How to Check Your Car or Campervan is Safe Before Hitting the Road
It’s not unusual for paranoia to creep in when you’ve bought a car for your New Zealand road trip. Is the car going to survive? What was that noise? What is that? Who am I? Who are you?! Let’s be honest not a lot of us are super knowledgeable about cars or campervans, so we thought we would put this quick guide together of all the things you can easily check on your car or campervan to make sure it is in working order. All it needs is a quick look over every so often. That way, you can enjoy your road trip with peace of mind. Plus, be sure to maintain your vehicle throughout your trip, which we also have a handy guide for: How to Maintain Your Car for Travelling New Zealand.
What to Do if You Think There is Something Wrong with Your Car
If you notice anything wrong, as we explain below, take your car to an expert so they can give you their professional opinion. It’s better to catch issues with your car early to reduce the mechanic bill, rather than just waiting for a bigger problem to arise, or worse, break down while you’re in the middle of freakin’ nowhere!
How to Check Your Car When Driving
Notice any of these things when you are driving your car or campervan? Take it to a mechanic!
Brakes
- The brake pedal feels spongy
- There are vibrations going through the pedal when braking
- There’s a squealing noise when braking
- The steering pulls to the side when braking.
Exhaust
- The exhaust is smoky or sounds unusual.
Suspension
- The steering wheel shakes a lot after you have hit a bump or pothole
- Your car is unstable on gravel roads
- Your car continues to rock after you’ve come to a standstill.
And, Check for Any Unusual Noises.
© NZPocketGuide.comHow to Check Your Tyres
Park your car up and check your car or campervan’s tyres for:
Tread Depth
Legally, the minimum depth is 1.5mm for the tread of your tyre. Check the tread depth in different parts of the tyre for a more accurate reading. The more tread you have, the more grip you have!
Tyre Pressure
You can tell if your tyres are under-inflated if the outer edge of the tyre tread is coming in contact with the road’s surface. Tyre pressure is different between vehicles, and even between the front and back tyres of your car. The correct level for your car is usually found on the inside of the door frame. If not, take a look at the genless.govt.nz to find out the correct tyre pressure for your car. You can pump up your tyres at fuel stations in New Zealand or buy/borrow an air pump.
Condition of the Tyres
Check for cracks or bubbles in the side of the tyres and any sharp objects stuck in the tyres.
© NZPocketGuide.comHow to Check Your Windscreen, Wipers and Mirrors
You’ll need to check your windscreen, wipers and mirrors so that you can see what’s around you when you are driving, whatever the weather!
Wiper Blades
Check your wiper blades for wear and tear. Do they wipe the windscreen enough when you spray the windscreen washer fluid?
Washer Fluid
While you are at it, make sure the windscreen washer fluid is full and the spray is working.
Cleaning Your Mirrors and Windscreens
Regularly clean your mirrors and windscreen inside and out. New Zealand fuel stations usually have buckets with window sponges so you can get your mates to clean your windows while you fuel up!
Chipped Windscreen?
If your windscreen is chipped or cracked, get it fixed as soon as possible.
© PxhereLights and Indicators
This is another part of your car where checking is essential so you can see and be seen by others.
Lights
Check if your headlights, reversing lights and brake lights are all working. To check your backlights, reverse close to a wall so you can see the reflection in your rearview mirror. Also, get out of your car and check that the lenses are clean and not cracked or hazy.
Indicators
To check your indicators, turn your hazard lights on and walk around the car to see if all the indicator lights are flashing.
© dave_7 on WikipediaHow to Check for Rust
Rust can weaken the car’s structure and cause all kinds of problems. Check your car for rust or any patches of bubbling paint, which is a sign of rust.
The most common areas for a car to get rust are the:
- frame rails, which run under the car doors on each side,
- wheel wells
- exhaust
- suspension
- window frames.
To reduce the chance of your car getting rust while on your New Zealand road trip, avoid parking your car on grass for a long period of time. Also, wash your car if it has been exposed to salt or saltwater.
© UnsplashGet a Free Car Insurance Quote + Our Exclusive Discount
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Buying a Car or Campervan for the First Time?
Check out these articles to make sure you are buying a nice healthy car or campervan for your New Zealand road trip!
- Buying a Car in New Zealand Step by Step
- How to Find Used Cars (& Campers) for Sale in New Zealand
- Buying a Car in New Zealand Step 1: Car Inspection
- Buying a Car in New Zealand Step 2: Test Drive
- Buying a Car in New Zealand Step 3: The Paperwork
- How Car and Campervan Insurance Works in New Zealand
Finally, make sure you can legally drive in New Zealand by having an appropriate driver’s license. Find out more in Driving in New Zealand: Everything You NEED to Know.
Sources:
The information in this guide has been compiled from our extensive research, travel and experiences across New Zealand and the South Pacific, accumulated over more than a decade of numerous visits to each destination. Additional sources for this guide include the following:
- Tourism New Zealand (General travel advice - Updated [2024])
- Immigration New Zealand (Visa and immigration advice - Updated [2024])
- New Zealand Customs Service (Customs and Biosecurity - Updated [2024])
- New Zealand Traveller Declaration (NZTD online platform - Updated [2024])
- Tiaki Promise (Care for people place and culture - Updated [2024])
- Safe Travel (NZ travel advisories - Updated [2024])
- Stats NZ (Statistics and travel data - Updated [2024])
- Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency (Road and transport tips - Updated [2024])
- DriveSafe (Road safety - Updated [2024])
- Council websites and freedom camping maps (Local travel advice region by region - Updated [2024])
- AdventureSmart (Know before you go - Update [2024])
Our editorial standards: At NZ Pocket Guide, we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure accurate and quality content.
