Around this time of year, people are itching to head out of town and get on the road. A successful road trip can be just as memorable as the destination itself. Here are ways to make sure your car is road trip ready and have a fantastic trip.

Take Your Car in for a Full-Service Inspection

Keep your ride in good graces by scheduling a service appointment a week or two before you leave. Have your technician check your oil, tire pressure, battery, brakes, and engine to make sure you will be able to get where you need to go without any unexpected stops.

Build an Emergency Kit

An emergency kit can be filled with batteries, tire pressure gauge, jumper cables, car battery charger, and first aid essentials. This kit will help you in various situations to fix things yourself and get back on the road.

Keep Your Ride Clean

There are few things worse than sitting in junk for hours on end. Throw out any old bottles, napkins, or gum wrappers and organize your glove box to keep your ride clutter-free. Starting on the right foot makes a world of difference as you continue to accumulate trash by way of fast-food drive-throughs and gas station snacks. Take time at the beginning or end of each day to purge your car and rid yourself of that filth.

Gather Your Electronics

Think of all the electronics you will need to get through this trip. Gather all phones, tablets, and any other device you will need. Note their charging ports. Grab enough USB cables to charge each of them in your car. Then ready your navigational and entertainment devices: download Waze and other navigational apps you will need. Download any music, podcast, or movies you will want to listen to and make your ride as comfortable as possible.

Prepare for the Worst

Even though you can do everything to avoid an accident, sometimes it is impossible to avoid. If there is an accident, have a plan. Need help forming one? Visit our step-by-step guide to car accidents.