Planning a summer trip is exciting and there are so many things to think about. You may have one of those dream road trips, but is it ok to drive my car that much?
Cars are designed to be driven long and short distances. A longer trip will put more wear and tear on your vehicle, but it is less wear per mile than the same number of miles in shorter trips. Wear and tear is calculated per mile and depends on the age of your vehicle and your regular driving habits.
Unless you have serious concerns about your car’s motor, then a road trip will not harm your car. A road trip in a well maintained car is just as safe as a road trip in a rental car.
I made this whole big chart that shows the wear and tear per mile and explains all the factors that are considered when determining your own cost per mile. So, click over there to learn more about that.
Things to consider
Driving is inherently hazardous. There are many things that could happen at anytime to your car:
Flat Tire
Windshield Crack
Dead Battery
Headlight Goes Out
Locked Out of Car
Running Out of Gas
Take the time to be prepared for all of these common roadside emergencies.
The truth is, these are as likely in a rental car, so they should not deter you from taking that dream road trip!
Tips to Avoid Damage to Your Car
When planning a trip, schedule a tune up or at least an oil change and inspection. Tell the mechanic that you will be going on a road trip and ask them to check your fluid levels and breaks. Check your battery connections and battery age.
If your car gets regular maintenance, you are less likely to experience a roadside emergency.
If you cannot, or would rather not pay for a service to your car, you can check these things yourself:
Check your oil color
The oil should be the color of honey to maple syrup, if it has not been changed recently, change it.
Check your fluids
windshield wiper fluid, oil and coolant
Check your tires
Tires are a big one, make sure that you check the tread and air pressure. You can do this by driving to a gas station with an air pump. Read the sides of your tires and make sure that they are inflated to the correct PSI. You can check the tread with the penny trick.
Check your battery
Make sure you open the hood and look at the battery, determine its age and make sure the terminals are not corroded
This should cover the causes of all the most frequent roadside emergencies. Of course, expect the unexpected, but you can be reasonably sure that you are in for a good trip.
Consider signing up for a roadside emergency service like AAA, so that you have someone to call if you need a tow, a jump or a locksmith.
When planning your road trip, make sure to plan stops. It is not necessary for your car, but it is necessary for the people driving! This will help you become more familiar with your route, and give you a good idea of any long stretches without gas stations.
You can use Google Maps to find rest stops. I have a great post here about how to find the best ones on your trip.
Be sure to fill up well before you are on E!
I lived in Newport News, VA for quite a few years, and the number of people who run out of gas in the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel would send chills down your spine! Don’t be that guy, fill up often!
How long can I drive my car on a road trip?
You can drive your car for as long as you can safely operate the vehicle. The limiting factor for how many hours you can drive in a day is the driver, not the car.
Plan to drive no more than 600 miles a day, my seasoned road trip friends all recommend that you keep to that distance. This is a great distance to avoid burnout and to really enjoy the trip.
If you want to be flexible on your trip, grab a road atlas so that you can easily see where you might want to stop. That bird’s eye view is only one advantage of having a paper atlas, I have another post all about the other reasons you will want to keep a road atlas, some might surprise you! (I recommend a Rand McNally Road Atlas on Amazon, they are easy to use and easy to find).
There are a lot of reasons to stop and great places to stop. If you find yourself locked in a debate with your travel buddies, check out my article about where and how often to stop for some great ideas.
Does my car need to rest on a long drive?
Your car can drive until it runs out of gas, but you should stop every 2 to 4 hours. If you have young kids try to keep it closer to 2.
Unless the temperature gage in your car is indicating that your car is overheating, there is no reason that your car would need to rest on a long drive. If you smell something unusual, hear a concerning noise, or start to feel vibrations pull over as soon as it is safe and call a trusted mechanic.
If you find yourself on the side of the road with an overheated car, remember that a tow truck can only hold one or 2 additional passengers, so if you have a family, you will likely need to call for a ride.
Is it better to rent?
I asked over 100 people if they rent or drive on their road trip and I got answers from both sides of the debate.
When considering if it would be better to rent or drive your own, you should consider the age of your car, the cost of wear and tear and the comfort of your car. If you find that your car is very new or very old, renting is likely to save you money.
Newer cars depreciate much more quickly so the miles added on a long trip decrease the value much faster than on an older vehicle. A very new vehicle costs more in depreciation on a long road trip. With regular maintenance the miles should not cause damage to the engine or transmission.
As a general rule, if your car is more than 5 years old, driving a long distance will not have a significant impact on the car’s value.
Older vehicles cost more per mile when repairs become necessary. Getting a pre trip inspection and tune up can alert you to any possible damages or repairs that could make the trip smoother and safer.
Another reason to rent might be to be more comfortable on the road. In this case, the choice is more one of budget. If you can afford a rental, this is a great option. I looked into a bunch of these factors in greater depth in this article about renting a car for a road trip. I also answer some questions about who can drive the rental and compare company policies in a handy chart.
A road trip is a great vacation, I have dedicated a whole website to my love of road trips! As long as you have a properly maintained vehicle, you are good to go!
