If you are planning on doing a long journey in your car, and especially if you are going to be travelling on the motorway then it is vital to carry out some checks a few days before you set off. Some people choose to carry out these checks out on the morning of their trip, but often if you find a problem, it is too late to try and rectify it before you are supposed to leave. For example if you discover you have a puncture then you may not be able to get a tyre fitted for a little while, which may well delay your trip, and if you have a flight to catch, you could end up missing it and therefore missing part if not all of your holiday.

Here are a few items to check:

• Tyres – Make sure that your tyres are in a good condition. They should not have any serious damage, be within the 1.6 mm legal tread depth limit (ideally above 2mm) and have the correct tyre pressure in them. Bear in mind if you are carrying a lot of weight in the vehicle you may need to adjust the tyre pressures accordingly. If you notice damage and you are unsure as to if it may affect the safety of the tyre then you should always get it checked out.
• Fluid Levels – People often forget to check their fluid levels until a warning light comes up on the dash, but this can be risky as some levels do not have warning lights or the lights may fail to illuminate. Check your levels every few weeks and be sure to check, oil and washer fluid levels as well as coolant before going on a long trip.