Are you planning some road trips this holiday season? And by “road trips,” of course I mean “getting the family into the car and to Grandma’s with minimal drama” which is an important distinction to make. Anyway, it’s important to have the right supplies with you when traveling, especially when it’s not exactly the first thing on everyone’s list of things they’d want to do if they were given the choice. We have put together a list of important things that should live in your car if you travel with family a lot, and we know it’s a bit overboard but please feel free to pick and choose to build your perfect kit/tote bag/backpack/whatever for your road trip supplies!

In The Car

• Blankets and pillows

• Music

• Folding chairs

• Reading material

• Camera

• Cash for toll roads

• GPS

• Binoculars

• Wet wipes

• Puzzle books and quiet toys for kids

• Pen, pencil, notepad

• Tissues, paper towels, toilet paper

• Small bags for garbage

Vehicle Emergency Kit

• Flashlight, roadside signal flares or reflective cones/warning signs

• First aid kit

• Booster cables, wrenches, screwdrivers (basic toolkit)

• Gallon jug of water

• Extra washer fluid, oil, transmission oil, brake fluid

• Rags, workshop towels, old blanket

• Gloves

• Spare belts (alternator, fan and air conditioner belts)

• Candle, warm clothes, heavy blanket (for winter travel)

• Duct tape and WD40

When it comes to your vehicle, one of the most important things to keep an eye on and monitor is your tires. Seriously – tires are the key to everything from getting better gas mileage to staying safe in hazardous conditions. This means making sure that they are at the correct pressure and that the tread depth is still good. The great thing about this is that checking both of these things is super duper easy!

First, to check your tire pressure, all you’ll need are the tires and a tire pressure gauge. The gauge can be bought at pretty much any auto store (or store that sells auto supplies and accessories) for super cheap. Put the gauge on the valve stem and it should tell you what your pressure is. To find out what it should be, check in your owner’s manual, the sticker inside the door jamb of the driver’s side door, or the sidewall of the tire itself. If you’re low, pump your tire up with an air compressor. Easy!

Second is checking the tread. This will cost you approximately one cent and is a great use for your pennies, which are basically useless. The way to use a penny to check your tread is to put the penny into your tread with Lincoln’s head facing directly down. If you can see the top of his head, you need new tires. That’s all there is to it!

Your tires should be lasting you at least five years, so if you find them wearing out faster than that, you might want to be more vigilant about your tire pressure as well as the way you drive. You should see an improvement in the longevity of your tires!

If you’re anything like my wife, you look at something that’s broken and think, “well, I can fix that myself – it’ll save money!” However, we’ve found out through some amount of trial and error that when it comes to your vehicle, there are some things you should really be leaving to the professionals. Here’s what we’ve found to be the things you shouldn’t touch with a ten-foot pole unless you’re a certified pro like the folks at King Volkswagen (thanks for being awesome)!

The Transmission. Just don’t even try anything with this, because when it’s broken it’s really actually broken and it’s an expensive replacement. Even changing the fluid is something for the pros. Trust me on this.

I know that there are kits you can get that say they’ll fix your windshield, but this is also something you should take to your dealer’s service center. If you’ve got a big crack or chip, it’ll more than likely grow, and you’ve got to replace your windshield anyway if the injury is big enough to see. The glass can even crack invisibly, so even if the glass looks okay there could be a bunch of tiny cracks through it that damage the structural integrity of the glass.

Anything with wires, like your sound system, is a thing you shouldn’t mess with. Not only because you run the risk of shorting out your car, but because you could cause a fire, or at the least spend money and time trying to do something and just not have it work. When it’s a pro job, you know it’ll work and be good and your car won’t catch on fire in your driveway.

The fuel pump is another thing you should take to get looked at by professionals. It’s a very precise part that requires precise repair and installation, and if you mess this up you’ll total your car from the inside out. It’s not pretty, trust me.

The last thing, and my wife actually agrees with me on this, is that you shouldn’t use one of those engine diagnostic tools. Sure, they’ll turn off your check engine light, but you should really be, you know, seeing what’s wrong and then getting it repaired. Turning off a light doesn’t fix the problem! So, if that light comes on, check your gas cap and if it’s fine then bring your vehicle in to get evaluated and repaired by professionals.

Has your Check Engine light come on recently (or at all)? Did you feel that instant panic? That sinking sensation in your stomach? Well, you can rest easy because there are five reasons (well, the five most common reasons) that we’ll be telling you for your check engine light to have come on. Only five! And one of them is a really easy fix. So, please. Relax, sit back, and absorb the heck out of this important information.

1. It could be your gas cap. Seriously, if your gas cap is loose or broken or cracked or totally missing, this could be what’s making that light come on. So if the light appears, the first thing you should do is check on your gas cap. It’s a possibility that that’s the solution. If the cap is broken or missing, your dealer can replace it for wiiiicked cheap.

2. Spark plugs are also a likely culprit. Everyone needs to get them replaced every so often (usually about 100,000 miles in newer cars) and it might just be that time for you.

3. Your Mass Airflow Sensor could be to blame. This part tells your car’s computer to add the right amount of fuel based on the amount of air that’s coming in to the engine. When this piece is broken, your emissions increase, your efficiency decreases, and your car might stall.

4. Maybe your oxygen sensor(s) are to blame. Your O2 sensors monitor the unburned oxygen in your exhaust, which tells your vehicle’s computer how much fuel is being burned in your engine. When the sensor is broken, your mileage can decrease. Don’t wait too long to get this checked out, because you run the risk of burning out your…

5. Catalytic converter! This is also a reason your check engine light might be coming on. If this part is broken or faulty, it won’t reduce your exhaust gases like it’s supposed to, which in turn will decrease your MPGs and mess with your acceleration. Get this fixed IMMEDIATELY, even though it is the most expensive repair on the list.

When it comes to what’s under the hood of your vehicle, how much do you know? It’s okay if you’re not a car genius (or even if you are), but there are definitely some basics you need to know. The one we’ll cover today is… drumroll, please… fluids! There are a lot of fluids in and around your engine, and you should have at least a basic understanding of what they are, how to check them, and what to look for if you have a problem.

First is the oil. This is the lifeblood of your vehicle, and if you don’t have oil your engine can weld itself together, meaning that you’ll just have a chunk of useless, engine-shaped metal in your car. Not good. Oil lubricates and cools all the moving parts, and it also prevents the buildup of residue in your engine. Check your oil at least once a month, and if something’s wrong, go see your dealer for an oil change.

Second, comes the coolant. The reservoir for this is located near the radiator in a clear opaque plastic container. You can see the coolant level through the plastic, which is great because you shouldn’t be opening that reservoir too much. If the level is low (there should be an indicator line) then take your vehicle in to your shop to have them top it off.

Power steering fluid is next, and this is important! The reservoir is located at the base of your windshield in a small tank. The fluid makes it easier for you to steer your car, and without it, your steering mechanism won’t work properly. There are levels indicated on the tank, and the fluid should be between the minimum and maximum levels.

Then comes brake fluid, which is also in a tank marked with minimum and maximum lines. Keep an eye on this – if the level is chronically low (i.e. it keeps getting filled up and going down again quickly) then your brakes might be wearing down, so you need to get that checked out pretty quickly.

Finally, the windshield washer fluid! This one we all (should) know, but it’s in a big tank with a windshield diagram on the cap, and when we run out it’s impossible to clean the windshield. This is also an easy refill because all you need to do is stop at a gas station, pick up a new bottle, and fill ‘er up again.

Your windshield wipers are going to come in more and more handy as the winter grows closer and closer. Here are some tips and tricks on knowing when to replace your windshield wipers, and what are some signs that you should look out for.

Look at your blades for:

• Broken frames

• Metal corrosion

• Visible cracks, missing chunks, and rips in the rubber part of the wiper

• Make sure the wiper is flexible and doesn’t crack when you flex it

• Check for rounded edges on the rubber part – they should be crisp and square to work properly

Things that can break down your wipers:

• Sun due to UV light and ozone

• Oil from other cars and the road, especially exhaust

• Sand, rocks, dust, and other road debris carried in the wind

• Acid rain and saltwater

If your wiper does any of these things, it’s time for a change:

• Streaking, which is from a hard, cracked wiper. Make sure the streaks aren’t due to tree sap or something else caught between the blade and your windshield.

• Skipping, which comes from curvature that stems from lack of use

• Bent frames, which make your wipers virtually useless

Your wipers should be changed about every year at least, and you should check them at least once every six months. Whenever you’re at a gas station, use some of the windshield cleaning stuff and a paper towel to wipe down your blades. Remember – your wipers are instrumental in helping you see. Get the right size and the right type for the season and you should be good to go!

When you’re entering the parking lot, you know that you’re going into that whole experience expecting fury, rage, annoyance, anger… you get the picture. Right? Is that just me? Well, thank goodness for this blog, because I am about to spring some crazy knowledge on you – if you have manners in the parking lot, you won’t be angry while in the parking lot. Yeah. I mean, just by having you read this won’t guarantee by any means that everyone else in the world will automatically know how to have parking lot manners, but you can tell all of your friends and maybe that’ll start a global movement. Anyway, whether you’re a pedestrian or a driver, make sure you learn these rules and you’ll have a much easier time of it in any parking lot you ever enter!

First, you should make sure you park straight in the parking space and center your vehicle. If your vehicle is crooked, it’s harder for not only you but the drivers on either side of your car to get in and out of their own vehicles. You’re also more prone to scratches, scrapes, and other people being really annoyed with you (even though they won’t say anything out loud to you).

Don’t take up more than one space. If you have a newer car and don’t want to scratch the paint, park further out where there are fewer cars. If taking up two spaces is just the result of a poor parking job, just pull out and straighten out. Another thing to remember is that if you’re driving a larger vehicle (i.e. a truck), a lot of parking spaces are measured out for smaller vehicles that are narrower than yours. If you find this to be the case, your best bet is to park farther out so that you have the space you need.

You should take turns waiting for a parking spot. Stealing spots can lead to accidents in the parking lot. You will find another open spot, and you’ll be safer for your patience.

When you’re a pedestrian, make your intentions clear. Don’t walk down the middle of the aisle, and make sure you stay on one side of the aisle. Let the cars driving around the lot know where you are and what you plan on doing, so they have one less thing to worry about and so you don’t put yourself at risk of being hit. If someone is driving a super quiet car, you might not be able to hear them (looking at you, electric car people).

Remember defensive driving? It seems like a very distant memory from the time when you were in Driver’s Ed as a fresh 16-year-old, getting your license for the first time so you could drive to school. Or something. I don’t know, that’s why I was in Driver’s Ed! Anyway, we all learned about this concept and, if you’re like me, promptly forgot all about it. But, and I am sure they were telling us this the whole time anyway, defensive driving really means that you’re much safer on the road. Yeah, I know. Surprising! So, here are our favorite tips and tricks for defensive driving!

First, focus on being safe. Not on your music, your passengers, or even on getting to your destination as quickly as HUMANLY possible. When we focus on other things we compromise our safety and the safety of those around us. This involves not tailgating, wearing your seatbelt, and keeping your eyes on the road.

PAY ATTENTION PLEASE. Can we say this enough? No. Your eyes should always be on the road, looking for anything that could present a potential threat to your safety. Deer, other drivers, pedestrians… the list goes on, and you always need to be watching. Constant vigilance!

Tailgating is always a bad thing to do – and it’s illegal as well so get THAT idea right out of your pretty little head! If someone is not moving fast enough for you (remember that the speed limit is a thing that exists) then wait until you can safely pass them. This does not involve tailgating them until that time comes! Keeping your distance means that you’re staying safe.

Your #1 priority is the road in front of you. You should… wait for it… PAY ATTENTION. Paying attention can save your life. No cellphone. No music. No games. If you’re driving without a front seat passenger (aka copilot), make sure that everything is set to go before you put the key into the ignition so that you won’t have to deal with it while you’re driving. Use your Bluetooth, your hands-free headphones, or anything else that can keep you safe. And take a deep breath! You got this!

I think it’s safe to say that we live in “the future” now… would you agree? And because of that, car companies are coming out with concepts about new vehicles almost every day! Volkswagen is no exception to that, either. They announced that they will be revitalizing the classic VW Bus into an electric vehicle called the I.D. Buzz, and now they have also shared their plans for an electric SUV called the I.D. Crozz! These vehicles are part of the I.D. Series, which is a series of electric vehicles that are jam-packed with new technology.

There are so many innovations with these vehicles, especially the I.D. Crozz – autopilot, intelligent headlights, tons of space, and of course zero emissions due to the fast-charging electric battery. Of course, none of these vehicles are out on the market yet, but they are a great concept that remind us to think towards the future of vehicles and not stick with the same-old-thing strategy. Check out this video from Volkswagen on the unveiling of the I.D. Crozz!

When it comes to driving safely, I think we can all agree that road rage is the worst thing that can happen to your safety on the road. Whether it’s your own road rage or the road rage of another driver on the road with you, it can really compromise your safety and make driving much more difficult. Here are some tips about handling road rage that have worked for us in the past.

First, focus on being safe. Not on your music, not on your passengers, and not even on getting to your destination as fast as possible. When we focus on other things, we compromise our safety and the safety of those around us. This involves not tailgating, wearing your seatbelt, and keeping your eyes on the road.

Seriously though, pay attention!! Your eyes should always be on the road, looking for anything that could present a potential threat to your safety. Deer, other drivers, pedestrians… the list goes on, and you need to be watching.

Don’t expect other drivers to be picking up the safety slack. Never assume that someone else will make the right choice. It’s up to you!

Tailgating is always a no-no. If someone is not moving fast enough for you (which, remember speed limits!!) then wait until you can safely pass them. This does not involve tailgating them until that time comes! Keeping your distance is keeping you safe.

Always have a plan B. If you find yourself in traffic, know an alternate route. Getting stuck in traffic is a huge cause of road rage and if it can be avoided… well, do it!

Your #1 priority is the road in front of you. I don’t know if we can say this enough!! Paying attention can save your life – you should do it. Don’t use your cellphone, don’t fiddle with your music, don’t throw a party while you’re behind the wheel. If you’re driving sans copilot, make sure that everything is set to go before you put the key into the ignition so that you won’t have to deal with it while you’re driving. Use your Bluetooth, your hands-free headphones, or anything else that can keep you safe. And take a deep breath! You got this!