Preparing Your Car for a Road Trip: The Ultimate Checklist
- Dan Rankin
- 7 days ago
- 6 min read
There's nothing like a good road trip — loading up the car, hitting the open road, and watching the kilometres roll by. But a breakdown in the middle of nowhere turns a holiday into a headache fast. The Hume Highway in January or the Murray Valley in Easter traffic isn't where you want to discover your coolant's been low for months.
The good news is that most roadside breakdowns are preventable. A quick check before you leave takes less than an hour and can save you days of stress. Here's the complete road trip checklist to run through before you go.
🔍 When to Do Your Pre-Trip Check
Don't leave it until the morning you're packing the car. If something needs attention, you want time to sort it out — not a panicked call to every mechanic in town hoping someone can fit you in.
A week before departure is ideal. That gives you time to book a service if your car's due, order parts if needed, or get tyres replaced without rushing.
If your car's been sitting for a while — maybe a second vehicle you don't drive often — give it a few short drives in the week before the trip. This lets the battery charge properly and gives you a chance to notice anything that feels off before you're committed to a long haul.
✅ The Complete Road Trip Checklist
Work through this list systematically. Most checks take seconds; a few might need a mechanic if you're not comfortable doing them yourself.
Tyres
Your tyres are doing all the work on a long drive. Check the pressure when they're cold (morning is best) and set them to the placard recommendation — usually inside the driver's door frame. If you're loading the car heavily, use the "full load" pressure if your placard lists one.
Check the tread depth. The legal minimum is 1.5mm, but for wet weather grip you want at least 3mm. Look for uneven wear, cracks in the sidewall, or bulges — any of these mean the tyre needs replacing before you go.
Don't forget the spare. Make sure it's inflated and the jack and wheel brace are where they should be.
Brakes
If you've noticed any sponginess in the pedal, grinding noises, or the car pulling to one side when braking, get your brakes checked before the trip. Long descents through hilly country — the Great Ocean Road, the Alps, anywhere with real elevation — put serious demands on brakes.
Fluids
Pop the bonnet and check:
Engine oil — should be between the min and max marks on the dipstick. If it's dark black and gritty, it's overdue for a change.
Coolant — check the reservoir level when the engine is cold. If it's low, top it up with the correct coolant (not just water). If it's consistently dropping, there may be a leak that needs attention.
Brake fluid — reservoir usually near the back of the engine bay. Should be between min and max.
Windscreen washer fluid — easy to forget, annoying to run out of when you're copping bugs and dust on a country highway.
Lights
Walk around the car and check every light: headlights (high and low beam), tail lights, brake lights, indicators, reverse lights, and hazard lights. Get someone to press the brake pedal while you check the rear. A blown globe is a quick fix now — and a fine or a safety issue later.
Wipers and Windscreen
Worn wipers smear instead of clearing. If they're streaking or chattering, replace them before you go — they're cheap and take two minutes to fit. Check the windscreen for chips too. A small chip can crack right across on a hot day or a corrugated road.
Battery
If your car's been slow to start, or the battery is more than three to four years old, get it tested. Heat and age kill batteries, and a flat battery in a regional town on a public holiday is a recipe for a long wait. Most mechanics will test it for free.
Air Conditioning
If you're driving in summer, test the aircon properly — not just a quick blast, but running it for 10–15 minutes. Weak cooling might mean a re-gas is due, and that's better sorted before you're crawling through 40-degree heat with warm air blowing at you.
🧰 What to Pack: The Emergency Kit
Even with a perfectly prepared car, things can go wrong. Carry a basic emergency kit so you're not completely stuck if they do.
The Essentials
Jumper leads or a portable jump starter
Tyre pressure gauge
Torch with fresh batteries (or a rechargeable one)
Basic tool kit (screwdrivers, pliers, adjustable wrench)
Duct tape and cable ties — temporary fixes for surprisingly many things
First aid kit
Phone charger (car and portable)
Water — at least a few litres per person, more in summer or remote areas
Snacks that won't melt
For Remote Driving
If you're heading somewhere genuinely remote — unsealed roads, limited phone reception, long stretches between towns — add:
Recovery gear (tow strap, shovel) if you're going off-road
Extra fuel or a jerry can
UHF radio
Tyre repair kit or plug kit
More water
Paperwork
Keep your licence, registration papers, and insurance documents in the car. If you're an RACV or NRMA member, make sure you know the roadside assistance number — or save it in your phone before you leave reception range.
⚠️ Warning Signs Not to Ignore
If any of these happen in the lead-up to your trip, get them checked before you go — not after.
Strange Noises
Squealing when you brake, grinding from the wheels, knocking from the engine, or a new rattle that wasn't there before. Cars don't develop new sounds for no reason.
Dashboard Warning Lights
Any warning light that's on — check engine, oil pressure, battery, temperature — needs investigating. Some are minor; some mean "stop driving immediately." Don't gamble on a long trip.
Vibrations
Vibration through the steering wheel often points to tyre or wheel balance issues. Vibration when braking suggests warped rotors. Either way, it's worth a check before you're doing highway speeds for hours.
Leaks
Check where you normally park. Fresh spots of oil, coolant (usually green, orange, or pink), or other fluids mean something's leaking. Small leaks become big problems on long drives.
📍 Pre-Trip Checks in North-East Victoria
If you're heading off from the Benalla, Yarrawonga, or Mulwala area — or passing through on your way somewhere else — Ynot Auto can run through a pre-trip safety check and make sure your car's ready for the road.
We'll check tyres, brakes, fluids, battery, lights, and anything else you're not sure about. If your service is due or close to due, we can knock that out at the same time so you're not worrying about it on the road.
We're RACV and NRMA accredited, and we offer 24/7 roadside assistance across the region if your trip brings you back through our neck of the woods.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How far in advance should I check my car before a road trip?
About a week before is ideal. This gives you time to book a service, replace worn tyres, or fix any issues that come up — without rushing or paying for urgent call-outs.
What's the most common cause of road trip breakdowns?
Flat batteries, overheating, and tyre blowouts cover most of them. All three are preventable with basic pre-trip checks — battery test, coolant level, and tyre condition and pressure.
Should I get a service before a long drive?
If you're due or close to due, yes. If you've just had one, a quick visual check of fluids, tyres, and lights is usually enough. When in doubt, a pre-trip inspection gives you peace of mind without a full service cost.
Do I really need an emergency kit?
For highway driving between major towns, the essentials (jumper leads, water, phone charger) are usually enough. For remote or outback travel, a more comprehensive kit is genuinely important — breakdowns in areas with no phone reception are a different situation entirely.
What should I do if a warning light comes on during my trip?
It depends on the light. Temperature or oil pressure warnings mean pull over immediately and call for help. Check engine lights are usually less urgent but should be investigated soon. Don't ignore any warning light for hundreds of kilometres.
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