What to do
Car service before a long journey
A car service before a long journey prevents most roadside failures. The checks that matter, what to book, and how far ahead of travelling to do it.
Book a car service before a long journey two to three weeks ahead, not the day before. That leaves time to act on whatever is found. The checks that matter most are tyres including the spare, brakes, all fluid levels, the battery, and the lights, because those account for the large majority of avoidable roadside failures.
| Best timing | 2 to 3 weeks before you travel |
|---|---|
| Full service | From £199 + VAT |
| Interim service | From £145 + VAT |
| Most common failures | Tyres, battery, cooling system |
What to do
- Book two to three weeks ahead. Anything found can then be fixed calmly rather than the night before.
- Get the wear items measured. Tyre tread and brake pad thickness in millimetres, not a glance.
- Check the boring things. Screenwash, spare or repair kit, and whether the battery is over four years old.
Car service before a long journey: the checks that matter
- Tyres. Tread across the whole width, pressures set cold to the loaded figure on the placard, and the spare or repair kit actually present and usable.
- Brakes. Pad and disc condition, especially if you will be carrying more weight or driving in hills.
- Battery. Over four years old is worth testing before rather than after.
- Coolant and oil. Levels and condition, plus a leak check.
- Lights and wipers. Cheap, fast, and the most common thing to be pulled over for abroad.
Driving abroad
Requirements differ by country and change, so check the current rules for your destination on gov.uk's driving abroad guidance before you go. Mechanically, the relevant point is that a fault which is a nuisance at home is a considerably bigger problem 800 miles from it.
Book it in
Reg and postcode. An expert calls back with your fixed price.
Booked, we've got it.
An expert is calling you now to confirm your price and slot.
Keep your phone to hand.
Questions
Two to three weeks. That gives time to fix anything found without rushing, and lets you drive a few hundred miles to confirm all is well.
If the service is due anyway, do the service. If it was done recently, an inspection focused on tyres, brakes, battery and fluids is enough.
Yes, that is the point. Book a window at your home or workplace and the car never leaves your driveway.
The service you probably need
Book it at your address
Fixed price agreed before we come out, no membership and no call-out fee. Prices exclude VAT.
Book your serviceOr call 0333 366 1081, Monday to Saturday