Preparing your car for a summer road trip
Start planning your vehicle’s preparation before the departure date. Check the service schedule, gather any existing concerns and allow time for assessment or parts if work is needed.
Review what is due
Look at the manufacturer’s maintenance schedule and the record of the last service. Consider both time and kilometres. A longer trip can bring the next kilometre interval closer.
If the records are incomplete, explain what you know when enquiring about logbook servicing.
Write down existing concerns
Make a note of warning lights, starting problems, unfamiliar noises, temperature changes or tyre concerns. Describe when they happen and whether they have become more frequent.
Book an assessment for known problems rather than relying on a general check to address every issue automatically.
Discuss the right inspection scope
Tell the workshop about the vehicle, the trip and any relevant load or towing plans. Ask what a pre-trip inspection covers and what it excludes.
Potential discussion areas include tyres, brakes, cooling, battery condition and servicing needs. These are topics to assess for the particular vehicle, not a claim that every Excel package includes the same checklist.
Plan collection before departure
Leave time to review findings and agree on any work. Ask about completion and collection arrangements before planning the journey around a workshop booking.
For checks you carry out yourself, follow the vehicle handbook and use procedures appropriate to your skills and equipment. A warning or suspected safety issue needs suitable advice; a checklist cannot establish that the vehicle is safe for a trip.
Arrange an enquiry in Thomastown
Discuss a vehicle inspection or contact Excel Auto Care with your service history and travel date.