It’s just about time to say “HAPPY THANKSGIVING” and for many of us that means travelling in the car. Many will follow up with shopping and preparations for Christmas and other holiday events and parties. We get questions from friends and family about car repairs before travelling and specifically the longer holiday trips. You can gain a lot of peace of mind with that oil change that you might have put off before the holiday rush gets here. A tune up is also another great step to keeping the little things being found early and saving your money, time and keep you from emergency roadside breakdowns which can often be avoided. With our car repair services in Laurel, Burtonsville, Maple Lawn Farms, Fulton, Clarksville, Highland and Columbia only a few miles away we offer a courtesy inspection to find those small issues at no additional cost. That courtesy inspection is not to be confused with the Maryland State Inspection, aka MSI, aka car inspection required by MVA when selling / transferring a vehicle.
Car tires are another important item that can wear down and not inspected regularly enough, only get replaced after sliding on a cold wet road. You might not need new tires but you can certainly help yourself by checking your tire pressure. Tire pressure can be low this time of year with older “cracked” or “dry rot” tires and the colder weather. Having the pressure at the level can help to keep control, help proper wear and gas mileage for your trip.
As a locally owned and operated car repair shop in Maryland we suggest Plan and Map the Route to keep your Holiday travels smooth. Many are familiar with the route and with all the electronic devices, mapping apps and traffic predicting models it can be easy to think, “I don’t need to prepare.” However many areas of the US struggle with cell service, GPS and even those specific apps connectivity. Match that with loosing battery, a cracked or lost phone and you might be looking for that old “folding” map in the glove box. Making a plan before you go can help to see alternatives and even predict traffic patterns from the safety and relaxing environment of your desktop days before you head out on Holiday travel. You might even be able to find traffic patterns to help you decide on the right time to leave. Even your “Mechanics in Laurel” plan out their travel plans.
What Goes in the trunk? Travelling around the Holidays can mean valuables in the car and leaving that car unattended. That can make for a target that a thief may want to grab a few of your things. Planing what goes in the trunk, under the seat or under a cover can help to keep prying eyes from seeing those valuables. Planning the packing can also keep dangerous items from becoming a projectile in a crash.
As your family owned and operated auto repair shop we know first hand the travel plans of the holidays and hope you found these helpful and time saving. If we can be of any help with your pre-travel maintenance, tuneup, tires, oil change, alignment or dashboard warning/emergency light give us a call or schedule your appointment online. We bring convenient auto repairs to Laurel, Burtonsville, Maple Lawn Farms, Fulton, Clarksville, Highland and Columbia MD with many complimentary services.
(301) 317-7886