Holiday road trips are a staple in a country as beautiful as Australia and while it might be easy to plan the snacks, it is more important to make sure your vehicle is up to the journey.

It is Christmas time and off to grandmother’s house you go, making sure your vehicle is safe will help keep you and your family safe on the road.

Dashboard Warning Lights

As soon as you see a warning light in the dash for one of the safety systems, get it checked straight away. In fact, any warning light in the dash calls for immediate checking by a professional.

Tyres

Start with an easy and obvious one, your tyres. Make sure that you have an adequate amount of tread left on each for tyres and that each one has sufficient air and pressure. Be sure to check the spare too if you have one.

Fluid Levels

Many drivers admit to “checking the oil� but they only take the dipstick out to make sure there is indeed oil in the engine. First, make sure the oil is the right colour: If it is dark and black coloured, it is dirty and needs to be replaced. Second, you should double check all fluid levels and colours such as the wiper fluid, engine coolant, transmission fluid, brake fluid, and power steering fluid.

Lights and Wipers

While the vehicle is in a parked position, test all lights, turn signals, and brake lights. Having a friend helps with this.  Test your windscreen washers which will also show if you need new wiper blades. While these checks are useful, it’s always a good idea to have your car checked by a mechanic before heading off on a long drive.