Road Trip Essentials: What to pack and plan for

Planning your trip

While we wouldn’t want to take the fun and spontaneity out of your trip, creating a trip schedule, even a rough one, is still a good place to start. Things like how long you’ll be on the road, what activities you want to do, the rest stops you want to take (including charging stops if you have an electric vehicle) and where you plan to stay can all help you work out what you’re going to need. If you’re working with a budget, think about how much you plan to spend on petrol, accommodation, food and activities too.

It’s easy to overpack when you’re going on a road trip – after all, you’ve got no baggage restrictions, so it’s tempting to fill the boot ‘just in case’! Checking the weather forecast and planning your clothes, toiletries and essentials day-by-day will save you from overpacking, making it easier to find what you need on the go and leave you with extra space for any souvenirs you bring home. Top tip: use packing cubes to optimise space.

Keeping everyone entertained

Stopping your passengers getting bored, especially on longer journeys, can make or break a road trip. Put together a high-energy, good vibes playlist, and rope everyone into some road trip games – things have got a bit more exciting than ‘I spy’. Don’t forget your charging cables for tablets or phones too.

Weather and road safety

Always check the weather forecast before setting off, you never quite know what UK weather will decide to throw at you, and be prepared to change your plans if the conditions don’t look so good. If you’re driving in difficult weather such as fog, heavy rain or worse, follow these tips:

• Drive slower than usual, giving yourself more time to react while visibility is poorer. Be aware of temporary speed limits too.
• Leave a bigger gap between you and other road users as your stopping and braking distances will be affected by rain or ice on the road. You ideally want to double the gap when it’s wet, and up to 10 times more if it’s icy
• Be extra aware of hazards caused by the weather, such as debris in the road
• Use your lights if you need to – don’t always rely on your car’s automatic settings, as these might not always work in fog or rain

For tips on driving safely in hot weather, check out our blog on summer driving safety tips.

Handling breakdowns

No-one wants to be stuck at the side of the road, but unfortunately it can happen to all of us. Checking your coolant/anti freeze levels, tyre tread and tyre pressure and oil level ahead of your trip are all good practice.

Check to see if you have breakdown cover in place, should you end up needing it. At Sheilas’ Wheels, we partner with the RAC to offer Breakdown Cover as an optional extra you can add on to your car insurance policy. This means that if you've bought this cover upfront you can cover yourself in the event of a breakdown for rescue, recovery and onward travel, depending on the level of cover you choose. For more information, head here.

Travelling with a baby

This can feel pretty overwhelming, especially if it’s your first time, so prepping beforehand will help relieve some of that stress. If you think you’ll need it, take it anyway – overpacking isn’t an issue when your little one’s involved, so having an extra few nappies, items of clothing, muslin cloths, and bottles (if you’re using them) certainly won’t hurt. Investing in a good bag to fit all your essentials in to keep within reach can make a big difference, as you can keep this as your ‘going out bag’, and restock every time you come home so you’re ready for the next trip. As well as your car seat, things like sunscreen, a baby carrier and portable slumber pod are also great additions. You should plan more rest stops as well – feeds, changes, and regular breaks out of the car seat are all going to add up to more stops along the way. The NCT has some great resources on travelling with your child.

Travelling with pets

It’s so important to keep your pets safe and strapped in while they’re travelling in the car with you. There are a few ways you can do this with pet seat belts, harnesses, crates and carriers, or boot/luggage guards, depending on who’s coming along for the ride. The Highway Code states that drivers must “make sure dogs and other animals are suitably restrained in your car”, failure to do so may be considered dangerous driving; so as well as keeping your four legged friends safe, it’s a legal requirement too.

Not all dogs take car journeys in their stride, but there are a few ways you can make the trip a little more enjoyable. If you’re heading out on a long journey, it’s best to start your pet with a few shorter drives to help them adjust to being in the car. Take regular breaks, keep them cool and don’t feed them right before a long journey; pets can get car sick too! You can always speak to your vet if you’ve got any concerns, as they may be able to give you things to help with especially nervous or car sick dogs.

Driving outside the UK

Driving abroad can be a bit different to what you’re used to, so it’s important to prepare yourself:

• Don’t forget your driving license; while it’s recommended to carry it when driving in the UK, you’ll need it when driving abroad
• If you’re taking your own car, you’ll need your V5C and insurance certificate too
• Check if you need an international driving permit (IDP) depending on the country you’re visiting
• Have a look into the overseas driving rules; things like local speed limits and drink driving laws. There are a few things you might need ahead of your trip such as a reflective jacket and warning triangle, emission stickers (permits), headlight converter stickers, or a UK sticker. If you’re heading to Europe, take a look at our European Driving Guide
• Make sure you’ve got the insurance for driving abroad. If you’re a Sheilas’ Wheels customer you can find out what your existing cover offers here

One last thing before you set off…

If you want to cover your belongings on the go, you might want to think about adding Personal Possessions Cover to your home insurance. If you’re going on holiday and want to cover your personal belongings, Sheilas’ Wheels Personal Possessions cover protects items for up to 60 days when you’re not in the UK.

Hopefully you’re now feeling more prepared for your road trip, and can head out and enjoy the adventure! Don’t forget you can check your cover, renew your policy and, should the worst happen, make a claim 24/7 in your Account. We hope you have a great trip!