Whether you're heading to Cornwall for a summer holiday, driving to Scotland for a wedding, or making the trek up the M6 to visit family, a bit of preparation goes a long way. The difference between a smooth journey and a stressful one often comes down to 30 minutes of checks before you leave.
Every year, the RAC and AA attend over 3 million breakdowns — and many of them are preventable. Flat tyres, dead batteries, and overheating engines are the top culprits, and all of them can be spotted before they strand you in a layby. Here's your comprehensive checklist for getting your car — and yourself — ready for the miles ahead.
The Week Before: Time to Check
Give yourself time to address any issues. Discovering a worn tyre or low brake fluid the morning you're supposed to leave is stressful. A week's notice means you can book repairs or order parts without derailing your plans.
Tyres
Check all four tyres plus the spare. Look for tread depth (minimum 1.6mm, ideally 3mm+ for long trips), cracks, bulges, or embedded objects. Check pressures against the placard in your door jamb — remember to adjust for load.
Fluids
Engine oil, coolant, brake fluid, power steering fluid, and windscreen washer. If oil is black and gritty or below the minimum mark, get a change. Top up everything else to the correct level.
Battery
Batteries typically last 3-5 years. If yours is in that range and the car is slow to start on cold mornings, consider getting it tested — most garages do this for free.
Lights
Check all external lights: headlights (dipped and full beam), brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and number plate lights. Have someone help you or use a reflection to verify brake lights work.
The FLOWER Check
An easy way to remember the essentials: Fuel, Lights, Oil, Water (coolant), Electrics (battery), Rubber (tyres and wipers). Run through this before any significant journey and you'll catch most potential problems.
Tyre Pressure: More Important Than You Think
Tyre pressure affects everything: handling, braking distance, fuel economy, and tyre wear. Under-inflated tyres increase rolling resistance, which means you burn more fuel — typically 1-2% for every 10 PSI below the recommended level. On a 500-mile trip, that's an extra £5-10 you didn't need to spend.
More importantly, incorrect pressure compromises safety. Over-inflated tyres have less contact with the road, reducing grip. Under-inflated tyres run hotter and can fail suddenly at motorway speeds — the infamous "tyre blowout" that causes accidents every year.
Check your car's recommended pressures (usually on a sticker inside the driver's door or in the manual) and adjust for load. If you're carrying passengers and luggage, you'll likely need to add 2-4 PSI to the front and 4-6 PSI to the rear. Check pressures when tyres are cold, ideally before driving or after a short drive of less than 2 miles.
Plan Your Fuel Stops
Motorway services are convenient, but they're also expensive — typically 15-20p per litre more than stations just off the motorway. On a 60-litre tank, that's an extra £9-12 per fill. Use Fuelwise to find the cheapest fuel along your route and plan a stop at a supermarket forecourt near a junction instead.
The 5-Mile Rule
Stations within 5 miles of a motorway junction are almost always cheaper than services on the motorway itself. Even if the detour takes 10 minutes, you'll save money — and often find better food and coffee too. Check our analysis of motorway fuel pricing for more on why the difference is so stark.
Never let your tank drop below a quarter full on a long journey. Services can be 30-40 miles apart on some stretches, and unexpected traffic could leave you idling in a queue burning fuel. Running on fumes is stressful and risky.
What to Pack: The Emergency Kit
Even a well-prepared car can have problems. Carrying the right kit means you can handle minor issues yourself and stay safe while waiting for help with major ones.
Safety Essentials
Warning triangle, hi-vis vest (one per passenger), torch with spare batteries, and a first aid kit. These are mandatory in many European countries and sensible anywhere.
Basic Tools
Tyre inflator or foot pump, tyre sealant kit (if you don't have a spare), jump leads or a jump starter pack, and basic tools like a wheel wrench and jack.
Weather Gear
Bottled water, snacks, warm blanket, and waterproof jacket. If you break down in winter or at night, staying warm and hydrated matters while waiting for recovery.
Communication
Phone charger (in-car and portable power bank), breakdown cover details, and important phone numbers written down in case your phone dies. Know your policy number.
The Day Before: Final Prep
Check the weather and route
Look at forecasts for your departure and destination. Check for roadworks or closures on your route — Highways England and Traffic Scotland both have journey planners. Add buffer time if conditions look tricky.
Clean your windscreen
Inside and out. Smears and film that are invisible in town become a blinding hazard when low sun hits them on the motorway. Top up your washer fluid — you'll go through it quickly at speed.
Plan your stops
The Highway Code recommends a 15-minute break every 2 hours of driving. Identify where you'll stop, factoring in fuel, food, and facilities. Having a plan prevents the "just another 30 miles" mentality that leads to fatigued driving.
Load the car properly
Heavy items go low and towards the centre. Loose objects become projectiles in an emergency stop. Make sure you can see clearly out of all mirrors, and that nothing is blocking ventilation if you're packing high.
On the Road: Driving Smart
Long journeys require a different mindset to the daily commute. You're covering more miles at higher speeds, often in unfamiliar places, and fatigue is a real factor. A few habits make the difference:
- Start rested. Don't begin a long drive at the end of a workday. If you're driving 300+ miles, try to leave in the morning when you're fresh.
- Actually take breaks. It's not just advice — driver fatigue is a factor in around 20% of serious crashes. Get out of the car, walk around, have a coffee. The 15-minute stop pays for itself in alertness.
- Share the driving. If you have a qualified driver with you, take turns. Switching every 2 hours keeps both of you sharper.
- Watch your fuel economy. Steady speeds between 55-65mph are significantly more efficient than 80mph. Slowing down by 10mph can improve your mpg by 10-15%, meaning fewer fuel stops. See our MPG guide for more detail.
Know When to Stop
If you're yawning repeatedly, struggling to focus, or your eyes feel heavy, you're too tired to drive. The only cure is sleep — not fresh air, loud music, or energy drinks. Pull over somewhere safe and take a 20-minute nap. It could save your life.
If Something Goes Wrong
Even with preparation, things can happen. If you break down on a motorway, follow these steps:
- Pull onto the hard shoulder as far left as safely possible (or into an emergency refuge area on smart motorways).
- Turn on your hazard lights immediately.
- Get everyone out of the car through the left-hand doors, away from traffic.
- Move well clear of the vehicle and behind a barrier if possible.
- Call your breakdown provider or 999 if it's an emergency. Use the nearest emergency phone or your mobile.
For detailed guidance, see our complete breakdown survival guide.
Quick Reference Checklist
Before Every Long Journey
Week before: Check tyres, fluids, battery, lights, wipers
Day before: Check weather, plan route and stops, load car properly,
clean windscreen
Day of: Final tyre pressure check, verify you have emergency kit,
phone charged, breakdown number saved
On the road: Break every 2 hours, watch fuel gauge, drive to
conditions, stop if tired
A long journey doesn't have to be stressful. With the right preparation, it can even be enjoyable — a chance to see the country, catch up on podcasts, or just think without distractions. The key is doing the work beforehand so you can relax behind the wheel.
And before you set off, use Fuelwise to find the cheapest fuel along your route. There's no point being prepared and overpaying at the pump.