We all want to take the car on a summer road trip. The weather has been quite unpredictable lately. Blazingly hot one moment and heating-on-again cold the next – there is a reason that we talk about the weather in the UK: it bears comment!

But hopefully, we are due a nice stable spell of warm weather in the months ahead. Time to plan and enjoy taking your family away on road trips and staycations across the whole of Britain. From John O’Groats to Land’s End. Before you rush off to pack the car, there are some steps you should take to get your car ready for a summer road trip. Let’s take a look.

Are you legally compliant?

Being a driver is not just a matter of knowing how to drive and having a car that runs. Instead, there is a set of laws that deal with drivers and driving. You should always make sure that you stay on top of the latest updates to legislation. For example, not only must you have a valid driving license, but your car must be insured and MOT tested.

In fact, you cannot get car insurance without having a valid MOT test certificate. Although you can own a car without having a driver’s license. But you can’t drive on the UK’s road network, obviously. MOT test must be performed on cars that have reached the third anniversary of their registration dates.

Keeping up with these requirements can sometimes be challenging. But, the bright side is; they save you from potential penalties and enhance your vehicle’s performance. It’s always better to get your MOT booking on time to avoid last-minute hassles. If your MOT is due, you can book MOT at Fife Autocentre and you can be sure that their experts will take care of everything so you can drive off secure in the knowledge that you are obeying both the spirit and intention of the law.

Top up the tyres

Your tyres are the one part of your car that is in constant contact with the road. They should be in great shape at all times. There is nothing more depressing than having all sorts of exciting holiday plans put on hold by an unexpected puncture or blow-out!

As well as making sure your tyres have no signs of ageing or damage, you should check your tread depth to make sure you have sufficient coverage (a minimum of 1.6mm over the central three-quarters of the contact surface). Ensure that your tyres are inflated to the correct pressure as stated. These simple steps can help you to ensure that your tyres stand whatever tests your road trip inflict upon them.

Service for peace of mind

And finally, before any long trip, you should make sure your car is freshly serviced. If you’ve recently had your major service done, your car is probably good to go. But, if it’s been a while and you’ve done a lot of driving in that time, book your car in for an interim service.

Once your car is sorted and good to go, all you have to do is worry about where to stay, what to see, and what to do.