Wanda is a 30 year veteran of the auto service industry and she’s here for a new monthly blog series called “Ask Wanda” where we unpack your most burning questions about car service and maintenance, learn tips and tricks to make owning a car easier, and get an exclusive peek behind the curtain at our dealership service centers. Have a question for Wanda? Comment below or email us at info@carcaretogo.com

Here in the DC area, we’re starting to see the very early signs of Spring. But, for most of us that have lived here long enough, we know the weather still has some tricks up its sleeve and even as we move past the snowy season, we move right into the Mid-Atlantic’s next favorite weather pattern: rain!

What does all inclement weather have in common? It affects you on the road, of course! It’s important to be prepared for all kinds of weather when you hit the road, and we wanted to know how our resident expert, Wanda, what’s in her trunk to keep her prepped for rain, sleet, snow, and beyond.

Don’t forget to read the first installation in our Ask Wanda series here for even more insights and pro tips about car ownership.

So, Wanda, the question we’ve all been dying to ask: what’s in your trunk?

• Emergency Items: A flashlight, an emergency flasher, umbrella, multipurpose tool- pliers, a knife, etc. and a dog leash. If I ever see a dog wandering it will allow me to pull over and help it.
• The Essentials: A little bag with a pen, some ibuprofen, Kleenex, some essentials- now hand sanitizer goes with me everywhere.
• In Case of Snow: In the wintertime, I add the snow brush. If they are calling for snow I bring the snow shovel just in case! (In case you’re preparing for a road trip, check out our other blog post 4 Things You Should Know Before Your Holiday Road Trip)
• Pro-Tip:  This one requires upkeep, but everyone should get a mini jumper cable box. They can jump start a basic car with some limitation, but is great to get yourself or a friend out of a pinch and enough “juice” to make it to the next destination.

Finally, one of the best things you can have to be prepared for anything on the road is up to date maintenance on your car. It sounds obvious, but the best way to ensure your safety in your car is making sure it gets regular maintenance and upkeep to keep things running smoothly. As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Curious about what “regular maintenance” entails? Click here to learn more about the scheduled maintenance services we provide.