It's that time of year again. "Summertime," the song goes, "when the living's easy." But it can get tough in a hurry if you head out on a summer road trip without making sure your car is up to the challenge. A lot can go wrong when you're covering hundreds or even thousands of miles in a single trip, and you don't want to learn that lesson the hard way. 
 
Here are five steps that all summer road-trippers should take before they leave town.

The holidays are stressful enough without having to worry about your vehicle making it over the river and through the woods in time for dinner at grandma’s house. The Car Care Council recommends that before hitting the road for the holidays, you take a little time to have your vehicle thoroughly inspected to make sure it is road ready.

The last thing anyone wants during the holiday season is to break down miles from home in the middle of nowhere,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. “It’s always a wise idea to have your vehicle checked out before you leave home to identify any potential problems that can be serviced before your holiday journey.”

Before you make that road trip on the snow or ice make sure you’ve packed a vehicle safety kit to ensure you’re prepared for any icy emergency.