Holiday road trip checklist for South African drivers

Heading on holiday this December? Before you hit the road, a thorough pre-trip inspection is non-negotiable for ensuring South African road trip safety. Expert advice confirms that every detail matters. Here's what you need to check.

Sean Nurse

11 Dec 2025 · 15:32Car Ownership2 min read

Prepare for your journey on any major holiday route with this essential maintenance and safety checklist. Don't let a minor issue write a different ending to your holiday story!

Pre-Trip Vehicle Maintenance Check

Before packing the boot, ensure your vehicle is road-trip ready. This section focuses on critical checks by MasterDrive CEO Eugene Herbert, an expert in road safety.

Component	Key Inspection Point	Why it Matters
Brake fluid	Check quality and level. Should be clear or light amber.	Absorbs moisture, lowering its boiling point. Dark/murky fluid compromises braking efficiency, especially on long downhill stretches (e.g., Van Reenen's Pass).
Brake pads	Check thickness.	Essential for safe, reliable stopping power in heavy traffic.
Coolant system	Check levels, inspect hoses for soft spots, cracks, or bulges. Check the reservoir cap seal.	A failed hose on a scorching December highway can cause the engine to overheat and be destroyed within minutes.
Battery terminals	Clean any white/blue-green corrosion and ensure connections are tight.	Corroded/loose connections can cause unexpected failures, especially with extra electrical strain (AC, charging devices).
Wheel Bearings	Jack up each wheel, check for play (wobble) at the 12/6 and 3/9 o'clock positions. Listen for grinding noises.	Worn bearings can seize, potentially causing a dangerous loss of vehicle control on the highway.

Tyre safety

Dunlop tyre expert Keith Phelps stresses that tyre checks are as critical as taking breaks. This is vital for South African road trip safety.

Professional sssessment: Visit a tyre expert store to check all four tyres and your spare for:
- Correct tyre pressure: Inflate for the load. Do NOT inflate while driving/hot, as this leads to inaccurate readings.
- Tread depth: Ensure at least the legal 1.6mm tread depth for optimal grip and safer braking.
- Damage check: Inspect for any bulges, cuts, or abrasions that could pose a problem.
- The spare Tyre: Check the pressure. Verify that your jack, wheel brace, and wheel lock key are present and functional.

Written by Sean Nurse

With a lifelong passion for cars, bikes, and motorsport, Sean knew that attaining a degree in journalism would allow him to pursue his passion, which was to be a motoring journalist. After graduating in 2012, Sean was awarded a bursary from the SAGMJ which allowed him to work for a variety of motoring publications. This was a dream come true for Sean, and after a year of gaining vital industry experience, he was hired as a motoring journalist at a local newspaper and worked his way up to editor. In 2020, Sean joined the AutoTrader team and counts himself lucky to wake up and genuinely love what he does for a living.Read more