Bank Holiday car maintenance tips

A Wigan-based, award winning young entrepreneur of the year is gearing up to help local drivers prepare for the late May Bank Holiday by offering free tips for motorists planning to travel on the roads during the long weekend.
Check your oil level before you set off on a long journeyCheck your oil level before you set off on a long journey
Check your oil level before you set off on a long journey

Ince-based mechanic Jordan Tomlinson from Rovers Returned has teamed up with MyCarNeedsA.com to reveal his top tips for Wigan Today readers.

Jordan opened Rovers Returned in 2012, when he left school, and has run the business ever since.

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He currently offers MOT prep, servicing, brakes, new and part worn tyres and more through MyCarNeedsA.com, the UK’s leading comparison website that drivers use for all their car aftercare needs.

Jordan’s top tips for drivers in Wigan to have a hassle-free Bank Holiday weekend are:

Give your car the once over:

Before setting off on any journey check your oil, coolant, tyre pressure and water levels. It’s also a good idea to top up your screen wash and make sure your lights are working.

Tyre pressure can affect fuel economy and you don’t want to run low on oil, water or screen wash on the motorway, especially at night. With the weather set to heat up, it’s a good idea to check your coolant levels too. Cars are often heavier on these journeys than they are during everyday use, and with the increasing temperatures, more stress is placed on your engine.

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If you’re not sure on how to check something in your car, Jordan and his apprentice will always be on hand to help. “I’m always happy to help drivers with queries like this” he said.

Plan to fail:

Think ahead. What happens if you break down? You’ll need some important things to help if the worst happens. Is your spare tyre correctly inflated?

Does it have enough pressure? Do you have a warning triangle? Answering these simple questions could help you a lot during an hour of need. Best of all, there’s no cost to check a tyre and a warning triangle is a just few pounds.

Check your cover:

It’s a good idea to check if your car insurance policy includes breakdown cover. If it does, then make sure you know your membership number should you experience issues with your vehicle.

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If breakdown cover isn’t on your existing policy and you’re not a member of any roadside assistance companies, it’s worth considering joining before you set off.

If you’re planning on sharing the driving with friends or family members, always remember to check that they’re covered with the appropriate insurance.

Left, or right?

It’s advisable to plan your route before you hit the road. Never fumble with Google Maps on your phone when you’re at the wheel - it’s really dangerous and it’ll get you lost. Plan ahead for a safe, hassle-free journey.

Pack some snacks:

It is estimated that up to 26 million journeys will occur this Bank Holiday weekend, so there’s a fair chance that some drivers will hit a traffic jam. It’s going to be warm, so pack water and some snacks in case you experience a long delay, or you suffer a breakdown. Sounds like a normal day just trying to navigate around Wigan!

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Scott Hamilton, MyCarNeedsA.com Chief Executive, added: “We’ve seen a record number of jobs booked through our service partners across the country in the last few months for MOTs, servicing, brakes and air conditioning refreshing so it seems like the UK’s motorists are in good shape ahead of the Bank Holiday weekend.

However, it’s always best to double check everything before you leave, regardless of when you last had work done on your car, as a slight change in road or travel conditions can have a big impact on your journey.”