Q: Planning a 1200 mile road trip, Should I get an inspection before the trip?

asked by on July 09, 2017

We are planning a 1200 mile road trip, Should I get an inspection before embarking on the trip?

My car has 110000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.

Hi There, It depends on the maintenance history of the vehicle. If this is a vehicle that has been regularly maintained with relatively no issues, an inspection may not be necessary, however this is more of a judgement call. An inspection certainly would not hurt or be a bad idea as there are always things to be aware of and check prior to making a long trip as you describe. I would suggest having a professional from YourMechanic come to your location to perform a pre-trip inspection to be sure everything is in proper working order.

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Get an instant quote for your car

Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

How do I use the sunvisor?
The sun visor is a safety feature that can help keep sunlight and glare out of your eyes. There is a sunvisor above both the driver’s and the front passenger’s seat. To use the sunvisor, simply unfold it towards the...
Serpentine belt broke, replaced it but lost AC. It broke again 2 days later
It would've been helpful to know if the A/C was working fine or having a problem when the first belt broke. I suspect that the A/C pulley is binding, causing the second and first belt to break. If the A/C...
Car vibrates when accelerating. Replaced engine mounts, coils, and plugs.
It sounds like you've covered the basics. Did the transmission shop check the fluids in the transmission and differentials? Very dirty fluid may contain metal shavings that cause the drivetrain to bind under load. It is not unusual to find...
Hearing a clunking noise while turning the steering wheel
Hi there. This sounds like you have axle failure. Look under the car where the axle boots are and see if the boots are torn, leaking, or missing. Also look for grease that may have been leaked; usually all around...
ABS brakes grab (driver front) upon stopping.
Hey there. As you know, your car is equipped with wheel speed sensors at each of the four wheels which monitor wheel speed while relaying this information constantly to the ABS system which is controlled by the car's ECU. When...
My radio and dash lights turn off once my vehicle has stopped and the driver door is open. Is this something you can repair?
Hi there. The wires to the dash and radio may have been shorted with the speaker wires that run to the doors. When the driver door is opened, the wires may short out causing a short to ground eliminating the...
There was too much oil put in my car it got drove about mile maybe before sucked back out it is smoking a lot how long will it con
The 2012 is sensitive about how much oil is in the engine. If it has been overfilled, you probably have oil in the exhaust system and the crankcase vent system. The first thing you need to do is make sure...
I was thinking about buying a 2000 land rover discovery and read a few reviews. Maintenance and gas mileage were the to biggies.
Hi there. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide you with costs on routine maintenance for this or any vehicle. However, we do have a great online tool referred to our service and maintenance schedule (https://www.yourmechanic.com/scheduled-maintenance), where you can type in...
What does it mean when your charging system failure light comes on out of no where while driving?
Hello, thank you for writing in. The vehicle is detecting an issue with the alternator or the battery. When supplied power from the system is too low or too high, the monitoring system will alarm you. You should have the...

Related articles

2012 Toyota RAV4 vs. 2012 Ford Escape: Which One Should I Buy?
SUVs (Sports Utility Vehicles) are a fun class of vehicle to drive – with their generally excellent handling on the road, their quick acceleration, and the ability to move a fair number of people while still looking pretty cool, they...
How to Drive a Toyota Prius
For For someone who has never driven a Prius, it may feel a bit like stepping into the cockpit of an alien spaceship when sliding into the driver’s seat. That’s because the Toyota Prius is a hybrid electric car and...
How to Replace the Headlights on a Toyota Prius
Your headlights are one of the most important safety components for your car. A broken headlight bulb can endanger yourself and others on the road.