Before you hit the highway, make sure your vehicle is as prepared as you are.
There’s nothing quite like the feeling of loading up the car and heading out on a road trip. Whether you’re driving a few hours to the coast or making a multi-day trek across the Pacific Northwest, the open road has a way of making everything feel a little more adventurous.
What doesn’t feel adventurous is breaking down on the side of the highway two hours into your trip.
The good news is that most road trip breakdowns are preventable. A thorough pre-trip inspection gives you the chance to catch small issues before they become big problems, and to enjoy your drive with confidence rather than fingers crossed.
At Bret’s Auto Repair in Lynnwood, we help drivers get road trip ready every season. Here’s what we recommend checking before any significant drive.
Start With the Basics: Fluids
Your vehicle relies on several fluids to function properly, and a long drive puts more demand on all of them than typical around-town driving does.
Before you leave, check or have a shop check the following:
Engine oil — Check both the level and the condition. If you’re due for an oil change before or shortly after your trip, it’s worth getting it done beforehand. Fresh oil going into a long drive is always preferable to degraded oil that’s already overdue.
Coolant — Your cooling system works hard on long drives, especially in warm weather or mountainous terrain. Make sure the coolant level is correct and that the fluid looks clean. Milky or rusty coolant can indicate a problem worth addressing before you go.
Brake fluid — Low or degraded brake fluid can affect braking performance, particularly during extended mountain driving where brakes see more sustained use.
Power steering fluid — Low power steering fluid can make handling feel off, especially at lower speeds.
Windshield washer fluid — Easy to overlook, but you’ll miss it the moment a truck kicks up road grime on the highway. Top it off before you leave.
Tires: The Most Important Pre-Trip Check
Your tires are the only part of your vehicle that actually touches the road, which makes them the single most important thing to inspect before a long drive.
Check tire pressure. Tires lose pressure naturally over time, and underinflated tires on a highway drive can generate excess heat, which increases the risk of a blowout. Check pressure when the tires are cold, using the specification on the sticker inside your driver’s door jamb rather than the number printed on the tire itself.
Inspect tread depth. Worn tires are a safety risk under normal conditions and a serious one in wet weather. If the tread looks low, have the tires evaluated before your trip rather than after.
Look for uneven wear, bulges, or cracks. Uneven tread wear can indicate alignment or suspension issues. Bulges or sidewall cracks are a sign the tire may be compromised and should be replaced.
Check your spare. A flat tire on a road trip is manageable, unless your spare is also flat or missing. Before you leave, confirm that your spare is properly inflated and that you have the tools to change it.
Brakes
A long road trip often involves more varied driving than your daily commute; highway speeds, mountain passes, and unfamiliar roads. You want to know your brakes are in good shape before you encounter any of it.
Warning signs that your brakes should be inspected before a trip:
- Squealing or grinding when you brake
- A soft or spongy brake pedal
- Pulling to one side when braking
- Vibration through the steering wheel or pedal when stopping
- Longer stopping distances than usual
If you’ve noticed any of these and been putting off a brake inspection, a road trip departure date is a good reason to get it done.
Battery
Few things derail a road trip faster than a vehicle that won’t start — especially in an unfamiliar area.
If your battery is more than three years old, or if you’ve noticed any signs of weakness (slow cranking, dim headlights, electronics behaving unusually), a battery test before your trip is a smart move. A professional test measures voltage output, cold cranking amps, and overall battery health, giving you a clear picture of whether it’s likely to hold up.
Also check for corrosion around the battery terminals. A buildup of white or bluish powder can interfere with the electrical connection and is easy to address during a pre-trip inspection.
Belts and Hoses
Belts and hoses are easy to ignore because they’re not something most drivers check regularly. But a snapped serpentine belt or a burst coolant hose on the highway is a serious situation.
Have a technician inspect:
The serpentine belt — for cracking, fraying, or glazing that indicates wear
Coolant hoses — for soft spots, bulges, or cracks that suggest the hose is deteriorating
These are inexpensive to replace proactively and potentially very expensive to deal with roadside.
Lights and Wipers
Simple checks that take only a few minutes but matter more than you might expect on an unfamiliar road at night or in bad weather.
Walk around your vehicle and confirm that all exterior lights are functioning; headlights, taillights, brake lights, and turn signals. Replace any burned-out bulbs before you leave.
Test your windshield wipers and replace them if they’re streaking or skipping. Pacific Northwest road trips in particular can involve unpredictable weather, and wipers that work poorly are a genuine visibility hazard.
Air Conditioning
Not strictly a safety item, but worth mentioning for summer road trips. If your A/C has been underperforming, a pre-trip check can identify whether it needs a simple recharge or something more involved.
Pack a Basic Emergency Kit
Even a well-maintained vehicle can run into unexpected situations. A simple emergency kit in the trunk gives you options if something does go wrong.
Consider including:
- A fully inflated spare tire and the tools to change it
- Jumper cables or a portable jump starter
- A flashlight with fresh batteries
- Basic roadside flares or reflective triangles
- A first aid kit
- Water and snacks for longer trips
- Your roadside assistance information if applicable
Let Bret’s Get You Road Trip Ready
Our technicians will go through your vehicle systematically, flag anything that needs attention, and give you an honest assessment of whether your car is ready for the road ahead. We’d rather help you catch a potential issue in our shop than have you deal with it on the side of the highway.
If you have a trip coming up and want peace of mind before you go, schedule a pre-trip inspection with our team today.
Schedule your appointment with Bret’s Auto Repair today.
Bret’s Auto Repair — Serving Lynnwood and surrounding communities with trusted automotive care.