Road trip essentials

Map the whole trip before you leave and download offline maps for the areas you'll cross, so a dead signal doesn't strand you. Planning multi-day stops in RoadTripPlanner and exporting the itinerary means the plan rides along even when the bars don't.

A windscreen or vent mount keeps your sat-nav in view and legal. Pack a cable for every device plus a multi-port USB car charger, because one socket never stretches across a full car.

A charged power bank keeps phones alive on ferry queues, picnic stops and the bit where someone leaves the dashcam plugged in all night. Charge it the evening before.

Jot down your accommodation addresses, check-in times and a couple of phone numbers on paper. It weighs nothing and saves you when the battery dies at the worst moment.

British weather does all four seasons before lunch, so pack layers everyone can peel off, a blanket for back-seat nappers, and sunglasses for the driver — low sun on a wet road is blinding.

A refillable bottle per person and a flask of tea or coffee keep everyone hydrated and save a fortune over services. A travel mug for the driver helps at lay-by stops.

The unglamorous heroes of any car. Wipes and kitchen roll handle spills and sticky hands, and a couple of bin bags stop rubbish taking over the footwells.

A playlist or two, a downloaded podcast or audiobook, and a few no-equipment games keep the car happy without screens. Download anything streamed before you lose signal.

A neck pillow makes passenger naps possible, and a small wash bag with toothbrushes and any medication means an unplanned overnight isn't a crisis.

Pack low-mess snacks that don't melt — nuts, flapjacks, breadsticks, fruit and chewy sweets — in a bag within arm's reach, not buried in the boot. See our road trip snacks guide for the full list.

A couple of ice packs keep drinks, sandwiches, cheese and yoghurts cold all day. Stash it in a footwell rather than the boot so it's easy to dip into.

Carry more water than you think you need, especially in summer or on remote routes. It keeps the driver alert, heads off headaches, and covers you if you're stuck in a jam.

Check your breakdown cover is current and covers the whole trip — and Europe too, if you're heading abroad. It's the single most important thing to arrange before a long drive.

A basic first-aid kit handles the small stuff, and a few days' spare of any prescription medication means a delay never becomes a problem. Keep both somewhere you can reach quickly.

A reflective warning triangle and a hi-vis vest for each person let you break down safely, and they're legally required in much of Europe. Add a torch or head torch with working batteries.

Jump leads or a portable jump pack, a tyre inflator or repair kit, and a car charger cover the most common roadside hiccups. Know where your spare wheel, jack and locking wheel-nut key live.

For colder months add an ice scraper and de-icer, warm layers and a blanket, and a little extra food and water in case you're held up in snow.

Carry your driving licence, and check your car insurance covers the trip — including Europe if you're driving abroad, where you may need to tell your insurer in advance. Make sure your MOT and road tax are valid too.

Save campsite, hotel or ferry confirmations to your phone and jot the essentials on paper. Note check-in windows so a late arrival doesn't catch you out.

For trips to Europe, check passports have enough validity, and arrange travel insurance and a current GHIC card for healthcare cover. Keep digital and paper copies of the important documents.

Driving in Europe, you'll typically need a UK sticker (unless your number plate already shows a UK identifier — the old GB sticker no longer counts on its own), headlamp beam deflectors, a warning triangle and hi-vis vests. Some countries require extras like a breathalyser, so check the rules for everywhere you're driving before you go.