If you’re about to set off to enjoy the wonders of Europe or even elsewhere in the UK: the bright lights and bustle of London or the tranquillity of Scotland – or even just a lengthy driving trip around and about your home town of Pontefract and the surrounds of Yorkshire (there’s plenty to see and do in this historic county!), you should take steps to make sure your car is in great shape before you begin. Here are some expert tips on how to perform a safety inspection on your car.
Check Your Tyres
Your tyres are vital to the smooth running of your car, and as the only point of contact with the road, they should be in good shape, properly inflated and with enough tread depth to a) be legal and b) keep you safe in inclement weather. If your tyres are getting on a bit, or if you’ve had any unexplained punctures, you should take this as a sign to invest in a new set of tyres before you explore the more – ahem – exciting, shall we say, roads to be found in Yorkshire! In order to stay safe on the road; you need the expert opinion of a local garage when it comes to choosing the right tyres for your vehicle. For getting your tyres in Pontefract; you can book online at Reg Greenwood – they offer both budget friendly and premium tyres. Simply enter your vehicle’s registration number or search by the required tyre size, and you’ll soon be setting off with great peace of mind that your tyres are more than up to the task, no matter what Yorkshire’s roads throw at you.
Time for a Service?
When was your last service? If it was more than six months ago, consider getting an interim service done, just to err on the side of caution. If your annual service is nearly due, why not get that done a little early? This will mean that everything will be beautifully aligned and tuned tight – ready to give you the most comfortable ride possible.
Top Up Fluids
Your car is bursting with various fluids: water for the radiator, battery and screen-wash reservoir (the latter with some kind of detergent additive); oil to keep everything moving smoothly; fuel, obviously, to keep you going; and even brake fluid to make sure you can stop in a safe and timely fashion! Methodically work your way through these and make sure that you have topped everything up to optimal levels.
Are You Legal?
No vehicle in the UK can be on the road without an MOT certificate after the age of three (four in Northern Ireland) and without an MOT certificate, you will not be able to insure the car. If your car is older than three years from its original registration date, make sure you know when the MOT certificate needs to be renewed, and if it will fall due while you are away, take steps to have the car tested before you go. The police use ANPR (automatic number-plate recognition) software to not only see who is out and about on the road, but also to scan vehicles through the DVLA’s database to make sure that cars are registered and up-to-date legally, stopping and potentially confiscating those that are not covered. Make sure you sail past these checkpoints without even realising that they’re there!
Declutter and Clean
Empty out your car to maximise both the space in the car, and also to reduce the weight as much as possible. It is surprising how much stuff creeps into the car and stays there, so it is a useful exercise to declutter the car every six months or so anyway, but definitely do it before a long trip. As well as being more comfortable, you’ll be able to spot any problem areas that you might have missed before, and you’ll save on fuel and oil as the car won’t have to work quite so hard to move along the road.
Prepare for the Worst
Finally, after you’ve taken everything out of the car, put a few things back! An emergency kit, a spare tyre (or tyre patching kit), and some basic supplies (energy bars and water, for example) that can keep you going should you break down. It is infinitely better to have these things and not need them than need them, and not have them!
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