Safety Checks Before You Drive: Your Pre-Trip Must-Do List For New Year’s Travel

Remember to perform a car safety check before your New Years travels, and fund critical repairs with help from Auto Cash USA. You must ensure your car is in top condition to keep you and your passengers safe and comfortable on the road!

Don’t worry if you’re not sure what to check. We will tell you everything you need to know about what to inspect to ensure your vehicle is travel-ready!

What Should You Inspect On Your Vehicle Before A Trip?

Performing a pre-trip safety check on your car is crucial. Not only is it essential to keep your trip on schedule, but it’s also vital for keeping you and your passengers safe.

Whether you’re doing it yourself or hiring a mechanic to help, here are the 5 things you must do during your pre-trip inspection:

1. Check Your Lights

The first thing you should do is to check your lights. That includes your headlights, indicators, and the lights inside the vehicle cabin.

Unfortunately, many people overlook the importance of checking their lights. That can put you at severe risk on the road, as those lights help you see and be seen by other drivers.

You can check your lights with some help from a partner. Activate each one as your partner walks around the vehicle to ensure they work.

2. Inspect Your Fluids

Fluids are the lifeblood of any motor vehicle. They keep parts lubricated and help to prevent problems like overheating and freezing.

That’s why you must inspect all your fluids before going on a road trip. They include:

• Your fuel.
• Your engine oil.
• Your transmission fluid.
• Your wiper fluid.

Remember: it’s not just about having the correct levels of each fluid. They must also be clean to function correctly, particularly your engine oil and transmission fluid.

3. Look At Your Tires

Your tires are the parts of your car that touch the road directly. In other words, they’re quite literally where the ‘rubber meets the road’. So, your tires must always be in good condition with sufficient tread depth to keep you safe on the road.

Worn-out tires can cause you to lose control of the vehicle, especially when driving at higher speeds or on wet roads. So, it’s always best to replace them before they wear out.

4. Test Your Brakes

A car’s ability to slow down and stop is just as important as its ability to move. Your brakes are critical to your vehicle’s performance and safety.

Test your brakes to ensure they work correctly without squeaking or squealing noises. Then, check that the brake pads aren’t worn out before you begin your trip.

Brakes are one of those components that you always want to pay attention to. So, if there’s an issue, get it checked out and fixed immediately!

5. Gauge Your Battery

Lastly, check that your car battery is still in good health. That’s important to ensure your car can start each time you turn the ignition on. Otherwise, you could find yourself dangerously stranded in the middle of nowhere, unable to start the vehicle.

Car batteries typically last 2-4 years, so you can change yours if it’s at the end of its lifespan. You’ll know your battery is weakening if it takes unusually long to start your car.

Is It Safe To Delay Fixing Your Car?

Suppose you find one or more issues with your car. In that case, you must fix it immediately, especially if you’re about to leave on a New Year's road trip.

A common obstacle for people who find themselves in this position is a lack of funds. However, that’s no excuse to neglect your safety by ignoring your car’s problems.

If you need money quickly, consider getting a title loan to fund those urgent repairs. That’s a finance option that lets you borrow up to $15,000 quickly and easily, depending on the value of your car.

You only need a driver’s license and a lien-free car title to get one of these loans. Besides that, a friendly representative must inspect your vehicle to assess its value.

If approved, you could get the money as quickly as the same day or by the next business day. Then, you can get the repairs started on your vehicle immediately so it's ready for your New Year travels!

Qualify For Quick Cash Now!

Prepare for your New Years travel now by performing a thorough safety check on your vehicle. If you find any issues that need attention, you can fund those repairs with some help from Auto Cash USA.

Just fill out the secure inquiry form with your basic details. Soon after you submit it, a loan specialist will call you to understand your needs. Then, connect you to the appropriate licensed loan vendor to get you the help you need!

Note: The content provided in this article is only for informational purposes, and you should contact your financial advisor about your specific financial situation.