Have you got plans to get out on a big, epic road trip? Choosing to do one of these holidays should be on everyone’s bucket list at some point. Whether you are just heading away for the day or you are planning on travelling thousands of miles in your car, you need to make sure that it is always properly prepped. Here are some of the best ways to do so.

Get a Professional to Give It a Once Over

As careful as you might be with your car, you should maybe consider letting a professional take a look at it before you go away with it for a long journey. By allowing a mechanic to take a look at it, you can be certain that it will be in the best possible condition before you hit the road. Find someone that can give you a full, comprehensive service to ensure no issues are missed. This auto repair shop, for instance, can do your oil change, brake repair, engine repair and tire services which will ensure your car is ready to go.

You need to make sure that the car is fully road-worthy before you go or you risk running into serious trouble once you are underway. Trust the mechanic to make everything good, and don’t be afraid to ask questions if you think it could teach you more about the car.

Make Sure You Have a Paper Map

We all rely on our phones far too much. What happens if you get lost somewhere with no phone signal? What happens if you run out of battery and have no way to recharge? You need to make sure that you have some maps in the back of the car so you can always find your way from A to B if you need to.

There are so many types of map out there, and map-reading is a vital skill that many have lost. Don’t just buy a stack of maps and throw them in the car without ever looking at them. You need to make sure that you have studied them, so you know how to read them.

Work Out How Much Space You Have

How many people are coming on this road trip, and how long will it be? The higher both these factors are, the more storage you are going to need in the car! Even a small car has a surprising amount of room when you begin to look at the trunk and the footwells.

The more people that are coming on the trip, the more you are going to have take with you. Even if people decide to share clothes, you still are going to have to take enough items to last everyone on the trip. This can require more careful packing than you might first think. It might even be worth investing in a roof box so everyone can be as comfortable as possible when inside the car.

Have a Semblance of a Plan

You do not have to have a full itinerary planned when travelling on a road trip. More often than not, it can be more fun to just sit back and let the road take you somewhere instead. There is always somewhere new to explore, and you might decide that you want to spend a few extra hours in one place rather than go off somewhere new.

However, it is a good idea to have a semblance of a plan as it means you can potentially save money as you travel. For example, if you are touring the continental USA and want to visit as many state parks as you can, buying an annual pass for them will be a good idea. It is more cost-effective than individual tickets, and it still allows you the flexibility of being able to visit whenever you want.

Don’t Forget the Basics

It can be easy to get swept up in planning a road trip in terms of selecting clothes, and stops, and curating the ultimate playlist. However, there are also some key safety things you should do before heading out, just to ensure that you are staying as safe as possible.

Make sure your car has the basics, like a healthy spare tyre, and make sure you pack jumper cables, spare windscreen fluid, and anything else you might need to care for the car on the road. Your mechanic should be able to give you an indicator of what is needed. The more prepared you can be, the better you should be able to handle an emergency.

Road-tripping is so much fun, no matter where you are trying to go! Prepping the car often feels like the first step of the journey, and you need to make sure that everything is always ready to go. Take the time to prep properly before you leave, and you will find that it always has great repercussions for you later down the line. Get planning, and get ready to enjoy a holiday like nothing you have ever been on before!