Go through this vehicle safety checklist before you hit the road this festive season

The festive season is upon us, and it’s time to put in that leave and take a much-needed holiday.

If you’re planning on driving to your holiday destination, you need to be prepared for the trip.

And that means going through some important vehicle checks to make sure that your car (and your insurance) is in prime condition before you hit the road.

• Are your licence disc and driver’s licence up to date?

Making sure that your disc and licence have not expired will help you avoid potential problems claiming from your insurer should something go wrong while you’re on holiday.

Check these to ensure that you and your car are still fit to be on the road.

• Has your car been checked for roadworthiness?

If your car is slightly older, you should probably look into taking your car for a roadworthy inspection or a service to make sure that your tyres, brakes, gears, clutch, oil and air filters are in good working order.

This will help prevent any breakdowns or mishaps from occurring while on the road.

• Have you done safety checks of your own?

Checking your tyre pressure, windows, indicators, wipers, headlights and brake lights may seem like an obvious thing to do.

But when the excitement of travelling takes over, it’s easy to forget about these important safety checks.

Other important checks include inspecting the oil level and water in the radiator, the car battery for any sign of damage, and warning light indicators to see if there are any maintenance problems that need urgent attention.

It is also advisable that you check the condition of your spare wheel and that you have all the tools you need to change a wheel and tyre on the road.

You should also ensure that you have safety equipment such as a reflective triangle, jumper cables, a flashlight, and a fire extinguisher in case you get into trouble on the road.

• Does your car insurance cover you comprehensively?

You have car insurance so that you are protected should an accident, hijacking, flood or hail damage cause loss or damage to your car.

Should any of these unforeseen events occur while travelling, in the middle of nowhere, do you trust your insurer to get you out of that situation without a huge excess and extended downtime?

You need an insurer you can trust to go all out for you when you need them most.

If you want to relook your car insurance cover and see if you can get a better deal, speak to OUTsurance.

• Are you prepared for emergencies on the road?

So many things can happen on a long drive – a tyre puncture, a flat battery, running out of fuel before the next stop, or even locking your keys in the car.

Should these emergencies happen, you need the backup of roadside assistance.

OUTsurance car insurance clients get 24/7 Help@OUT roadside assistance for these type of emergencies – making being on the road even easier.

Fill in the form to start an OUTsurance car insurance quote and enjoy comprehensive cover you can count on.

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