How to get your car holiday-ready: Ready for your vacation trip
The car needs to be checked before the summer vacation trip. Many things can be done by yourself, others can be done by garages with vacation checks. It is also important to know the rules abroad.
You can't do without a car: for many vacation plans, the car is still the ideal mobility solution. Not only the family - and maybe even the dog - but also plenty of luggage and sometimes sports equipment can be comfortably accommodated. Of course, the vehicle's maximum permissible load must always be taken into account.
But vacation trips are also stressful for the car: in everyday life, it is usually only used for short distances, so that the drive and all other components are rarely pushed to the limit. Not so on a vacation trip. Long journeys, often higher speeds (for example in Germany), a full load, often significantly higher temperatures - all this requires the vehicle to be in top condition. Who wants to break down on vacation? So the car needs to be put through its paces before the journey.
More air pressure in hot weather
Some checks can easily be carried out by yourself - such as checking the various fluid levels (engine oil, coolant, windscreen washer fluid), the condition of the windscreen wipers (cracks or streaks), the tire pressure and the tread depth (minimum 1.6, preferably 3 mm). Good to know: At very high temperatures and when the vehicle is fully loaded, the pressure must be increased. Information on this can be found in the owner's manual. A good rule of thumb to remember: It is better to have too much pressure than too little. When the tires are warm, 0.2 to 0.3 bar more pressure is always correct and reduces wear and fuel consumption. When the outside temperature is hot, it needs to be even higher. Therefore, it is important: Never let the pressure down in the summer heat, otherwise it is usually too little later on.
Vacation check in the garage
When it comes to air pressure, it is clear that professional advice is required. That's why a check in the garage is the obvious choice. Many garages offer special vacation checks, which are quick and reliable and vary greatly in scope and price, but start at low double-digit sums. The professionals then take a close look at the condition of the vehicle on the lift. Particular attention is usually paid to the lighting, braking system, tires and air conditioning. Take tires, for example: professionals often discover previous damage before a flat tire occurs. It is also important that the battery and electronics are in good condition. The inspection usually ends in the trunk: Does the spare wheel have pressure? Are the breakdown triangle (mandatory) and first aid kit (optional) there?
Other countries, other rules
When traveling abroad, the car must comply with the legal requirements of the destination. The mandatory equipment may vary depending on the country. At the top of the list is the CH sticker, which must be affixed to the rear of the vehicle. A missing sticker can result in a hefty fine in Italy, for example. In many countries, one or even several high-visibility vests are mandatory. In Great Britain or Ireland, special headlight cover stickers are required due to left-hand traffic. They prevent other road users from being dazzled. Your garage will know more about this topic.
Threat of fines in low emission zones
In many European countries, the use of the road network is free of charge - with the exception of certain tunnels and bridges. In some countries, the purchase of a vignette is required to use the highway. France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Croatia and Greece operate a toll system with varying charges. Payment can be made in cash, by credit card or via payment systems such as Télépéage in France, Telepass in Italy, VIA-T in Spain or Easy Toll and Toll Card in Portugal.
More and more frequently, you will also encounter restrictions on driving through cities abroad. Access is then only possible with an environmental sticker, which, depending on the country, must be stuck to the car (e.g. Germany) or purchased online (e.g. Italy). Attention: The fines are high. In some countries (such as Italy or France, where twelve environmental zones were previously turned into 42 this year), the regulations vary from city to city. In some cases, infringements are automatically recorded by camera and fined automatically (e.g. in Italy). The Touring Club Switzerland (TCS) offers a lot of information on such topics, toll regulations and many general tips (such as vacation checklists, entry regulations, charging stations): tcs.ch.
The carXpert network
The name says it all: Behind the name carXpert is a Switzerland-wide network of over 280 independent quality garages and over 40 independent body stores - all experts for your car. In these multi-brand garages, every car feels at home with the qualified specialists because it is serviced and repaired according to the manufacturer's instructions with original equipment parts - guaranteed to keep the warranty! The premium network offers the highest level of expertise and service quality as well as, for example, assistance and used car warranties. The carXpert partners are also ideal contacts for topics such as vacation checks and starter batteries! Many offer a vacation check at reasonable fixed prices. This usually involves checking the starter battery. If a replacement is required carXpert partner a wide range from economy to high-tech premium batteries. carxpert.ch
*The content was created by the Autosprint editorial team in collaboration with carXpert. Cars of all makes are welcome in the carXpert garages and body shops.
