Before packing up the car to head home for the holidays, make sure your vehicle is ready for the journey. Conducting a thorough vehicle inspection will help avoid the inconvenience and potential safety hazards of breaking down miles away from home.

The non-profit Car Care Council recommends a check of the following, often overlooked, items: tires and tire pressure, brakes, hoses and belts, air filters, wipers, exterior and interior lighting, and fluid levels, including engine oil, windshield washer solvent and antifreeze/coolant.

A pre-trip inspection provides the opportunity to have service repairs made at home by your own trusted technician who knows the vehicle.

The council also recommends that drivers keep important telephone numbers in their cell phone or glove box in case of a breakdown or travel emergency. Vehicles should have a roadside emergency kit that includes items such as a first aid kit, a tire-changing jack, a tire pressure gauge, jumper cables, a flashlight and a blanket.

Motorists can order a free copy of the recently updated 80-page Car Care Guide for the glove box at www.carcare.org/car-care-guide.