If you’re taking your upcoming travels on the road, it’s important that you have a safe vehicle to start and finish your trip with. So before you start packing everything up and loading up the car, make sure you do your due diligence to ensure that your ride is safe and secure for your adventure.

To help you in doing this, here are three ways you should prepare your car before leaving on a road trip.

Give Your Car A Good Once-Over

The very first thing you should do in order to prep your car for your trip is to make sure everything is in good working order. The last thing you want to have happen is to be cruising down the freeway and have your power steering or your brakes go out right as you’re closing in on a big semi-truck and causing a car accident.

When giving your car a once-over prior to your trip, Alex Leanse, a contributor to Popular Mechanics, recommends that you check all your fluids, all of your tires, and that you get some general maintenance done, like replacing your brake pads, getting a new air filter, and double-checking all of your lights and wiper blades.

For things that you’re not able to check or fix on your own, make sure you visit a trusted mechanic before you hit the road.

Pack An Emergency Kit

Once your car is ready to get on the road, it’s now time for you to start packing things for your trip. Ideally, you should start by packing the most important items first so you can ensure that you have the space to bring them along with you.

According to Jeff S. Bartlett, a contributor to Consumer Reports, the most important—and first—item that you should be packing is an emergency kit loaded with items that will help you if you run into trouble. This emergency kit should include things like a cell phone charger, basic tools for car maintenance, a flashlight, jumper cables, and emergency food and water.

Take Care When Loading Everything In

After you’ve got your emergency kit into the car, you’re ready to start packing everything else. While you might not think that the way you pack your car will have any consequence on your trip, you couldn’t be more wrong.

According to Aaron Gold, a contributor to LiveAbout.com, you should try to distribute the weight evenly from the sides of the car and keep the bulk of the weight toward the back of the trunk. This will help keep your car balanced as well as assist with gas mileage and safety in the event of a car accident.

If you’ll be taking a road trip soon, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you in preparing your vehicle for this adventure.

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