Things To Bring on a Road Trip

Before heading on any long drive, it’s a good idea to know what things to bring on a road trip, to limit the number of stops along the way. Moreover, as with many road trips, there are often points along your journey where there isn’t a store or gas station for miles. Leaving you entirely without so much as a cell signal.

Which is why knowing which things to bring on a road trip is essential before hitting the road this summer in British Columbia (or anywhere else in Canada!). Particularly if you are driving an aging vehicle, one with high mileage, or if you are travelling in an area that you have never travelled through before.

At Cash For Cars BC, we purchase vehicles that have seen their fair share of road trips. Some are still running, but barely. Some are mechanically sound, but have extensive dents, dings, or even rust. And others are untouched by their time on the road, aside from higher-than-average mileage.

The great news is that at Cash For Cars BC, we pay the MOST cash for cars, regardless of age or condition. Just give our car buying experts a quick call, and we will be happy to answer any questions you might have about selling your car. NOBODY Pays More!

Things to Bring on a Summer Road Trip

Alternatively, if you don’t have an extra tire, a tire repair kit including a tire inflator is essential. Because sometimes if it’s just a slow leak that’s leaking not-so-slowly, you can get back into town with a couple of short stops to refill the tire with air.

And with a tire repair kit, you can get your car safely back to a tire repair shop when your tire is too damaged to simply inflate with a portable compressor. You can purchase a tire repair kit from anywhere dealership, but you’ll find more inexpensive ones at auto supply stores like Canadian Tire or Princess Auto.

2. Oil, Coolant, & Water

For British Columbia residents, we know that summer means stifling hot temperatures that are unpredictable and uncomfortable. And as much as those temperatures can wreak havoc on us humans, they can also really do a number on our vehicle, no matter what age it is.

Failing to keep your oil levels at optimal levels can lead to a seized engine, or even an engine fire. Failing to monitor your coolant levels can result in your engine overheating, also potentially leading to a fire. And if you run out of coolant, a temporary alternative to get you back to town is water. It also comes in handy to keep you hydrated if you’re stuck in the hot sun waiting for a tow truck.

Before starting out on any lengthy trip behind the wheel, it’s always a good idea to have your mechanic, like the great people at Supertech Auto in North Vancouver. They will check your fluid levels, look for any early onset of mechanical breakdown, and will even check that your tires are ready for a long drive.

3. Washer Fluid

You might think that because you’re driving in the summer, that you won’t really need washer fluid that often. However, depending on where you are driving on your road trip, you might need it more than you think.

Throughout BC’s Interior and Okanagan, you face plenty of bug debris, wildfire smoke, dust, and even spray from the mini waterfalls that you’ll find trickling down the side of the mountain. All of these things can and do, land on your windshield and leave you with limited visibilty. Which can lead to accidents.

Fortunately, at Cash For Cars BC, we buy vehicles from $100 – $100,000+. So, even if your vehicle has a major mechanical failure while away, or gets involved in an accident, you can still sell it for the MOST cash. From scrap cars to Supercars, we buy them all. And NOBODY Pays More!

4. Roadside Emergency Kit

We all hope for the best when you have a long drive ahead of us, but the reality is that unexpected things can happen on the road, no matter how much we try to avoid them. Which is why having a roadside emergency kit is so important on long road trips.

Anything can go wrong on a long drive. And when you’re navigating winding roads like Highway 3 during intense forest fire smoke, you want to be prepared. Packing yourself an emergency roadside kit is essential because they come complete with many things needed during a roadside emergency or after a collision.

Roadside Emergency Kits Include:

• A rescue knife
• A first aid kit
• Road flares or reflectors
• Blanket
• A flashlight
• Mini tool kit
• Granola bars & water
• Small foldable shovel
• Jumper cables

You might think this sounds a bit overboard to bring on a road trip, but you’d be surprised how many people end up using their emergency kit on long road trips. And typically, it’s always when you need it that you don’t have it. So, save yourself a nightmare and back a roadside emergency kit for your drive.

Things to Bring on a Winter Road Trip

The winter road trip essentials are much like the summer road trip essentials, but with a few variances. Because naturally, you’ll be faced with different kinds of adverse conditions that affect the control you have over your vehicle on the road. So, you’ll need to be equally prepared, just in a few slightly different ways.

If you take a quick glance over the summer road trip kit, you’ll need to bring along those items on your winter road trip, but with some essential additions. Because when you’re faced with ice and snow and unpredictable weather in the winter, you’ll want to have anything you can to aid in a save drive to your destination.

Things you should bring on a winter road trip in addition to the summer road trip items include:

• Road salt, ice melt, or kitty litter for traction
• An ice scraper and/or snow brush
• A booster pack (in case you can’t find another vehicle to jump yours and it’s -20 degrees Celsius
• A snow shovel
• Snow chains
• Gloves (2 pairs is ideal in case one gets wet while trying to free your vehicle from snow)
• Waterproof boots (in case you need to walk to get help)

As you can see, what you need during a winter road trip is different from a summer road trip, but both of our lists will help ensure you get to where you are going safely, and that you’ll be prepared if you can’t due to unforeseen circumstances.

Cash for Cars with Mechanical Problems

One of the downfalls of driving an aging vehicle is the fact that things start to break down rapidly. You go from having a reliable daily driver to having a vehicle that is in and out of the shop practically overnight.

This is because as mileage starts to stack up alongside of increasing age, your vehicle naturally needs a little more TLC to reliably get you anywhere, including a destination on your road trip. However, if you’re planning a summer road trip this year, but aren’t sure that your vehicle is going to get you there, talk to Cash For Cars BC.

We love buying late model vehicles with mechanical issues, electrical problems, high mileage, and even a vehicle that has something simple such as worsening fuel economy (which also happens with age).

If you’re thinking about trading in your car for a newer one this year, DON’T. Sell it to Cash For Cars BC instead! We can typically offer more cash for cars than many local dealerships or online car buyers in the Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, and on Vancouver Island.

How Much Cash for Cars Do We Pay?

Every vehicle that we buy has a different value. Especially if the vehicle you’re selling is aging, has high mileage, or needs repairs. Luckily, we are as flexible as it gets in the car buying industry. We buy vehicles ranging from $100 – $100,000+, from scrap cars to Supercars, we buy them ALL.

Provide our car buying team with the make, model, year, mileage, location, and general condition of your vehicle. We will sometimes ask for photos of your vehicle, inside and out, before deciding if an in-person appraisal is needed to make an offer on it.

If we do need to see your car first, we’ll schedule it on a day and at a time that works best for you. Our car buyers come to you, not you to them. And we come to your home, school, or work. Also, our hours of operation are 7 days a week, from 8:00 AM-10:00 PM. We even work on statutory holidays!

Sell Your Car to Cash For Cars BC Today!

After seeing your vehicle in person (when necessary), we’ll make you an instant cash offer right on the spot. If you accept the offer, we’ll fill out the paperwork, hand over your payment, then leave with your vehicle. From start to finish, it usually takes just under 30 minutes.

Our car buyers are highly trained and have over three decades of experience in the car buying industry. Furthermore, we buy cars, we don’t sell them. So, you’ll never have to deal with added sales pressure. You’ll also never have to buy a new car just to get a better price on your old one.

So, if you’re planning to hit the road this summer in a newer vehicle, talk to Cash For Cars BC about your old one before visiting a dealership. We pay the MOST cash for cars, regardless of age or condition. Plus, we handle all the paperwork, we come to you, and NOBODY Pays More!