Getting started: how to make sure your car is road-ready for your trip

The condition of your car determines whether you arrive at your holiday destination quickly and relaxed or whether you encounter problems that lead to unforeseen stops. Follow these seven tips when planning to go on holiday by car:

• Check the tyre pressure before setting off on a long journey. Adjust the pressure if you’re going to be transporting a heavy load. Tyre tread is also important. Summer tyres should be replaced when the tread depth is less than 3mm (the legal minimum tread depth is 1.6mm). Also check the tyres for any damage from sharp objects or hitting a curb.
• Cars also heat up in hot weather, so it’s important to have a working cooling system. You can refill the car’s coolant at any petrol station. Important: take care not to open the coolant reservoir until the engine has cooled down.
• You can easily check your vehicle’s oil level yourself. A low oil level will lead to engine damage sooner or later, so make sure you top up your oil before it gets low.
• Often, other road users notice that one of your car lights is no longer working before you do. This can be dangerous. Before setting off, check that the headlights, rear lights and indicator lights are working properly.
• Car batteries become less reliable as they get older, and react more sensitively to the cold and heat. Your garage can check your car’s battery performance so you won’t have to make any unwanted stops on your trip.
• Is your car making strange noises when you brake? Then you need to take it to a mechanic. Grinding or squealing sounds from the brakes can be caused by various things, all of which need to be fixed one way or another.
• Even small issues can have nasty consequences. For example, old windscreen wiper blades or low wiper fluid can lead to poor visibility – so check them before you set off.

Don’t forget to check your car again when you get back.

Travelling hundreds of miles to your holiday destination and back can take a toll on your car. So, don’t just vacuum the sand out of the boot – you also need to check the tyre pressure and oil, coolant and wiper fluid levels again. By the way, roof boxes or bicycle racks cause additional air resistance, leading to higher fuel consumption. Remove them when they’re no longer needed.

Important when going on holiday by car: the green card

The green card is the international insurance card that you must have with you when driving in the following countries: Albania, Belarus, Israel, Moldova, Montenegro, Morocco, North Macedonia, Tunisia, Turkey and Ukraine. The green card confirms that you have adequate third party liability insurance cover for your vehicle. Exception: the green card is not valid for car journeys to Kosovo, where you have to take out third party insurance at the border.

Generali tip
We will be happy to send you a green card automatically. It’s valid for one year at a time. It’s best to keep this international insurance card together with your European Accident Statement in the glove compartment.

Things to consider before leaving

• While not compulsory in Switzerland, you have to have one of the oval CH country stickers clearly displayed on your car when driving abroad. If you don’t have one, even a short shopping trip over the border could land you a fine.
• You should also find out whether you need to have a warning triangle, first aid kit, fire extinguisher or high-vis jacket in the car. In Switzerland, only the warning triangle is required by law. Good to know: in many German and Italian city centres, motorists have to display an environmental sticker.
• Make a note of your insurer’s vehicle breakdown and recovery service provider's phone number. That way, you’ll be prepared for an emergency.
• A European Accident Statement helps people involved in an accident to record all the important information. It’s a very useful document when you report the damage to the insurance company after your return. Order an Accident Statement from us for free.