauge
• Screenwash concentrate, engine oil and a small funnel
• Blankets, a waterproof jacket and a bottle of water
• A phone charger and a power bank, plus your breakdown cover details written down

Check that your breakdown cover is current and covers the whole of the UK, including the area you are travelling to. Cover that only applies within a certain radius of home is no use halfway up the A9.

Plan your stops and load the car sensibly

Driver fatigue is a genuine risk on long journeys, especially on motorways where the scenery barely changes. Plan to stop every two hours or so, even if you feel fine. A fifteen-minute break with a walk and a coffee does more for your concentration than an energy drink. Build these stops into your timing so you are not tempted to push on.

Load heavy items low and forward, over the rear axle where possible, and keep the parcel shelf clear of anything that could become a projectile under heavy braking. Check your tyre pressures again once loaded, and adjust your headlight levelling if your car has it, so you are not dazzling other drivers. Finally, top up the fuel before you leave. Setting off with a full tank removes one more thing to think about, and it means you can choose where to stop rather than being forced into the next services.

Do all of this and your road trip starts the way it should: with the car ready, the boot packed sensibly and nothing on your mind except the road ahead.