Planning a Road Trip Over Christmas? Here’s How to Protect Your Car Before You Go
Callum Foster
Christmas is one of the busiest times of the year for travel. Whether you’re heading across the country to visit family, tackling winter roads, or loading up the car for a festive getaway, your vehicle deserves a bit of care before the journey begins.
Winter driving brings added challenges, including salt, grit, mud, wet roads, and constant temperature changes, all of which can take a toll on your car’s paintwork, wheels, and interior. With a little preparation, you can keep your car looking its best and make those long Christmas drives far easier.
Here’s how to get your car road trip ready this festive season.
❄️ Give the Exterior a Proper Pre-Winter Clean
Road grime builds up quickly in winter, and if it’s not cleaned away properly, it can cause premature wear to paintwork and coatings.
A proper wash before you travel helps by:
- Removing corrosive salt and contaminants
- Preventing dirt from scratching the paint
- Preparing your car for protective products
If the car is ceramic coated or protected with PPF, this is even more important to keep those surfaces performing at their best.
🛡️ Add a Layer of Protection
If your car doesn’t currently have protection, now is the perfect time to apply it. Ceramic coatings and paint protection film (PPF) act as a barrier between your paintwork and winter road conditions.
Ceramic coating helps with:
- Easier cleaning during winter
- Improved gloss and durability
- Better resistance to chemicals, salt and grime
PPF adds:
- Impact protection from grit, stones and debris
- Prevention of chips and scratches
- Peace of mind on long, messy journeys
Even a single stage polish and short term sealant such as Gtechniq Ceramic Sealant C2V4 can give your paint a noticeable boost if you’re preparing for a trip last minute. A product like this can also be applied over the top of your ceramic coating or PPF.
🚘 Protect Your Wheels and Tyres
Your wheels take a beating in winter. Brake dust, salt and damp conditions can cause corrosion if not properly looked after.
Before your road trip:
- Clean wheels thoroughly
- Apply a wheel sealant if possible, like Gtechniq Wheel Armour or Gtechniq Wheel Coating Kit
- Dress your tyres to prevent cracking and drying using
Gtechniq Durable Tyre Gel
This helps keep everything cleaner for longer and makes the post trip wash far easier.
🧼 Freshen Up the Interior (Especially If You’re Travelling With Kids or Pets!)
Long road trips equal plenty of time inside the car, and plenty of opportunity for spills, crumbs and mud.
A quick interior refresh goes a long way:
- Vacuum carpets and mats
- Wipe down plastics
- Clean glass for better night driving visibility
- Apply fabric or leather protection for easier cleaning such as Gtechniq Smart Fabric or Gtechniq Leather Guard
Leather protection is especially useful in the winter, preventing stains from wet clothing and wear from thicker winter layers.
🔍 Check the Small but Important Things
Before you hit the road, make sure you’ve checked:
- Tyre pressure
- Washer fluid (preferably winter mix)
- Wiper condition
- Lights
- Battery health
- Oil level
These simple checks can prevent unexpected issues during holiday travel.
🎄 Ready to Get Your Car Road Trip Ready?
Whether you’re heading out in a few days or planning ahead for next year, the team at Spotless Detailing in Perth and Elgin can help make sure your car is protected and prepared for whatever winter throws at it.
If you’d like a recommendation based on your vehicle and how you plan to use it, just get in touch! We’re always happy to help.
Safe travels, and have a fantastic festive season! ✨
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Whether it’s for a devoted car enthusiast, a friend who likes their ride to shine, or even yourself! These car care gifts from our Amazon storefront are perfect for making any car look its best this Christmas. 🚗 Why Car Care Gifts Are Great for Drivers A clean, well cared for car isn’t just about looks. It protects paint, preserves value, and makes maintenance easier over time. Detailing gear and accessories make great gifts because they’re practical, often affordable, and really show you understand what someone loves about their car. With that in mind, here are some of our top picks this holiday season: 🧰 Top Gift Ideas for the Car Lover in Your Life Full Detailing Kits & Starter Boxes - Perfect for anyone who takes pride in their vehicle. These kits often include shampoos, all purpose cleaner, microfiber mits and towels. Great if the recipient wants a full clean up or preps before a weekend wash. https://amzn.to/4p9p1rS Microfiber Towels & Drying Cloths - A staple for any car owner. Soft, scratch free, and absorbent. Ideal for washing, glass cleaning and finishing. They make washing easier and safer for paintwork. https://amzn.to/4asSngl + https://amzn.to/3Y60UOQ Interior Cleaning Sets - For deep cleaning interiors: ideal for leather, fabric, plastics and glass. If someone spends a lot of time commuting or has kids/pets, these are incredibly useful. https://amzn.to/4oPtWgV + https://amzn.to/3M700iC + https://amzn.to/4ovphAe Wheel & Tyre Care Kits - Detailing wheels and tyres isn’t just cosmetic. Clean wheels and properly dressed tyres help keep cars looking sharp and can improve vehicle longevity. https://amzn.to/48rif9O + https://amzn.to/48vQyfU Glass & Trim Cleaning Products - Often overlooked, but great for making the whole car feel fresh and cared for. A clean, streak free windscreen and polished glass make a big difference to overall appearance. https://amzn.to/4pJ9gaZ + https://amzn.to/4ixf9FP
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