A classic car is a great thing to own, especially if you’ve always been a car enthusiast. However, one thing that you have to consider when you own a classic car is the limit of the vehicle in terms of driving it around.
Although you can usually drive around in your classic car, you may hesitate to go for a long time. Nonetheless, if your vehicle is in good condition and still has much life left, why not take it on a road trip? You can enjoy the journey with your classic car while seeing new places and meeting new people.
Road trips are an excellent way to experience different parts of the world without traveling far from home.
Since classic cars are old, you want to make sure that you prepare carefully to ensure that the vehicle can last as long as possible. With that in mind, here are nine essential steps you need to take to prepare your vintage car for a road trip.
1. Tune Up Your Car
A tune-up is an integral part of any car’s routine maintenance as it includes various services to improve your car’s performance and longevity.
It is not just for the engine. It also includes a check for tires, brakes, and other parts of your car.
The tune-up process can be time-consuming and costly. However, if you’re planning to use your classic car for a road trip, it’s worthwhile to do a tune-up beforehand so that you don’t end up having to spend more money on repairs later on.
The tune-up is crucial because it helps maintain your car’s overall performance and reliability. It also helps prevent any damage to your engine or other parts of the vehicle.
2. Roadside Emergency Kit
In an emergency during your road trip, you must be prepared and know what to do in case of a breakdown or an accident. A roadside emergency kit is a must-have for your classic car before you head out on the road trip with your classic car.
A roadside emergency kit should contain jumper cables, a tire gauge, and a flashlight. It is also essential to keep some cash in case you need to call for help or if your car breaks down.
The most important part of the kit is the spare tire, which should be inflated and ready for use. The other essential items include a gas can and tools such as screwdrivers and wrenches.
3. Review your insurance
Before you go on your road trip, consider reviewing your classic car’s insurance so that you know your coverage. You need to do this because it’s better to know how much coverage you have and how much money you will get back if something happens.
If you are going to use your classic car for a road trip, there are some things that you should note.
The first thing that comes to mind when taking a classic on the open road is its age and heritage. If it’s over 30 years old, it will be considered an antique vehicle.
So if this is the case with your vehicle, then special considerations come into play when considering insurance coverage and reimbursement of expenses incurred during a crash or breakdown.
If you use your car for exhibitions, your insurance might only allow your car to go so far for your road trip. Therefore, it’s a good idea to check your classic car’s eligibility for insurance coverage.
4. Check the tires and the spare
We mentioned the importance of a roadside emergency kit that includes the spare tire and the tools to replace a tire earlier. Therefore, before you set out on your trip, check the car’s tires and the spare. That way, you reduce the risk or likelihood that your tires will deflate along your journey.
5. Top up all fluids
When you do your tune-up, ensure you top up on all your car’s fluids. With a vintage car, you also want to note your fuel levels.
You want to ensure that your fuel levels are always high as part of your vehicle’s maintenance, aside from the fact that you will be traveling a lot with the car.
6. Plan a route
If you’re going on a road trip with your classic car, you must plan a route before you use it. The way is crucial because it will help avoid traffic jams, poor gas mileage, and other potential mishaps.
Planning a route should be done beforehand because if your car breaks down or you get into an accident, the path will help identify where to go.
If your classic car is not in good condition and has no spare parts on hand, you need to plan a route before the road trip because it would help you avoid a major headache in the future.
7. Take a short drive
You should take a short drive before you use the classic car to go on a road trip because the gas mileage of the classic car can vary depending on how much you drive and what type of terrain you are driving on.
Taking a short drive before using your classic car will help keep your budget in check while ensuring that your experience with the car will be enjoyable.
8. Have brakes checked
Again, with the tune-up process, ensure you have the brakes checked. It is a crucial part of your vehicle and is something you don’t ever want to take for granted while driving. Therefore, make sure that your brakes work well and that there isn’t anything funky going on with them when you go on your test drive.
9. Prepare license and documents.
When driving a classic car, you must prepare your license and other documents before taking it on a road trip.
The title should be in your name or registered in your name (if it was ever titled). In addition, make sure that you have all the required insurance documents.
When you own a classic car, you’d want to show it off and drive it around. Unfortunately, its age can make it hard to get it out there, but the above steps can help make your classic car more prepared for a road trip. That way, you can enjoy a road trip in your classic car without compromising its value and quality.
