Malaysia is rich with festivities as our nation is a melting pot of races, religions and cultures. During festive seasons, many Malaysians use the opportunities to travel or return to their hometown.
Before holidaying or returning to your hometown, please do a car inspection checklist for safe driving. Inspecting your car is crucial to avoid untoward car breakdowns or accidents.
To help you, Bjak will share a car inspection and travel checklist that you can follow before travelling.
Check the condition of your tyres
Tyres are the only components of a vehicle that come in contact with the road surface. A firm tyre grip is a crucial element you need in car emergencies.
As such, you must ensure your tyres have optimum air pressure. Additionally, ensure that the tread of each tyre is in good condition.
For your information, on average, a new car tyre has about 8mm of tread depth. When a tyre reaches the 3mm limit, you are advised to replace the tyre. Your car tyre is technically completely worn out at a minimum tread depth of 1.5mm (around 3¼ of a tyre surface).
When the tread depth on the tyre decreases, it will also indirectly decrease the tyre function. This means that your tyre’s ability to get rid of water and grip reduces, thereby increasing the braking distance.
Check your brake pad and brake oil
Other than tyres, you also need to inspect your car brake. A brake pad is not the only component required to stop your car. You must also ensure that your brake oil is at the recommended level.
Change your car’s engine oil if needed
If you send your car to a service centre, they will likely change your engine oil each time you have your car serviced. However, if you do not send your car for service, you can check and change the engine oil yourself. We recommend using high-quality engine oil.
Changing engine oil is easy. Dip an oil dipstick in the engine oil to check its colour and level. Ensure the new engine oil is at the recommended level.
Do not let the engine oil exceed the limit, as this can leave sediment that will stick and thicken on the inside of the engine. This condition can cause other problems with the engine later.
So, check your engine oil and change it if needed for smooth driving.
Ensure wipers are in good condition
Ensure your car wipers are in good condition to ensure your vision is not affected, especially during rainy weather. If your car wipers are no longer wiping water properly, we advise changing them immediately.
Replace your car battery if needed
Depending on the vehicle you use, a car battery can last for approximately two years. If you have not changed your car battery in a while, please inspect your battery and replace it immediately.
One of the early signs that your car battery is weak is when it is hard to start your engine or if you cannot start your engine.
Read our past article to learn five tips to extend car battery life.
Check your car lights
Especially if you are a new driver, ensure that you know the types and functions of your car lights.
Lights are crucial for drivers, especially when driving at night or in bad weather. Ensure that your headlights, brake lights, turn signal lights, and other lights are in good condition for your safety and other road users.
Reload your Touch ‘n Go card
Before you travel, please reload your Touch ‘n Go card to ensure smooth driving and avoid congestion at toll plazas.
You may also want to install the Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) to your car if you will be travelling on North-South Expressway (PLUS).
Ensure your insurance and roadtax are active
Before travelling, ensure that your car insurance and roadtax are still active. Besides preventing summonses, you can make an insurance claim if you have valid car insurance and roadtax.
You need less than 10 minutes to get your insurance renewed. Renew your insurance online at Bjak to secure the best policy.
Please do not drive your car if it is without insurance and roadtax to avoid any financial burden should you run into an accident.
Drive safe
We hope you will travel smoothly and reach your destination safely. Remember to carry out the car inspection and travel checklist above to ensure your car is in the best condition before you travel.
Bjak is one of Malaysia’s biggest insurance comparison websites, offering policies from over 10 brands. Get your free insurance quote from Bjak today!
