What to organise before you go on a long car trip

Whether you’re heading off with friends or family, long car trips make for awesome holidays. Before you head off on your next long car journey, then here are some helpful tips to help you before you leave.

Plot out your journey

Before you do anything else, make sure you plot out your journey on a map. Schedule in pit stops along the way for bathroom and food breaks. You should stop for at least 15 minutes every 2 hours and try to share the driving with someone else. If you are travelling for multiple days, find suitable accommodation along the way and avoid driving more than 9 hours a day.

Make sure your car is up to date with servicing

You should never embark on a long car trip unless your car is completely up to date with its servicing. Book in with your mechanic a month before you are heading off to ensure you have time to rectify any potential issues. Make sure they check your oil, water levels and tyre conditions to ensure your car is safe to drive.

Check your tyre pressure

Before you embark, check the pressure of all your tyres. Ensure that they are inflated to the PSI suggested by your car manufacturer or mechanic. Do not overinflate your tyres as this can increase your risk of a blowout.

Fill up the tank

When you are driving long distances, you should always fill up your tank, especially if you are driving a route you aren’t familiar with. As you drive take the opportunity to fill up at stations that offer good fuel prices and try not to let your fuel gauge drop beneath halfway at any point, just to be safe.

Program a roadside assistance number into your phone

Whether your engine overheats, or you are caught with a flat or dead battery, odds are you will need roadside assistance. Before you leave, make sure you program a roadside assistance number into your phone so you can get help as soon as possible.

If you breakdown on a long car trip, call the team at Tows 2 Go. Based on the Gold Coast, we offer 24/7 towing services for a wide range of vehicles. We offer caravan towing, prestige car towing, roadside assistance and emergency breakdown services.