Photo by Jantine Doornbos on Unsplash

Disclosure – post in collaboration with Ossett Tyre House.

We had a really busy weekend with family staying. It felt like I used my little car a lot as I usually only use it for my short journeys to work and back. It’s so handy to have my own car though, and it reminded me that I really need to give it a little more TLC. Thankfully my husband knows more about cars than I do, but I thought it would be fun to share 5 things to check on your car before your next trip.

5 things to check on your car before your next trip

1 Obviously it is a legal requirement that you have valid insurance and an up-to-date MOT certificate. I use a lovely little garage round the corner from my house and they are always helpful when I need to take my car in.

2 It is important that you keep your tyres in good order as they increases the efficiency and performance of your car. You can easily find the right car tyre in Wakefield from Ossett Tyre House.

We’re planning a road trip up North over half term and my husband has already mentioned checking his tyres before we leave. Hopefully we won’t have to make any stops once we are there as driving is usually pretty easy if a car is properly maintained. We’re hoping to use our National Trust card when we are away, my husband is already planning on taking some scenic routes through the countryside as we travel around Wakefield.

3 Make sure you do a quick check of your screen wash, water or coolant level and engine oil. My father-in-law is obsessed with screen wash and always gives us a bottle whenever we visit. It’s important to make sure that everything is kept topped up though as you don’t want to effect the performance of your car.

4 Check your lights are working before you set off. Have you noticed how dark it is getting and how early? As much as I love Autumn I really dislike the lack of daylight hours, especially as I have to ferry the kids around to so many clubs in the evening. Make sure all your lights are working properly.

5 How important is your car battery? It’s very important! Last year I was really unlucky, having two car batteries die in a matter of weeks. Ok, so the second time was my own fault as I left my lights on overnight. But batteries don’t last forever so expect to replace your car battery at some point.

Of course nothing replaces your annual MOT but it’s important to do some simple checks on your car to ensure your car is safe to drive and you and the kids will be safe wherever you go.