Summertime is here and you have probably planned and marked your calendar for a road trip. Taking a road trip is much more preferable nowadays, especially if you want to avoid long queues and large crowds, and want to have complete freedom over your adventure. When it comes to roadtrips, all you need is good company and a good playlist and you can be as spontaneous as you want. 

Before hitting the road, though, there are a few things you need to prepare for your car to ensure your safety. Why? Well, imagine your car running out of battery, experiencing tire failure, or overheating in the middle of nowhere. These are all unexpected mishaps you can't always avoid. With the help of products from Advance Auto Parts, one of the leading automotive aftermarket parts providers, The Bitbag Team has come up with a checklist of things to prepare:

Bring a Roadside Emergency Kit.

Even if you might be a defensive driver, you won't have any control over other drivers on the road. This can be frustrating, especially if you prepare everything for a smooth ride. Again, you can't cancel out the possibility of unforeseen scenarios. As such, you should pack a roadside emergency kit with a rescue hammer, an emergency warning triangle, and road flares to survive when worse comes to worst.

Inspect the Wipers.

Even though you might have scheduled your trip on a sunny day, there could be a sudden change in weather. You might encounter heavy rains or snow on your way to your destination and the last thing you'll want is a streaky wiper. If your wipers are brittle and nicked, that's a sure sign to finally replace them.

Choose wiper blades that feature a Climate Defense Technology to withstand long-term exposure to UV rays and snow. The Rain X Silicone AdvantEdge Premium Beam Wiper Blade comes in various sizes-from 14 to 28 inches, whichever your car might need.

Test the Batteries.

You won't want your car battery to give out on you midway, would you? Fortunately, it's easier, cheaper, and faster to check and replace your battery and damaged cables beforehand than calling a tow truck if your car breaks down.

Advance Auto Parts doesn't just offer a wide array of DieHard car batteries; they also offer free battery testing with no appointment needed plus free battery installation with every purchase (on most vehicles and at most locations) online and in-store. This is a great option for those who are unfamiliar with this field such as newbie drivers.

Bring a Jump Starter Pack.

With your own jump starter pack, you can get yourself out of a tricky situation quickly and conveniently. Unlike battery chargers that take time to refill a battery, jump starters administer a shock of electricity to kickstart your vehicle faster.

In case you still don't have one, check out the Schumacher 600A Lithium Jump Starter + Power Pack online from Advance Auto Parts. This pack can be used for Powersports, motorcycles, and up to 6-cylinder vehicles.

Measure tire pressure.

Before going on a long drive, you should always check your tire pressure, especially since you will be carrying an extra load. It can be dangerous to drive when your tires have improper inflation pressure because you could damage your tires and it could affect the vehicle's handling and fuel economy.

Properly inflated tires, on the other hand, help them be less prone to blowouts and ultimately last longer. Since most vehicles tell you the tire pressure inside the driver seat's side door jam, you can measure the tire pressure at home by getting a tire pressure gauge from Advance Auto Parts.

Check the Brakes.

Checking your brakes is important because emergency situations are most likely to require you to rely heavily on your brakes. Having trouble with your brakes is one of the most dangerous issues you could encounter on a road trip. This might happen when you use your brakes a lot while driving in heavy traffic or slam on them.

To ensure road safety, you need to keep your brakes in tip-top condition. In case you need to replace them upon checking, you can visit Advance Auto Parts and go through their selection of brake pads, calipers, and rotors to find what you need.

Advance Auto Parts offers car accessories, replacement and performance parts, and more for any of your car's needs. You can even DIY your car maintenance with the help of this one-stop shop trusted by professional installers. Start shopping now!