7 Essentials for Your Next Road Trip

Are you ever a bit nervous as you load up your car for a road trip thinking about all the things that could go wrong? I have been known to stress out about my tires, oil, getting stranded in the middle of nowhere, etc, etc. While I worry year round, I’m always especially nervous with holiday travels as it just seems like more tends to go wrong with snow on the roads and when you’re anxious to visit with friends and family. We haven’t had anything drastically go wrong on a road trip, yet, thankfully!

I’ve been compensated for this post with sample product and payment. All opinions and experiences are my own.

Here are some ways you can help get ready and prepared before your next road trip so you can head off with less worry this year! Having a dependable service to give us peace of mind like AutoVantage makes all the difference.

7 Essentials for Your Next Road Trip

Change Your Oil – If you are well within range of your trip destination and back without meeting your oil change date, you can skip this step. Otherwise, consider getting your oil changed and ready – even if it’s a bit earlier than actually needed. It will keep your car in good shape through your trip!

Check Tire Pressure – This is a big one! Your tires slowly lose pressure already, and under inflated tires make a big impact on your gas mileage, stopping distance, and traction. The outside temperature also has an impact on your tire pressure, so if you are traveling to a different type of climate, keep in mind you may need to check your tire pressure again when you arrive.

Pack Jumper Cables – If there’s one car problem we seem to face more than any other – it’s a dead battery when you least expect it! Batteries seem to need to be completely replaced without very much warning of a problem ahead of time. You can head in and have your battery checked before your trip, or just make sure to have jumper cables on hand in case you or someone along the road needs assistance. Of course, there are always those occasional times when the lights are left on in the car – leading to a dead battery that just needs a charge, too.

Bring Tire Chains (if snow) – If you’ll be heading over any snowy mountain passes or hear the forecast calling for a lot of snow, tire chains will help you have that extra traction to keep your car safely on the road.

Grab a Map – So often we rely on our smartphones as our maps. While that works most of the time, often when you head out of town you’ll hit pockets and spots with no cell service. Nothing is worse than trying to figure out where you’re going without directions! You can get a simple state map for a few dollars or pick up a nice bound book to cover the part of the country you’ll be traveling through. Keep your maps in your car at all times.

Emergency Kit – Keeping a few important essentials in the car at all times is a good idea, but especially when you won’t be near your hometown. Pack a blanket, water bottles, a few small snacks, a flashlight and other essentials to have on hand. Should you get stranded somewhere, they could save your life!

Sign up for AutoVantage Roadside Assistance – Nothing will give you peace of mind as you hit the road like knowing someone will be able to assist you should something go wrong. AutoVantage will tow your vehicle up to 150 miles at no additional charge and covers you and your household even if you’re not in your own vehicle! As a bonus, you’ll even get automotive repair and hotel discounts!

 

Getting Ready with AutoVantage

We have exciting travel plans for this Thanksgiving! My little brother is getting married the Saturday after Thanksgiving so we will be heading north, up to snowy Utah, for Thanksgiving! I’m really looking forward to visiting with family and friends that live there while we visit. However, we’ll also have a 3 week old newborn and a car full of our older boys – so being safe and prepared for our trip is absolutely essential!

With our trip just two weeks away, we have been doing everything we can to be prepared. The first step for me, was signing up for AutoVantage. It’s available for purchase at many, but not all, Walmart stores across the country. We were able to sign-up for service at our local Super Walmart that has an Auto & Lube center.

I went to the service desk in the Auto department first, thinking AutoVantage might be something you purchase at the counter. The associate guided me right to the aisle I needed. AutoVantage is stored on the shelf right beside your other emergency car preparation items including flares, jumper cables, emergency kits and more! It’s perfect for a one-stop shop to pick up everything you need to help you be prepared for your road trip.

When I got home, starting my AutoVantage service took less than 2 minutes – just visiting the online site to fill out my profile and confirm my purchase with the member number and registration code. You can alternatively hop on a phone call and just as easily start your coverage that way as well. Plus, when you pick up the registration packet in-stores, you won’t have to wait to get your member card in the mail.

AutoVantage includes 24/7 emergency roadside assistance in all 50 states for:

• Towing up to 150 miles
• Jump start
• Flat tire change
• Lockout assistance for car and home
• Fuel delivery

You’ll have coverage for up to five occurrences per year and any of your household members can use the service with no additional charge!

I love knowing that should we run into problems on our over 20-hours of road trip driving, we’ll be protected!  This offers huge savings over the competitor, AAA Plus, which charges for each additional family member you add to your plan; AutoVantage covers your entire family.

You’ll also get more with AutoVantage than AAA Plus at a lower price point. Like home lockout assistance and LocateMe Service which uses GPS technology! You’ll find great on-the-road savings with discounts on hotels and car rentals that save you even more! Plus, AutoVantage can help you be prepared with new-car and used-car evaluation services that help you be informed when you buy or sell your car. Since they have over 22,000 road-service professionals in their network across the nation, you’re sure to find the help you need when an emergency hits.

How do you get ready for your road trip?