Road Trip Preparation - 10 Tips for Road Trips 

1. Clean your car before and during your trip.

A few days into your trip, when the glove box starts overflowing with receipts and local maps, and you’ve managed to spill coffee and crumbs all over the console, you'll regret the day you failed to factor in the Vac. As this is your mobile home away from home for the duration of your trip, take time every couple of days to purge your car of undesirable items of rubbish, and give it a good going over once a week with a Vac on longer trips. Take along some travel size tissues and hygienic wipes to help with the task.

2. Have a loose plan – don’t fix it in concrete unless you factor in some delays.

Delays are the one thing that you can count on when driving significant distances. The familiar flashing ‘Road Work Ahead’ messages are going to impact your timing, and if you over schedule, it is almost certain you will find yourself pressed for time to make it to your next destination. The last thing you want is to be driving while over tired, or trying to cancel hotel reservations along the way. Plan on delays, and you will be pleasantly surprised when you get there sooner.

3. Get off the highways – and get ‘laid back’.

Unless you have a specific destination and a strict schedule, there is little point in hitting the roads to see the country if you don't spend some time on the back roads. Most road maps have some indicator of whether a "back road" is an interesting one or highlight tourist drives and places of interest. Factor in things such as pot holes and stray sheep, but think of the adventure!

4. Have an escape plan to get off windy country roads.

Country lanes are beautiful and occasionally visually stunning, but after a few wrong turns and a bout of car sickness on the winding roads, you might need a break from the hills. It can also be slow going.

5. Anticipate trouble spots.

If you are grinding out long Miles/Kilometres on a road trip, it's not hard to find yourself in the wrong place at the wrong time -- like being caught in rush hour traffic or on the one road in and out of town on a holiday weekend.

6. Tend to division of labour.

Some people are good at navigating; others couldn't read a map if they tried. Some people are good at planning meals, while others think a big bag of chips counts as a good dinner. Know who does what well, and what really matters to your travelling companions, and you will get things done efficiently and to the satisfaction of all. Divvy up and delegate jobs by talent and predilection.

7. Join a roadside rescue service.

If you take enough road trips, eventually you will end up stranded on the side of the road outside somewhere a few miles from who know’s where. Having that road side assistance number handy immediately ties you in to approved local tow services and mechanics, saving you a lot of hassle, and shielding you from some of the dangers of the road that none of us want to encounter.

8. Supplement your mobile phone with a phone card.

Your mobile phone may not work everywhere, particularly outside major built up areas. Take an easy-to-use phone card with you. You can use your credit card for most calls, but it's an added safeguard if you are in a jam.

9. Have your documentation and a clean record.

If you are travelling without current documentation of license, registration or insurance, you could be in for a difficult time explaining, and possible fines, if you are pulled over for any reason. Further, you may want to clear up any old traffic and parking tickets before you go; under the right (or perhaps wrong, in this case) circumstances, your car can be impounded for your oversights, or deliberate ‘sins’.

10. Know when to give up and stop.

Sometimes on the road you need to play the hand you are dealt, for better or worse. This advice might apply to road trip decisions both small and large. You may stop off somewhere for lunch and just decide you are too tired to go on. Safety first.

Australian Automobile Association of Australia -  http://www.aaa.asn.au/index.php

Current Australian Road Rules - constituted 1999 – form the basis of Road Rules of each Australian state and territory:

http://www.ntc.gov.au/viewpage.aspx?AreaId=35&DocumentId=794

Road Safety: AAA - http://www.aaa.asn.au/about/programs.htm#saferroads

Australian State & Territory Motoring Clubs           - http://www.aaa.asn.au/about/members.htm

Guidance for Australians Touring Overseas: AAA - http://www.aaa.asn.au/touring/default.htm

International Touring Associations

International Touring Alliance                    - http://www.aitgva.ch/AIT_Home.htm

Federation Internationale de l’Automobile - http://www.fia.com/en-GB/Pages/HomePage.aspx

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Disclaimer: The information contained in this section should not be used for individual travel advice. Please see your travel agent for more information regarding your individual requirements.