You’ve got a week off from work and have been planning this road trip for six months. Your hotel is booked, and you’ve got an itinerary. You and your crew are ready to hit the road! But is your car?

Your road trip should be fun. Getting stuck on the side of the road with car trouble while on vacation? Not fun.

It’s a good idea to have your car looked over by your mechanic at least a week before you hit the road. Don’t put it off until the day before you plan to leave. If there’s a problem, it could take some time to fix. A last-minute auto repair could really screw up your vacation and potentially force you to delay your trip.

Here’s a checklist of some of the major things that your mechanic will check for you:

• When was the last time you had your tires rotated or replaced? A good tire inspection will look at the condition of each tire in order to check for signs of uneven tire wear, proper inflation, and tread wear. Your mechanic might suggest a balance, rotation, and/or alignment service.
• Inspect your car’s brake pads to make sure they aren’t worn or need replacing.
• Make sure it’s strong and has clean terminals.
• Check the levels of the engine oil, automatic transmission fluid, engine antifreeze level in the overflow tank, brake fluid, power steering fluid, and windshield washer reservoir.

If you are due for an oil change, have your mechanic change it while the car is being looked at.

No matter how much maintenance you or your mechanic do on your car before you leave, there’s no guarantee that you won’t have car problems while on the road. Here are a few things you can do to make sure you and your car are ready for any mishaps:

• Be prepared with a roadside survival kit that includes at least a blanket, a flashlight with fresh batteries, extra food, and water. Make sure you have jumper cables packed as well.
• Keep a copy of your car’s warranty and insurance in the glove box. If you have AAA or roadside assistance through some other company, have the emergency contact number with you at all times.
• Bring a spare set of keys along in case you lose your original set.
• Check your windshield wipers, horn, lights, and turn signals. Make sure your jack is in the trunk and that your spare tire has the right pressure.

Need an auto body professional? Call Great Plains Auto Body at 402.334.7100. Make sure to follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

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photo credit: Open Road, Death Valley, CA 2010 via photopin (license)