Heading out of town on a road trip this summer? Make sure your car is prepped to make the drive, whether you’re heading a few hours south to Oregon or across the country. Taking precautionary steps to make sure your vehicle is in tip top condition should be as important as packing your clothes. Read below for some tips from AAA on how to get ready for some summer fun on the open road!

1. Check your tires – If you haven’t read our latest blog post on how to maintain your tires, check it out! It has some really good tips for checking their wear and tear, something you should do before you get on the road. All four tires, including your spare, should be filled with air and their tread shouldn’t be too worn.

2. Check your engine’s thermostat and coolant level – A summer road trip usually includes a long stretch of highway driving in hot temperatures. Many times that long stretch of highway may not have gas stations or auto repair shops along the way. If your car should overheat you might be stuck on the side of the road in extremely hot temperatures. Prepare ahead of time and make sure your car has the proper coolant level that it needs. If your “check engine” light comes on at any time on your trip, get off at the nearest safe exit and call AAA or another emergency car service, unless you can make it to an auto repair shop safely.

3. Stock your car full of emergency equipment – Consider taking the following items in the car with you:

• Flashlight
• Batteries Flares
• Jumper Cables
• First Aid Kit
• Lots of Water
• Extra Food

4. Become a AAA member – In case an emergency does happen, it’s important to get immediate help. In the case of an accident first call 911. Then call the AAA number on your member card and feel at ease that someone will be on their way to take care of your car and get your family off the road.

You can check out these tips and more from AAA’s Road Trip Prep video here…