Many things can go wrong during a car trip, so attention and care can never be too much, especially if you plan to rent a car to travel between one city and another. See our suggestions now!

Okay, you decided, at the last minute, to have an adventure on the road. Excellent! Before you get behind the wheel, however, you need to take the time to organize your travel plans. Just for starters, you’re going to have to:

  • Check the path and plot the best route;
  • Check whether there are tolls on the road or not;
  • Check the presence of gas stations along the way;
  • How much on average will be spent on fuel and possible tolls;
  • Duration of the journey;
  • Decide where and when you can stop to relax and recover energy;
  • If it’s your own car, it will be necessary to schedule the overhaul and maintenance…

Uffff! Traveling by car is much more complicated than just checking your bags and disembarking. Therefore, before hitting the road, it is necessary to plan. Check out below for tips for a smooth car trip:

What to do to have a smooth car trip?

1. Don’t leave home in a hurry

Leave everything ready at least two days in advance. This includes, in addition to the first precautions about the road and the car itself, details such as packing the bags, separating documents and placing all the luggage inside the vehicle.

This part sounds easy, but if you’re carrying a lot of bags, you can spend hours trying to organize just the trunk!

And, of course, try to remember all the details before facing the road. Make sure you locked the door when you left the house, that the appliances are turned off, that the medicines and accessories you need are on hand.

It’s better to check before than driving for hours until you realize you’ve forgotten something.

2. Create a good playlist

Not to sound extreme, but music is one of the things that can turn a car trip into a fabulous experience…or hell.

Do not delegate the responsibility of preparing the list to be played by someone whose musical taste is questionable. Seriously, you don’t want to be in a car for several hours listening to songs you don’t enjoy listening to over and over again.

3. Way to coffee and energy drinks

It’s an easy mistake to make. You start to get tired after a few hours on the road and stop for a cup of coffee and fill yourself with caffeine. Or to take that energetic one.

Less than an hour later you’ll have to stop to go to the bathroom and that’s it until the end. Also, with lots of coffee or being energetic, the chances of increasing stress increase.

4. Choose the right car

Five people crammed together like sardines in a Chevrolet Corsa, driving from São Paulo to Florianópolis, shouldn’t be a very good experience. For the ideal car, the time and distance of the trip must be taken into account, as well as the number of passengers.

If your car is very small, it may be ideal to rent a larger, more comfortable car, dividing the rental rates among all travelers.

5. Don’t abuse speed

Stepping on the accelerator is out of the question. Always respect the signs and avoid accidents or fines. Drinking alcoholic beverages before traveling is also not cool: leave it to drink and celebrate when you arrive at your destination.

6. Bring snacks to cheat hunger on the way

Unless you want to stop at every roadside post or bar, be sure to bring some snacks to keep your hunger sated. Avoid taking food with a lot of bran or with a fatal smell. And ice cream is not a good idea.

See the tips How to choose the best restaurants on a trip?

7. Stop to rest

One way to turn a pleasant trip into a stressful and uncomfortable trip is not stopping to rest… And if the trip is too long, stopping at a hotel or hostel to sleep is not a matter of luxury, but of necessity!

In these cases, if you have a tent and you like to camp, look for campsites that may be on your route 😉

We know you want to get to your destination as quickly as possible, but continuing to drive while your teammates are falling asleep and you’re starting to close your eyes isn’t a good idea. So take it easy.

A car trip should be fun! Organize rest stops every two or three hours and make sure you are rested and relaxed, as depending on the route you choose, you may need to travel more days.

8. Think carefully before offering a ride

Nowadays, this is very relative, so much so that there are even groups and apps that specialize in hitchhiking tips. Either way, you need to weigh the potential dangers and annoyances of traveling alongside a complete stranger.

Be sure of your decision and check if in the country you are visiting giving rides is allowed – some countries prohibit such action.

9. Check traffic laws when driving in another country or state

Did you know that you can be fined approximately 2000 rubles in Russia if your car is very dirty? Or that in France you need to take a breathalyzer with you?

Before your uneventful drive becomes a mess, it might be a good idea to know some traffic rules for the country you are visiting. You can save a lot of money on a ticket or even escape a night at the police station.

If you liked the tips, leave a comment! I’d love to hear from you!