Whether you’re popping to your local shop for that last-minute food run or taking a longer drive to see the family on Christmas Day, you want to be safe in the knowledge that your car will get you where you need to be this winter.

Halfords is proud to partner with National Highways to support their T-R-I-P campaign, which aims to help drivers stay safe and prepared on the roads by focusing on four key areas: Topping up essential fluids and fuel, taking regular Rests, Inspecting tyres, and Preparing for all weather conditions.

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Halfords is here all year round to help you stay on top of these important checks, but it’s even more important to be prepared during the winter period due to rapid weather changes from heavy rain to snow and ice.

Here at Halfords, we’ve got everything you need to ensure you’re safe and road ready, from car checks to MOTs and servicing. Keep reading for ways on how to travel safely this Christmas.

Car checks and maintenance 

The last thing you want is to turn the key and hear during the festive period, only to hear the engine spluttering, or feel a tyre go out beneath you on a snowy road. This can all be prevented with routine checks and maintenance.

Car checks

Our car checks are designed to help you stay safe on the road throughout the winter season by checking essential car components like tyres, batteries and wiper blades. We’ve got three main options to choose from, all of which can be booked online at a time and location that suits you:

• Free 5-Point Car Check: Quick, easy, and completely free. An experienced technician will review your car’s headlights and brake lights, the condition of your wiper blades, the health of your battery, the condition of your windscreen and your MOT due date.

• 10-Point Car Check: Our 10-point check is for drivers who are looking for a more thorough assessment. A technician will check the areas covered in the 5-point check, as well as your car’s tyre tread depth, tyre inflation level (and top it up), oil level, screen wash level (and top it up), and AdBlue and coolant levels. Book online today and have peace of mind that your vehicle is in tip-top condition this winter.

• 30-Point Car Safety Inspection: This is our ultimate car check, which covers all the main components of your car. It’s the ideal choice if your car hasn’t had a service for a while and your MOT isn’t due.

MOT and service

If your MOT is due, bundling it with a service is a great way to save time and money. There’s also even further savings to be made when you join the Halfords Motoring Club as a Free or Premium member. Think of all the mince pies and mulled wine you can buy with that extra cash!

We’ve got three options for you here depending on the level of service you’re after:

• Interim Service and MOT
• Full Service and MOT
• Major Service and MOT

You can book a hybrid service and MOT or an electric vehicle service & MOT too! Simply book online or drop into your local Halfords garage to set up an appointment and get your car prepared for Christmas.

Mobile experts

If you’d prefer the comfort of an at-home visit or can’t get to one of our garages, that’s okay – our mobile experts are here to help. Fully bookable online, our mobile services include tyre fitting, battery replacement and diagnostic checks, engine oil and fluid replacement, windscreen chip repair and more.

It’s convenient, cost-effective and hassle-free, and fittings are available 7 days a week between 8am and 8pm, at home or at work.

Christmas travel tips

Plan your route

Traffic can be a challenge during the festive period, so plan your journey ahead. Use apps like Google Maps or Waze to check for delays and find the quickest routes. Consider traveling during off-peak hours to avoid the worst congestion.

Check the weather forecast

Keep an eye on the weather before you set off. If conditions look dangerous, consider delaying your journey.

Stay visible and safe

The shorter days mean more driving in the dark. Ensure your headlights are clear and fully functioning . If you’re traveling in snow or rain, keep a safe distance and drive at a steady pace.

Check your tyres

Check the pressure, condition and tread of your tyres before setting off. You can also keep your vehicle running smoothly all year round, whatever the weather, with our wide range of all-season tyres. We offer same-day fitting at our garages, or with our Halfords Mobile Expert service, we can come to you! Book an appointment online today.

Using your Halfords Motoring Club benefits

Of course, your Motoring Club membership can help during Christmas travel – Premium members can use one of their two included 10-Point Car Checks as well as their MOT (don’t worry Free members, you’ll still get money off).

Plus, your Premium 5% always-on discount means you can pick up some of the products further down our list for a great price!

Still not a member? You’re missing out! Millions of Halfords customers are enjoying all the perks of our Motoring Club, and there’s no better time to start making the most of the benefits than the colder months.

Become a member today and you’ll get a range of amazing benefits and discounts that are designed to keep you moving, keep you safe and keep you saving – just in time for Christmas!

Packing list

Now that we’ve sorted the car, it’s time to sort its contents. There are a number of essentials we reckon you should have to hand during a winter journey for convenience and, most importantly, for safety.

Breakdown and safety essentials

These are the items we’ll never leave home without. The AA Breakdown & Emergency Kit contains all the important stuff you need if you break down while out and about, including a hazard warning triangle, booster cables, a foot pump and a weatherproof torch.

Add in the Halfords Rapid Digital Tyre Inflator for flat tyres and a jump starter for flat batteries and you’ve given yourself the best chance to be able to get to the nearest garage rather than having to wait in the cold for your breakdown service to come to your rescue.

Tech essentials

Okay, so you might not need these so much if you’re just popping to the local shop, but we reckon they’re essentials for longer drives. The Nextbase IQ Smart Dash Cam is a high-quality dash cam with a whole host of smart features including Witness Mode and Smart Sense Parking. We’ll even fit it for you for a small fee – just choose the option during the checkout process.

Then there’s the Garmin Drive 52 EU Sat Nav, which will help you to get where you want to be through darkness, rain, sleet, or snow. It’s simple to use and gives you everything you need to be able to stay focused on the road while travelling from A to B as quickly and smoothly as possible.

Winter weather essentials

There are a few winter car essentials that you just can’t do without. De-icer, screen wash, an ice scraper and a de-mister pad can all help to get you moving on a cold morning and keep your journeys safer.

You can go a step further to protect yourself from the winter weather with some car mats, seat protectors and boot protectors. The last one is particularly useful if you’ve got a four-legged friend joining you on your journey, or you’ve got the fun job of hauling a Christmas tree back home.

Storage essentials

Finally, storage. If you’ve squeezed your family into the car and you’re going to be spending a few days away over Christmas, then you’ll need somewhere to store all your stuff during the drive (and Christmas presents. Okay, mostly Christmas presents).

Roof boxes are a great choice as they give you free space outside of the car that you can fill to your heart’s content. There are loads of different roof boxes available, so it should be easy to find one that suits your needs – and we can lend a hand when it comes to the fitting for a small fee.

Avoiding the traffic: when to travel over Christmas

Now you’re all ready to go, it’s time to think about when to travel. It’s no secret that traffic can become the stuff of nightmares over the festive period, so when should you set off to beat the queues?

Avoid the two days before and after Christmas – as you’d expect, the RAC generally expect the two days on either side of Christmas day to be the busiest on the roads, especially the 23rd and 24th.

Christmas Day could be busier than you think – although many people stay in the comfort of their home on the big day, there are still millions of motorists who travel by car during Christmas Day.

It’s worth noting that if you’re driving in London on Christmas Day, you’ll be subject to fewer charges:

Avoid peak times – just like trying to avoid rush hour traffic on a normal working day, the busiest periods are usually early morning and early evening. It’s suggested you should try and travel between 10am and 5pm to avoid the worst of the chaos.

Good luck on your journeys and stay safe out there! And remember, if you want to keep moving this winter, you want Halfords.

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