Is your car ready for Holiday Season?

Spring has officially sprung and the holiday season is just around the corner. Whether you are planning a getaway for Easter, hoping to take advantage of the Bank Holiday weekends or have booked your May half term break, don’t forget to get your car checked before you go.

From 1st April our Holiday Check will be available at participating Good Garage Scheme garages. This seasonal check will ensure your car is in good working condition ready for the holiday season ahead.

Participating garages will check that your tyres, wheels and suspension have not become damaged by harsh winter driving conditions. They will also ensure that engine oil and coolant levels are adequately topped up and check that the air conditioning, lights and power steering are operating efficiently, so you can drive safely and comfortably.

To find a local garage taking part in the Holiday Check programme, please visit our website (please add a link to the holiday check page) and enter your postcode in the box provided.

In a recent survey by Hatchbag, it was revealed that 46% of people are planning to enjoy a staycation this year. If you’re holidaying at home, chances are you may be towing a caravan, trailer or perhaps installing a roofbox to carry your essentials. All of these can put an extra strain on your vehicle, so checking everything in is good working order now will give you peace of mind ahead of your getaway.


For a full list of everything that is covered in the Holiday Check or to find out more about the garages in your area offering this service please visit our website. 

It's like having a friend in the know!

Easter Holiday Driving Advice from the IAM

If you’re driving somewhere nice this Easter to indulge in a spot of egg rolling and family feuding over whose fault it was that the Easter eggs were left next to the heater, consider taking some time to prepare yourself and your vehicle for the trip.

At any time of year it is important that you check that all of your lights are working. You should also ensure that your tyre pressure is correct and that they have enough tread – particularly since you are likely to be facing some poor road surfaces after the wintry weather we have experienced in March.

What better time to give your car a spring clean? The grains of salt which have been spread on the roads over the winter period will inevitably have made their way on to your vehicle like tiny corrosive stowaways. Leaving a salt build-up can be damaging to your car, causing rust to appear.

When packing your vehicle for your journey, try to carry as little unnecessary weight as possible as this will increase your fuel consumption – do you really need those extra pairs of shoes? Pack your things as compactly as possible; making sure that nothing obstructs your view through the rear window.

Make sure your washer fluid is topped up before you leave, and give the windscreen and headlamps a quick clean when you stop for fuel.

If you’re taking the kids with you, it’s worth gathering up some tools to keep them occupied during the long periods spent on the road, in which you will need to concentrate, and they will need to be entertained. Portable DVD players and cordless games consoles are perfect, but don’t forget the headphones as the Super Mario Brothers tune may start to grate after an hour or two.

If you feel your eyelids getting heavy whilst driving, it’s likely that opening a window or turning the radio up will not cut it. Pull over somewhere suitable and safe, drink some strong coffee, and have a 20 minute nap while the caffeine takes effect. Sharing the driving is also a great option, if possible.

The Good Garage Scheme would like to thank the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) for their guest blog this week.  For more information about the IAM, visit www.iam.org.uk

If you are unsure if your car is up to a long journey to see family and friends over the Easter holidays, why not visit a Good Garage Scheme member near you that can offer a Spring Check for peace of mind?

How to make your fuel last longer

Have you sat in a queue to buy petrol this week? Are you thinking about a journey you may not be able to make in a couple of weeks time because you won't be able to fill up again?  

  

It now seems that a strike over the Easter weekend has been ruled out completely so we have a break from the fuel worries for the holiday weekend, but this is a timely reminder that most of us are reliant on fuel, despite the escalating prices now exceeding over 140p a litre.

Could you squeeze more miles out of your tank by becoming a more efficient motorist?

Potential saving on fuel over a year

According to the AA, taking steps to drive more efficiently can result in an average 10% saving, with some people saving more than 30% on their fuel costs. If you spend £50 on fuel a week, then that’s potentially a £2600 a year saving. 

First step to saving fuel
If you’re ready to save some money then the first thing to do is have a good look at your car. Is it running at peak efficiency?

Make sure it’s been serviced regularly as this is essential to maintaining engine efficiency. Also, check your tyre pressure is what the handbook recommends, as under-inflated tyres are more resistant, causing the car to use more fuel.

Your handbook probably also recommends changing the pressure for heavier loads, so always check you have the best tyre pressure possible.

Don’t carry unnecessary weight in the car and ditch the roof rack if you aren’t using it. Making the car heavier or more wind resistant means it needs more fuel to run.

Of course, some cars are more efficient than others and it’s worth bearing this in mind when you’re next in the market for a new or second-hand vehicle.

For more information about the best car to choose, visit DirectGov's useful link here.  

Drivers can get the most from their fuel by:

Avoiding unnecessary use of the brakes Speeding towards red lights and then braking, for example, is just a waste of fuel. Aim to accelerate and decelerate more slowly by reading the road ahead. You’ll save money and be a safer driver. 

Driving at the speed limit is most efficient The AA states that driving at 70mph uses as much as 9% more fuel than driving at 60mph.

Thinking ahead about using the air conditioning Air conditioning is the enemy of efficient driving, so if you’re just motoring around town then open a window instead. Use the air con on the motorway, where open windows increase the drag which is less efficient.

Other ways you can save fuel

• Plan journeys carefully in advance so the danger of getting lost is avoided.
• Switch off the engine when you’re stuck at a crossing or stationary in a traffic jam.
• Turn two trips into one by carefully planning your day's car journey 

• Keep an eye on your mileage and aim to reduce it week by week.

 

Visit your local Good Garage Scheme member who can advise you if your car is running most efficiently.