Driving tips

How to avoid that summer holiday breakdown!

Everything's packed.....from suitcases with seemingly enough changes of clothes to last a whole year to I-Spy games for the kids, antihistamine for those nasty wasp stings to plasters for the inevitable minor mishaps.

"We're all going on a Summer Holiday and no more worries for a week or two."

Well, if life were like a Cliff Richard song then everything really would be fine.

You and your family may be ready for that long-deserved summertime break but have you thought about the car that has to get you there and back again?

Autonational Rescue, the breakdown service with the no claims bonus, has developed this part of its website to help make sure your holiday doesn't begin with a breakdown!

Believe it or not, many families will dramatically overload their only means of transport this summer without giving their poor car a second thought!

And of course, the car doesn't just have to get you there and back again does it? Even on a driving holiday in Britain, you can expect to clock up thousands of miles on your own (or your company's) car.

So what should you consider before setting off on holiday?

Take time to treat your car to a mini service before you set off:

• Check tyre tread and pressures (and adjust pressures if you're carrying extra weight)
• Check oil levels before and after a long journey
• Check your head lights, brake lights and indicators
• Check radiator and windscreen wash water levels
• Check the condition of your battery

Frankly, no-one knows the condition of a car better than the person who drives it everyday.

So if you have even the slightest doubt about how your car's been running in the weeks leading up to your holiday, then check it out now while you have time! Don't let a breakdown spoil your holiday.

Summer holiday checklist

Before you embark upon your driving holiday this year, consider joining a breakdown service... it could so easily turn out to be the best advice you've ever taken.

VIEW and PRINT OFF Autonational Rescue's summer holiday checklist.

Pets in cars

If you take your pets on holiday with you this year, then remember that you should never leave them without adequate ventilation in your car on a hot summer's day. Better still, never leave them in your car at all.

Before you embark upon your driving holiday this year, consider joining a breakdown service..... it could so easily turn out to be the best advice you've ever taken.