24th July 2026
Before heading off on holiday, taking a few minutes to carry out a pre-holiday vehicle safety check can help prevent breakdowns, improve fuel efficiency and keep you and your family safe on the road.
At Merityre Specialists, we're committed to keeping you safe on the road, which is why we offer a FREE Vehicle Safety Check at all our branches.
Our experienced technicians will inspect, tyre condition and pressures, lights, brakes, washers, wipers, fluid levels, engine oil and your battery. Giving you confidence that your vehicle is prepared for your journey. Whether you're driving across the UK, heading to Europe or towing a caravan, our team is here to help you travel safely and avoid unnecessary breakdowns.
Even if you prefer to carry out your own checks, the pre-holiday car checklist below covers the essential items every driver should inspect before travelling. Spending just 10 minutes checking your vehicle can improve safety, reduce the risk of breakdowns and help you enjoy a stress-free holiday from the moment you leave home.
Your tyres are the only point of contact between your vehicle and the road, making them the most important safety item to inspect before a long journey.
The pressure your tyres run at affects almost everything the car does - grip, steering, braking and fuel consumption - so it is worth getting right before a long trip. It matters even more on holiday, when the vehicle is likely to be carrying its heaviest load of the year: a full complement of passengers, a boot packed with luggage and perhaps a roof box or bike rack. Most manufacturers publish a separate, higher pressure for a fully laden vehicle, so adjust the pressures to suit the load rather than relying on the everyday figures.
Correct tyre pressure is essential for:
It is equally important not to stray too far in either direction. Under-inflated tyres flex more than they should, build up heat and wear out prematurely - and in extreme cases they can fail suddenly at speed. Over-inflated tyres reduce the size of the contact patch, which lowers grip and lengthens braking distances, and they tend to wear unevenly down the centre of the tread. Keeping to the recommended figures is the simplest way to avoid both problems.
Before setting off:
The UK legal minimum tread depth is 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the tyre.
However, road safety experts recommend replacing tyres at around 3mm to maintain optimum wet weather performance and reduce stopping distances.
Check every tyre for:
If you notice any damage, have the tyre inspected before travelling.
Make sure all wheel nuts appear secure and haven't worked loose.
Low engine oil can cause serious engine damage during long journeys.
Oil keeps the moving parts of your engine lubricated and running cool, and the level falls gradually between services - so it is easy to set off on a long trip with less than you think. Sustained motorway driving puts the engine under load for hours at a time, and running low in those conditions can cause expensive damage a long way from home. A quick dipstick check before you leave, and again if you are away for more than a week or two, takes only a moment and is well worth the effort.
Before travelling:
Your cooling system helps prevent overheating, especially during summer journeys or when sitting in traffic.
Coolant (antifreeze) does more than its name suggests: as well as stopping the system freezing in winter, it raises the boiling point in summer and protects the engine against internal corrosion. The level should stay fairly constant, so if the coolant is repeatedly low it can point to a leak that is worth investigating before a long drive. Always check when the engine is completely cold and top up with the correct type of coolant for your vehicle if required.
Good visibility is essential for safe driving.
Fill the washer bottle before your journey and use a quality screen wash to remove insects, dirt and road film effectively.
Summer brings its own visibility hazards - swarms of insects, dust and the greasy film that builds up on the glass in hot weather - and all of them are far harder to shift with water alone. A good screen wash cuts through the mess in a single wipe, whereas plain water tends to smear it across your line of sight. Fill the bottle right to the top before you leave, and consider carrying a spare container of screen wash if you are heading abroad or covering high mileage.
Before setting off, ensure every light is working correctly:
Faulty lights can reduce visibility and may result in a fine.
Your windscreen should be clean and free from significant chips or cracks.
Replace wiper blades if they:
Your brakes work harder on holiday than at almost any other time - fully loaded, often on unfamiliar roads, and sometimes on long descents abroad where continuous braking builds up heat. It pays to be confident in them before you go. You do not need specialist tools for a basic check: simply pay attention to how the car feels and sounds in the days beforehand, and act on anything that seems out of the ordinary.
Before your holiday:
If any brake warning lights appear, have the vehicle checked immediately.
Many vehicle breakdowns are caused by battery failure.
Batteries tend to fail without much warning, and hot weather is surprisingly hard on them - the heat speeds up the chemical wear inside, so summer breakdowns caused by a flat battery are more common than many drivers expect. Most batteries last around four to five years, so if yours is approaching that age, or the car has been standing unused for a while, it is more likely to let you down. A quick look at the terminals and mountings takes seconds and can reveal an obvious problem before you rely on the car for a long trip.
Inspect for:
If your battery has recently struggled to start the vehicle, arrange a battery health check before travelling.
Avoid unnecessary stress by planning ahead.
Holiday routes are often busier and less familiar than your everyday roads, and the last thing you want is to be hunting for fuel or a charge point with a car full of restless passengers. Setting off with a full tank gives you flexibility and avoids paying premium prices at motorway services. If you drive an electric vehicle, plan your charging stops around your route in advance and keep a back-up option in mind, as public chargers can be busy or out of service during peak holiday periods.
For extra peace of mind, carry:
High-visibility vest
Warning triangle (where legally required)
Torch
Mobile phone charger or power bank
First aid kit
Drinking water
Breakdown cover details
A simple 10-minute pre-holiday vehicle inspection can:
Most roadside breakdowns can be avoided with a few basic maintenance checks before you leave.
If you'd rather leave it to the experts, Merityre Specialists can carry out a comprehensive pre-holiday vehicle safety check, including:
Our experienced technicians will make sure your vehicle is ready for your next road trip, giving you complete peace of mind before you travel.
Book your pre-holiday vehicle safety check today and enjoy a safer, stress-free journey wherever the road takes you.