Pre-road-trip car check
A full check before a long drive: fluids, tires, brakes, documents and insurance for the countries on your route. Run through it a couple of days before departure instead of dealing with surprises on the road.

[ ] Get scheduled maintenance done if it's due
    Do it at least a week before departure: if something turns up, you'll have time to fix it or order a part instead of racing the clock the night before.
[ ] Check oil, coolant, brake fluid and washer fluid levels
    Bring an extra liter of the right oil grade — topping up with your own on the road beats hunting for an exact match in an unfamiliar shop.
[ ] Check pressure in all tires, including the spare
    The spare is the one people check least often — and it fails you at the worst possible moment. Do it along with the other four.
[ ] Inspect tread for cuts and sidewall bulges
    A sidewall bulge means don't drive on it, period — swap the tire before you go. At speed it can blow out without warning.
[ ] Check brake pads and discs
    Check remaining pad thickness — a long trip with a loaded car wears brakes faster than everyday city driving.
[ ] Check all lights and pack a spare bulb kit
    Turn signals, brake lights, high and low beams. Several European countries legally require carrying spare bulbs — check the rules for the countries you're entering.
[ ] Check the wiper blades
    Worn blades mean hours of smeared rain on the windshield during a long drive — replace them if you see streaking or hear squeaking.
[ ] Check the battery and its terminals
    Make sure the terminals are tight and free of corrosion — not every stop on a long route will have someone around to help jump-start you.
[ ] Inspect belts and hoses for leaks
    A cracked belt or a hose weeping coolant is exactly what fails under the sustained load of a long drive, not sitting still in a garage.
[ ] Run a quick OBD diagnostic scan
    A code scan takes about 10 minutes at any shop and can flag issues that aren't visible or audible yet but will surface on the road.
[ ] Check the AC and heater
    You'll need both if the route crosses climate zones — southern heat or mountain cold is not the time to discover the vents don't work.
[ ] Check your license, registration and insurance dates
    Confirm the policy covers every day of the trip and every country on the route — not just your home country.
[ ] Arrange insurance valid for the countries you'll enter
    A Green Card or local liability policy — border control can turn you away without it. Check current requirements for each country on the route ahead of time.
[ ] Set up a toll transponder or road-toll app
    Every country runs a different system — vignettes, transponders, apps. Sort it out in advance; the fine for an unpaid toll is often many times the toll itself.
[ ] Plan fuel stops on remote stretches of the route
    Mark the gas-station gaps on the map ahead of time and don't let the tank drop below a quarter there — don't count on a station just appearing.
[ ] Wash the car, including the inside of the windows
    Grime on the inside of the glass turns into smeared halos from oncoming headlights at night — like driving without your glasses.
[ ] Load luggage correctly
    Heavy items go low and close to the seat backs; nothing loose on the rear parcel shelf — under hard braking it becomes a projectile.
[ ] Check the standard safety kit: triangle, vest, first aid kit, extinguisher
    Same kit as for everyday driving, but before a long trip double-check the expiry dates on the first aid kit and extinguisher — replacing them mid-route isn't easy.
[ ] Pack spare fuses
    A small assorted set covers most cases — a blown fuse can kill your lights or windows, and it costs pennies and takes a minute to swap if you have one on hand.

Checklist from Unload: https://unloads.me/c/car-trip-inspection