Your Guide to Safe Holiday Travel

Pre-trip vehicle inspections are key to ensuring your car is ready for any road trip. During the busy holiday travel season, though, checking those boxes becomes even more important. 

Our expert team at Japanese Auto Service has put together an easy-to-follow pre-trip inspection checklist and our top tips for safe winter driving to ensure nothing gets in the way of your holiday plans.

Why car maintenance and safety is essential 

On top of ensuring the safety of you, your passengers and others on the road, ensuring that your car is performing at its best plays a major part in the health and longevity of your vehicle. 

Regular maintenance, like oil changes, tire rotations and fluid checks, will keep your car running smoothly and thorough pre-trip inspections will catch any major issues or malfunctions before a breakdown. An added bonus — catching mechanical issues sooner than later can also save you money. 

During the unpredictable weather and traffic season, hitting the road with confidence that your vehicle can handle whatever comes your way will be key to a happy and safe trip. 

Your pre-trip inspection checklist 

• Brakes: Checking that you can come to a smooth, safe stop is one of the most critical components to check before a trip. Winter weather often brings about sudden stops and road conditions that make stopping a challenge. Let Japanese Auto Service inspect your brake pads, rotors and fluid levels to ensure proper functioning. 
  

• Tires: To ensure your tires can sufficiently grip the roadway and navigate changing conditions, it’s key to check that all are properly inflated and have appropriate tread depth. If your travels will take you to expected snowy or icy locations, consider a change to snow tires ahead of time. See our guide to checking your tire tread at home or schedule an inspection today. 
  

• Fluids: As with any road trip, ensuring that all of your vehicle’s fluids are at appropriate levels will be crucial to avoiding any troubles on the road and keeping your car running efficiently. Schedule a full-service inspection with Japanese Auto Service to check and top off the engine oil, coolant, brake fluid, and transmission fluid. 
  

• Windshield wipers: Come rain, snow, sleet or ice, windshield wipers will be one of the most important tools on your car for a safe trip. Check if your wipers need replacing (hint, if they are leaving streaks, squeaking or bent, you’ll need new ones) and top off your windshield wiper fluid. 
  

• Battery: As temperatures drop, your battery may struggle to stay energized. Ask Japanese Auto Service to check your battery during your pre-trip inspection and keep jumper cables handy, just in case. 

Winter ready essentials

With winter weather and heavy traffic during the holiday travel season, sometimes our trips take much longer than anticipated. It’s best to stay prepared for any situation by keeping your vehicle stocked with helpful items. 

Items we recommend keeping in your vehicle: 

• Jump Box or Portable Vehicle Jump Starter Device

• Ice scraper 

• Chains (if traveling through heavy snow areas)

• Flashlight & Batteries

• Blanket 

• Phone charger

Safe driving tips 

Now that your vehicle is ready to hit the road, it’s time to get ready yourself. Review our safe winter driving tips and take your journey with confidence. 

1. Slow down: Rain, snow, slush and ice reduce traction, so take it slow. 

2. Brake smarter, not harder: As you lose traction with wintry road conditions, it’s crucial to remember not to slam on your brakes. 

3. Keep a safe distance: With heavy traffic and unpredictable road conditions, it’s important you have the time and space to respond safely.  

4. Keep your windshield clear: With an ice scraper on hand, functioning wipers and a full tank of wiper fluid, make sure you can see all that’s around you with a clear windshield.  Schedule your pre-trip inspection with Japanese Auto Service now!