Getting
your car ready for the road | | |
| Not sure what else to bring?
Check out this
list.
Keep your cool
If you do encounter car troubles while traveling, it's important to stay
as calm as possible. Flick on your hazard lights
and slowly head over to the side of the road. Pull your car onto the far right
shoulder as far as it will possibly go. Set the emergency brake and place flares
or warning triangles behind the vehicle. Call
for emergency road service. You'll need to tell the operator your exact location
and give a description of your vehicle including year, make, model, color and
license number. Be sure to ask about towing charges
and the location of a nearby, reliable repair shop. If your car is still under
a new car warranty, you may want to ask about the nearest dealership. If
you're a member of AAA, ask that the car be taken to the nearest AAA-approved
auto repair shop. AAA screens each shop for reliability, honesty, fair pricing
and training of mechanics. Certified technicians perform repairs. AAA
members receive guaranteed written estimates, a free, 24-point safety inspection
with any paid repair and a minimum 12-month or 12,000-mile warranty on any repair.
Another strategy is to take your car to a shop belonging to a national repair
network such as Napa Auto Care Center, CARQUEST Tech-Net or Bumper to Bumper Service
Centers. These repair shops offer nationwide
warranties and only certified technicians will work on your car. Check
the credentials
If you're unsure about the quality
of a repair shop, check to see if the mechanics are certified by National Institute
for Automotive Service Excellence. ASE-certified
mechanics must pass comprehensive exams and must be re-certified every five years.
If auto technicians are certified, certificates will be prominently displayed
in the repair shop. If your car conks out in
a hotel parking lot, ask the concierge at the hotel about a reliable local shop.
You won't be the first traveler whose car has broken down at the hotel.
Once your car is taken to a shop, tell the mechanic everything that happened.
Don't leave out any detail, no matter how minor it may seem. "Be
as descriptive as possible," Bennett says. "Don't try to hide anything,
thinking it will save you money because everything's connected." With a lot of pre-trip maintenance and a little
luck, you won't have to spend a second of your vacation in a repair shop far from
home. On the road
Following these safe-driving tips will make your time on the road
as stress-free as possible.
Pack light. The last thing you want
on your vacation is to have a tire blow out because you've overloaded your car.
So go easy on your packing. No matter how much or how little you pack, make sure
you have a clear view out of the rear window of your car.
Get an early start. "Leave early," says Lauren
J. Fix, a consumer auto expert and spokeswoman for the Car Care Council. "There's
less traffic. You avoid rush hour." Don't
speed. Gas mileage decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 miles per hour. Following
the posted speed limits will increase your car's fuel efficiency.
Don't give in to road rage. Stay clear of someone else's bad driving and stay
calm. "Avoid road rage. Be calm and focused
on the road," Fix says. "Don't be part of someone else's accident."
Buckle up. Make sure everyone in your car wears
a safety belt. "Wear your seatbelt no matter
what," Fix says. "It's not just the law, it's the safest way to drive." | 
