RALEIGH, N.C. — AAA expects this year to be one of the busiest travel years ever. Experts say millions of drivers are planning to make road trips, which could mean a lot of roadside assistance.

What You Need To Know

  • AAA expects this year to be one of the busiest travel years ever

  • Checking tire pressure will also let you know if your car is ready for a long trip this season

  • A Cary car shop owner says a clean air filter is very important

Steve Sargent, owner of Milex Complete Auto Care-Mr. Transmission in Cary, says many of these problems could be prevented before drivers hit the road this summer.

“We tested it. It has a blown head gasket and if we started it right now, we’d blow smoke out the back,” Sargent said.

Car shop owners say this is the time of year they see more cars coming to their shops, and if you don’t want your car to end up there, there are some simple steps you need to take.

“The battery is extra taxed with the heat. You got the air conditioning on, you got the electronics going on, so what this will do? It will do a bulge test, an electronic test, and it will tell us the health of the battery. And a simple battery check will let you know if your car is ready to go on that long trip,” Sargent explained.

Checking your tire pressure will also let you know if your car is ready for a long trip this season.

“There’s an old test where you take a penny and you stick it into the tread, and if the tread touches Lincoln’s head, you have enough tread to continue using the tire. If it doesn’t, then it’s time to replace your tire,” Sargent stated.

Sargent says a clean air filter is what drivers should strive for, but a dirty can create problems for your fuel economy and damage to your engine.

AAA says it’s also important to keep an emergency roadside safety kit in your car.

Check oil levels and manually check tires instead of relying on your vehicle to show you if you have a low pressure.