Going on holiday by car: what should be checked beforehand!

Many people particularly like to go on holiday by car, as it brings with it a high degree of flexibility. One can easily visit the nearest beach or attraction without having to rely on public transport. However, driving your own car is not completely without effort. Mainly, if you want to drive longer distances, you should check and check your car thoroughly beforehand. Our checklist shows you which things must be observed.

Check your tires before you go on vacation

Before you start driving, you should check the tire pressure of the tires. You can usually find the reference value for the correct air pressure on the inside door of the vehicle, in the vehicle manufacturer's operating instructions or on the fuel tank cap. Tip: Holiday luggage increases the pressure on the tires, so the tire pressure should be adjusted upwards accordingly. You should also check the tread depth of the tires. One Minimum tread depth of 1,6 millimeters is required by law. However, the recommendation for summer tires is at least 3 to 4 millimeters remaining profile. You can use a 1 euro coin to find out whether the tire tread is still deep enough. To do this, insert the coin in the middle of the tire tread - if the gold rim disappears completely, the tread is still 3 millimeters and is sufficient.

Check the battery condition:

• As the ADAC recently announced, overheated batteries are a reason for many operations, primarily in the summer. You should therefore regularly have an older battery in a workshop get checked. The battery may need to be replaced or charged.

Coolant should be checked:

• The vehicle needs a balanced temperature budget and for that coolant. This fluid is usually in a clear container under the hood. There is still enough coolant when the level between between the "min" and "max" marks. Care must be taken when topping up the liquid, the engine must not be hot, otherwise the water may spurt out when filling and cause serious injury. You should pay attention to the information in the operating instructions.

Check the engine oil before the holiday:

• Before starting the trip you should the engine oil level check. If this should be too low, it can cause serious problems Engine damage come. It is best to carry some spare oil in a suitable container with you, just in case.

Pay attention to your vehicle lights

• You should check that the taillights, high beams and evening lights are working properly. This way you can avoid accidents and nasty surprises on the way to your destination. And you should keep in mind that loading luggage changes the inclination of the vehicle on the rear axle and therefore others can be blinded by the headlights. You should therefore use manually adjustable headlights realign.

Check the car's brakes

• You should also check the brakes of your vehicle before you start your journey. During a test braking - preferably where there is no other traffic - you can find out whether the brakes are still working properly: If your vehicle pulls to the side, the brake reacts too late or it squeaks, then you should definitely visit a workshop. Resistance should be felt no more than one-third of pedal travel.

Don't forget - important accessories!

You should have common accessories like warning triangle, Safety vest and First aid kit carry them in their car if they want to take them on vacation. Of course, the first aid kit should not have expired. If you drive a modern diesel vehicle, you should also take AdBlue with you, because the vehicle will no longer start if the additional tank is empty.