If you’re planning to head out of town on a road trip this summer, you’ll have to do more than just find someone to watch the house and bring in the mail. Here are five things you should do well in advance of your departure date to make sure your trip goes off without a hitch.
1. First and foremost, don’t take it for granted that your vehicle is ready to travel cross-country. Make an appointment with your mechanic and request that all your car’s systems get a thorough check-up. While your car is in the garage, be sure that the oil gets changed, the windshield wiper fluid is refilled and the spare tire is inflated.
2. Prepare an emergency kit. It should include a cell phone so you can call for help if it is needed; a fully stocked first-aid kit that contains bandages, antiseptic, gauze and pain reliever; blankets; and a tool box that contains a few basic tools, like screwdrivers, a hammer, a rubber mallet, an adjustable wrench and pliers, just in case you need to make emergency repairs.
3. Pack detailed maps. It’s always a good idea to plan your route before heading into unfamiliar territory, but just in case you get lost, you’ll want to have detailed maps along so you can find your way back to the main highway if necessary. Another way to guarantee you’ll be able to successfully deviate from your plan, if desired, is to invest in a portable GPS navigation unit.
4. Bring along entertainment. When you’re in a rush, it’s easy to forget things. But if you have kids, you can’t afford to leave the entertainment behind. When you were young, entertainment probably consisted of finding the letters of the alphabet on billboards, and reading books and magazines. These days, kids are accustomed to being entertained with electronics. Be sure to pack your portable DVD player and a good selection of movies, the MP3 player and the portable gaming unit and its game cartridges.
5. Review your auto insurance policy before you leave home to make sure you understand what coverage you have. If you only opted for the minimum when you last renewed your policy, prior to a trip is a good time to consider making changes. You can get car insurance quotes online from most of the major insurance companies, and best of all they will be free auto insurance quotes, placing you under no obligation. Minimum coverage is different in different states and if something goes wrong you don’t want to get into trouble for not having adequate auto insurance.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
