When to Service Your Car Before a Big Trip

There is a window before a big road trip when a trip to the mechanic is worth more than any amount of planning, and the problem is that most people either skip it entirely or bring the car in too late for the work to be done in time. Timing the service right means catching wear items before they fail on the road, without turning the trip into a race against a repair appointment.The ideal window is about two weeks before departure, which leaves time to order parts and fix anything the inspection turns up, without giving the car so long that a new problem can quietly develop. Bringing it in the week of the trip is a gamble, because a worn belt or a seeping gasket discovered on Wednesday might mean a part that arrives Friday, and the stress of that deadline