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It has felt like a long winter but there are finally signs that summer is on its way. That can conjure up images of road trips, days at the beach and great adventures, so it is important to make sure that your car is as ready for them as you are. Here, we’ve put together the must-have list of car essentials that will help to make your summer perfect.
There is nothing worse than being stuck in a stuffy car on a hot day, especially when you are not able to open the windows. That is why it is important to get your air conditioning system checked and re-gassed if necessary to help keep your car cool and comfortable no matter what the temperature reaches outside.
A day trip or a holiday usually means that you will be piling the boot of your car high with bags, toys and equipment that can slide around all over the place, causing damage to your belongings and your car. Laying an anti-slip mat in the boot can help to tackle this problem as it can protect your boot and your things and is easily washable too.
Sun shades are a great way to protect your car from the direct rays of the sun. While you are travelling, they can be useful for shading small children or even your pets and keeping them comfortable in the back of the car. They can even be handy when you are not on the move, as they can keep the sun out of the car when you are parked, ensuring it is not too stifling when you return to it.
Often, a day out in the summer might involve the beach, a walk through the woods or exploring the countryside, and it is great to take your dog along with you. Putting a specially made bed into your car ensures a better journey for everyone. These padded beds help to keep your dog comfortable in the car, and it can help to protect the interior of the vehicle from scratches, muddy paws and little accidents.
Going on an adventure can be terrific fun, but you don’t want half of that time to be spent aimlessly driving down never-ending roads and arguing about which direction to take. Make sure that you have a sat nav on hand and fully updated to keep your journey time to a minimum and reduce the arguments so that you can spend more time enjoying yourself.
When you are in and out of the car doing different things, you will bring a lot of dirt, debris and moisture in with you. Whether you are covered in sand, muddy from hiking or soaked through thanks to the good old British weather, you are likely to drag all of it into the car.
This can lead to a build up of things like mould, mildew, dirt and some pretty horrible smells if you are not careful. Investing in some good quality car mats can help to protect the carpets in your car from all of this mess, and they are easy to remove and wash when you need to, ensuring that your car stays fresh and clean throughout the summer.
We all know someone who falls asleep in the car before you have even left your own driveway. Sometimes, trips during the summer can be long, and there are likely to be a few naps along the way. Having some travel pillows in the car can make that little snooze much more comfortable, and leave passengers refreshed and ready to take their turn at the wheel.
Adventures are all good fun until someone hurts themselves, so it is a good idea to have a first aid kit on hand to deal with all those little mishaps. Make sure there are plasters, bandages and antiseptic cream for cuts and scrapes, as well as bite cream, sunscreen, insect repellent, painkillers and allergy medication to cover all eventualities.
We are all reliant on our mobile phones these days, so make sure you have a fully charged battery pack in the car that can charge your phone if you need it. Many of us need our phones for navigation purposes, to play music, access tickets or call for help in an emergency, so it is important to make sure that you don’t get caught short.
There is nothing better than a cold drink on a hot day, so why not think about including a car fridge on your travels? They can plug into your car and can keep your drinks and sandwiches cool all day long.
Taking the kids on a long journey can be challenging sometimes, and every parent dreads the cries of “are we nearly there yet” when they have only been on the road for ten minutes. It is therefore important to pack as many forms of entertainment as possible.
Holders can be fitted to the front seats to accommodate most tablets, allowing them to watch videos whilst still looking straight ahead (just don’t forget to pack their headphones too). There are also lots of travel versions of some of the most popular board games that can be a really good way to pass the time.
Long journeys can make people start to feel unwell, especially small children. Having travel sickness medication on board can be useful, as well as the travel wristbands. You should also try and make sure there are bags, towels and some bottles of water just in case the worst does happen.
Get your car fully stocked now, and you will be in for an amazing summer getting out and about and exploring all of the things that the UK has to offer, safe in the knowledge your journey will be comfortable, safe and fun for all the family, including the family pet.
A little preparation goes a long way in keeping your car clean, comfortable and ready to tackle the road. Simple interior additions like car mats, boot liners and seat covers can make a real difference when it comes to dealing with sand, mud or the occasional spill, helping you enjoy the journey as much as the destination. Wherever you’re headed, having the right essentials in place means you can focus on making the most of the warmer months.
If taking a holiday without your dog in tow is simply unthinkable, then you need to ensure that you find the safest and most comfortable way to travel with you. A moving vehicle can be a frightening and intimidating place for even the most placid animal, so it is important to plan their transportation carefully to make sure that they are happy and that everyone in the car is kept as safe as possible.
In this article, we have put together our eight top tips to make travelling with your furry friends a fun and pleasant experience.
The Highway Code states that if you are travelling with any animal in the car, then they must be suitably secured. This is because they risk causing a hazard while you are driving. An excitable, scared or even needy pet can be unpredictable, especially when it comes to getting your attention, and so they could distract the driver or obstruct them, leading to an accident.
They also need to be secured to prevent them causing further harm if an accident does happen. We all know the dangers to someone in the front seat if a human in the back is not wearing a seatbelt and is catapulted into them in an accident, and there is the same risk from a pet.
Having an animal hurled into the back of you with the force of a collision could be potentially fatal for both you and them so they need to be fully secured for everyone’s safety. This could be with a harness or crate, and any pet carriers should also be secured in place.
As much as we love our pets, we are all aware of the damage that they are capable of doing, even when they do not mean to. That is why a high-quality, protective boot liner can be so valuable.
These quilted liners can be secured into your car to give your furry friend plenty of comfort during their journey, but it can also help to protect your seats and carpets from pet hair, scratches, drool and the occasional little accident. It is easily removed and washed, so you can be confident that your car will stay in good condition no matter what.
If you are planning to take your pet overseas, then there will be plenty of paperwork that you will need to take with you. What you need will depend on where you are going, how long you are staying and who you are travelling with, so speak to your vet about what you will need. Some of this can be costly, and there can be long waiting times for some documents to come through, so it is best to start planning as early as possible.
Even an experienced pet traveller can suffer from car sickness, as the motion of the vehicle can feel extremely unnatural to them. One of the best ways to combat this is to ensure that the vehicle is properly ventilated at all times.
When it comes to the temperature, it is best to keep things on the cool side and heat can make the sickness feel worse. Fresh air is often the best medicine, so where possible, try to crack the windows a little.
However, you should ensure that your pet is not able to escape out of the window or hang their head outside as they risk being injured by any flying debris on the road.
A full stomach is almost a guaranteed way to make a pet feel sick when travelling, so try to feed them well in advance of any journey and make sure that you keep it light. If you are travelling for any significant lengths of time, then feel free to offer them a top up, but make sure it is still light and that the vehicle is not moving so that the food can settle properly.
Any pet will need to be properly hydrated when on the move, so it is good to keep some water handy. There are some great bottles and bowls which have been specifically designed with travel in mind that can avoid spills and be easily put away.
We all know how good it feels to stretch your legs when you have been in the car for a long while, and it is no different for your pets. They will also need to be able to get out and have a walk around, particularly if nature calls. Whilst you might want to get to your destination as quickly as possible, this will not be in your pets’ best interests, so make sure you plan plenty of spots where you can stop and take a break for a little while.
It is a legal requirement for all dogs over 8 weeks old to have a microchip, and from 2024 any cat over 20 weeks old will also need to have one. When a pet is in unfamiliar surroundings, there is a chance that they may become spooked and bolt, so you need to ensure that they can be returned to you as quickly as possible when they are found. Make sure that they have a microchip fitted and check that all of your contact details are up to date so that you can be reached.
You might scroll through your phone or read a newspaper on a long journey, and you would almost certainly bring things for your kids to do in the car, so why not do the same for your pet? Animals can become particularly bored on a long journey, and this can lead to them being restless and difficult to manage so bring along a favourite blanket or toy, as long as it is something that won’t get them too excited but helps them to pass the time.
If you’re looking to protect your car from pet hair, sand, and the usual pet damage, our high-quality boot liners are designed to make travelling with pets easy and stress-free. View our range of products today. If you have any further question or acquire any assistance with any of our other products, please contact us.
Our pets are not just animals, they are a huge part of our families, so it stands to reason that we want to take them with us on holidays at home or abroad. Whilst the thought of frolicking on the beach or running through the woods with them might seem perfect, getting them to your destination is sometimes more difficult, and so a lot of thought needs to go into how you plan to transport them.
In this article we have put together some of our top tips on the best way to travel with your pets to keep them safe, happy and stress free.
If you are taking a pet away with you, then it is important to make sure that they are going to be welcome. You should check that your hotel or campsite is pet friendly and also have a look for nearby pet friendly pubs and restaurants that you will be able to take your animal to when you get out and about.
There are now lots of apps available that can show you pet friendly walks, attractions and restaurants as well as vets and animal hospitals in case a problem occurs while you are away. You may even be able to find some pet sitting services that can take care of your animal while you go somewhere that they are not able to.
Travelling with your pet can be great fun and it can feel very special to involve them in precious family memories, but they just require a little forward planning to make sure that they are able to reach their destination in comfort whilst also remaining within the law.
If you are planning on taking your animal abroad, then you will need to make sure that you have all of your paperwork in place before you go. What you need will often depend on where you are travelling to, how long you intend to stay and what type of animal you are taking with you so you will need to do your homework.
It is important to remember that there is often a backlog in processing permits, health records and pet passports, so you should try to get this in order as early as possible to ensure that you are not left without it when you set off.
Once you get on the move, make sure that you keep all of your pet’s travel documents with your own so that they are easily accessible when they need to be checked and try to make copies of them in case they get lost while you are there.
According to The Highway Code, it is the responsibility of the driver to ensure that all animals in the vehicle are suitably restrained. This is to ensure that they are not able to distract the driver and cause an accident, but also to prevent them from injuring you or themselves if an accident were to occur.
As a result of this, an accident caused by an animal who has not been properly restrained could result in an invalid insurance policy and a charge of ‘dangerous driving’. It is therefore imperative that you think carefully about how you intend to transport your pet in a way that keeps everybody safe and on the right side of the law.
European laws may differ to this, and so its always worth checking the rules of your destination country, and any you’re traveling through ahead of time to ensure you’re aware of your responsibilities when carrying pets on board.
When it comes to restraining your pet, this can be easier with cats or other small animals as they can be put into a specially designed pet carrier. You should ensure that you make this as comfortable as possible for them and that once they have been placed (or wrestled) inside that you have closed it securely.
This is because you do not want them to make an escape when are outside of the car, or to cause a problem while you are driving. You should also ensure that the carrier is secured in place using clips or a seatbelt.
When it comes to securing a dog, there are several different options. You could put them into a crate which can be secured to the seats or put in the boot, or alternatively you could invest in a harness that can be attached into place. If your animal is travelling in the front of your car, then you need to make sure that the airbag has been turned off.
Travelling can be stressful for your pets, and the back seat of your car will never be as comfortable as your sofa, so it is understandable that animals can get a little restless. It is therefore important to try and make them as comfortable as possible. You could do this by installing a quilted boot liner, which will not only give your pet something to snuggle up on, but it will also help to protect your seats from pet hair, scratches and any little accidents that might occur.
In addition to this, you can also get specially made car pet beds which are warm and cosy and provide extra layers of comfort. These act like a home away from home and can be placed in your boot as a way to give your pet somewhere comfortable and peaceful to travel.
You should try not to overfeed your pet before any kind of long journey, as this can make them feel sick once they are on the move. Instead, try to feed them small amounts and give them a little extra if you stop for a break. It is important that all animals are kept hydrated through a journey, as dehydration can make them unwell and bring on travel sickness.
Whilst it is difficult to let smaller animals exercise, you should give a dog chance to stretch its legs if you are on a long journey. Make sure you plan regular breaks that will allow them chance to burn off any pent-up energy and to relieve themselves without doing it all over your car seats.
