Memorial Day weekend kicks off summer driving season, and every year a predictable thing happens: people wait until the Thursday before a three-day weekend to get their car looked at, and every shop in town is booked. Then they hit the highway anyway, and some percentage of them end up on the shoulder of I-95 waiting for a tow.
Don't be that person. Here's what to check — and how to get it done without scrambling.
Tires: The One You Really Can't Skip
Tires are your only contact with the road. Worn tread, low pressure, or a slow leak doesn't announce itself until something goes wrong.
Tread depth: Stick a quarter into the tread groove with Washington's head pointing down. If you can see the top of his head, your tires are below 4/32" and you should replace them before a long trip. A penny test (Lincoln's head) is the legal minimum — but barely legal isn't where you want to be on a highway at 75 mph.
Tire pressure: Check it cold, before driving. Look inside your driver's door jamb for the correct PSI — not the number on the sidewall of the tire, which is the maximum. Underinflated tires overheat, especially in summer driving conditions.
Your spare: Open the trunk. Make sure you have one. Make sure it's inflated. It's the most commonly forgotten item on pre-trip checklists.
Fluids
You don't need to be a mechanic to check most of these. Pop the hood and look at:
- Engine oil: Check the dipstick. If it's dark brown or black and you're more than a few thousand miles past your last change, get it changed.
- Coolant: The reservoir is usually a translucent plastic tank. It should be between the MIN and MAX lines. Running low on coolant in summer heat is a quick way to overheat.
- Brake fluid and power steering fluid: Check levels. If they're low, that's a symptom — there may be a leak.
- Windshield washer fluid: Underrated. You'll use a lot of it on a highway trip.
Brakes
If you've noticed any of these, get your brakes checked before you go: squealing or grinding when stopping, the car pulling to one side, the brake pedal feeling soft or lower than usual. Highway driving puts real demands on your braking system, especially if you're going through mountain terrain.
AC, Battery, and Wipers
AC: If it hasn't been on much since last summer, run it for 10 minutes before your trip. If it's blowing warm, you've got a refrigerant issue that needs attention.
Battery: Car batteries typically last 3–5 years. Heat accelerates failure. If your battery is 4 years old or older, have it tested. Many auto parts stores will do this for free.
Wipers: Streaky wipers are a minor annoyance in your driveway and a serious visibility problem in a rainstorm on the highway. Wiper blades are cheap and easy to replace.
Book Early — Or Go Mobile
If you're reading this in the week before Memorial Day weekend, your best bet for getting a same-week inspection may be a mobile mechanic. They come to your house or office, there's no waiting room, and pre-trip inspections are exactly the kind of job they handle well.
Don't wait until the night before to find out something is wrong. If you need parts, you need time.
The Emergency Kit
Throw these in the trunk if you don't already have them: jumper cables or a jump starter pack, a flashlight, a basic first aid kit, a reflective triangle or flares, a phone charger, and a jug of water. It weighs almost nothing and costs very little. You'll feel better having it.
Need a pre-trip inspection? Find a vetted mobile mechanic who can come to you at /find-a-mechanic/.