Easter travel tips from the AA

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Easter is always a busy time on the roads - for many it's the first break since Christmas and the first major car journey of the year. It's always a busy time for AA patrols too - we dealt with more than 50,000 breakdowns over the Easter weekend in 2009.

The AA always advises drivers to make careful preparations before setting out on a journey, including checking routes and finding out about local traffic and weather conditions. This is particularly important if you're planning to visit popular tourist destinations.

Drivers should check coolant and oil levels, tyre tread and pressures before any long journey to reduce the risk of breakdown or other incident. If poor weather's forecast it's important to check lights, wipers and screen wash too.

The AA expects Maundy Thursday and Bank Holiday Monday traffic to be particularly high as drivers make the most of the long weekend.

Spring Clean

Easter's a good time to give the car a good spring clean too - particularly after such a long and cold winter.

It's possible that the inside of the car hasn't dried out properly all through the winter as wet or snow covered shoes and clothes keep bringing moisture but there not been the ventilation to dry it out.

Pick a warm sunny day and take out loose mats and check carpets thoroughly for signs of damp. If you leave doors/windows open to ventilate the car make sure you keep a constant eye on the car to prevent risk of theft.

Any signs of water penetration should be investigated as serious damage can result if ignored.

Use cleaners designed for car upholstery, leather, trim etc. rather than general domestic cleaners but nevertheless always test on a small patch first and follow instructions carefully.

On the outside, remove winter grime with warm water and a suitable car shampoo. Start on the roof and work your way down to allow stubborn dirt at the bottom to soak. Pay particular attention to door undersides and sills.

Use a purpose-made touch-up paint kit to deal with any stone chips or minor areas of corrosion as these will get worse if ignored. More serious corrosion is best dealt with by a garage or body shop though.

The underside of the car takes the worst of the winter weather. Mud soaks-up salt laden spray and, if left, will cause severe corrosion over time.

Us a hose or pressure washer to clean the underside of the vehicle - particularly the wheel arches where mud is most likely to collect. Any signs of damage to the under body sealant should be attended to by a garage.

Important Notice
This guide is intended for general information only and is not intended as, and does not constitute, any form of advice, recommendation or endorsement by us of any particular product(s) or services and you should rely on your own further research and professional advice in relation to your specific requirements and circumstances before purchasing any products or services. Use of this guide is subject to the Terms of Use of the KnowYourMoney site.