As lockdown eases and the Spring Bank Holiday rolls around, holidaymakers are on the lookout for the best destinations to enjoy the anticipated warmer weather.

Pre-lockdown, Spain took the top spot as the most popular travel destination amongst UK tourists in 2019. France followed in second place, while Italy was the third most visited country.

Closing of international borders have significantly shifted travel habits. Government has introduced a new traffic light system to help reduce travel confusion but there are limited countries from the EU on the green list.

According to Google search trends, popular summer destinations could look a little different this year as Brits opt for getaways closer to home.

UK travel search volumes for Ireland and Wales increased over 700% last month compared to pre-pandemic April, in 2019. Scotland also saw a 124% increase in travel searches.

If you’re planning a staycation and are travelling by car, flexible car insurance provider, Cuvva urges drivers to make sure cars are ready for the road before setting off. Doing this can show you what will need to be sorted out or changed. If it is a small fix then you can find online car parts at websites like tdcautomotive.com to get you sorted out and ready to take to that road.

According to data from Kwik Fit, UK motorists spend around 159.12 annually on unexpected car repairs and breakdowns. With nearly 3.3 million licensed cars on the road, motorists spend an eye watering 5.2 billion annually on unwanted car problems.

Loren Gould, marketing director at Cuvva says: “Car usage fell as much as 70% at its peak, during the pandemic. For many drivers, this meant cars sat idle for long periods of time.

“Cars are designed to be driven regularly. When not in use it can cause costly repairs from a drained battery to flat spots on your tyres due to the weight of a car being placed on one area of the tyre.”

Cuvva has round-up top simple car maintenance hacks to keep your car in good shape, ensuring your staycation journey is safe and smooth. If you want to find the best car air filter or replace those spark plugs, then you will need to make sure you get the best you can for your car so you are not breaking down on your first time away in what seems like forever.

Don’t forget to test tyre tread and pressure as well.

It’s mandatory in the UK to ensure tyre tread doesn’t dip below 1.6mm in a continuous band around the central three-quarters of the tyre.

It’s dangerous driving on a bald tyre because your car has less grip on the road, which worsens in wet weather. If you’re caught driving on a bald tyre you can get fined up to 2,500 and lose three points on your licence per tyre. You can also invalidate your car insurance if you need to make a claim.

Tyre pressure is also important, especially for long car journeys with heavy luggage. Having the wrong tyre pressure can wear your tyres down faster or in some cases, blow out completely.

Some tyre centres offer free checks and most petrol stations should have a coin-operated tyre pressure pump to test the pressure and top it up yourself.

Check the oil

Oil cleans, cools and lubricates parts in the engine. Without it you can cause extreme engine wear and even seize your engine.

Locate the dipstick under your car’s bonnet to see the oil levels. If the oil is low, top it up as soon as possible. You can check your car’s oil level on the dashboard if it doesn’t have a dipstick.

Book a service

It’s a routine health check that inspects the condition of your car. It usually looks at things like oil and fluid levels, tyre pressure, battery, lights and steering.

A basic car service costs around 125, but you might get a better deal if you shop around.

Servicing your car at least once a year or every 12,000 miles will keep it in good condition and prevent breakdowns or general wear and tear (for instance, you could get services similar to a Wheel refurbishment Sheffield for your car wheel rims for a sleeker and newer look), saving you money on unnecessary expensive repairs in the future.

Keep your car clean

Washing the outside of your car can help prevent blemishes, scratches and corrosion caused by grit and other chemicals that build up on your car. You can also get such unwanted marks or dents in your car due to small accidents, which might then require some fresh Panelbeating with Guarantee or similar services, to restore it to its original glory.

Make sure your tax, MOT and insurance haven’t lapsed.

Make sure your tax and MOT are still valid before you head off on your road trip.

If your car is on the road, it’s a legal requirement in the UK to have it insured at all times with at least third party car insurance, known as continuous insurance enforcement. Before you head off on holiday, make sure you have the right policy in place.

You can share the long drive by insuring an additional driver with a separate temporary car insurance policy just for the length of time they’re behind the wheel. Providers, like Cuvva offer flexible car insurance which can be set up in a few minutes.