The information in this guide is intended as general guidance. Always follow your vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations, the requirements of the event organiser and current UK road-traffic law. If you’re unsure about the condition of your vehicle, seek advice from a suitably qualified mechanic….

A touring assembly or classic tour is about enjoying driving, discovering great roads and spending time with like-minded enthusiasts. Whether you arrive in a beautifully restored classic, a modern sports car, a modern classic or your everyday car, a little preparation can make the difference between a brilliant day out and an unwanted roadside stop.

You don’t need a competition-prepared car. In fact, most touring assemblies are deliberately accessible to ordinary road-going cars. What matters is that your car is safe, reliable, legal and comfortable enough for the journey ahead.

This guide explains what to look at before setting off, why each check matters and what you can do to make your day more enjoyable.

The information in this guide is intended as general guidance. Always follow your vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations, the requirements of the event organiser and current UK road-traffic law. If you’re unsure about the condition of your vehicle, seek advice from a suitably qualified mechanic.

1. Start With the Basics: Is Your Car Ready?

Before worrying about navigation, roadbooks or the route itself, make sure the car is genuinely ready for a long day’s driving.

A current MOT doesn’t automatically mean your car is guaranteed to be roadworthy. The driver remains responsible for ensuring the vehicle is safe to drive. GOV.UK recommends checking items such as tyres, lights, brakes, fluids, windows and mirrors. (GOV.UK⁠)

Think of your preparation in three stages:

Safety → Reliability → Comfort

Get those three right and you can concentrate on enjoying the event.

2. Tyres – Your Connection With the Road

Tyres are arguably the most important part of your car to check before a touring assembly.

Look for:

• Correct tyre pressures
• Adequate tread
• Cuts, cracks, bulges or other damage
• Uneven wear
• Objects embedded in the tread
• Correctly fitted valve caps
• The condition and pressure of the spare tyre, if fitted

UK cars generally require at least 1.6mm of tread across the central three-quarters of the tread and around the entire circumference, although this should be regarded as a legal minimum rather than a target. (GOV.UK⁠)

Why it matters on a tour

A touring assembly can take you over very different roads in a single day: fast A-roads, narrow lanes, steep descents, wet roads, rough surfaces and sometimes roads you have never driven before.

Good tyres give you:

Better braking → better steering → better grip → more confidence

Don’t simply use the pressure printed on the tyre itself. Check your vehicle handbook or manufacturer’s recommended pressures, taking account of the load you’re carrying. (GOV.UK⁠)

And remember: check pressures when the tyres are cold.

3. Brakes – Don’t Leave Them Until the MOT

Check that the brakes feel normal before the event.

Pay attention to:

• Spongy or unusually long pedal travel
• Pulling to one side
• Grinding or unusual noises
• Vibration under braking
• Brake warning lights
• Unusual smells after driving

If something doesn’t feel right, investigate it before the event.

This is particularly important on tours because a route may contain repeated climbs and descents. You might use the brakes considerably more than you would during an ordinary commute.

A good tour should challenge your driving skills, not your brakes.

4. Engine Oil and Other Fluids

Before a long day, check the fluids your vehicle requires.

Depending on the car, these may include:

• Engine oil
• Coolant
• Brake fluid
• Screen wash
• Power-steering fluid
• Clutch fluid
• Transmission fluid

Your handbook should tell you what to check and how often.

GOV.UK specifically recommends checking engine oil, coolant, brake fluid and washer fluid, while the Highway Code advises regular fluid checks. (GOV.UK⁠)

Don’t just top things up blindly

If you notice that a fluid level is repeatedly falling, that’s potentially more important than simply adding more.

A car that continually loses coolant, oil or brake fluid may have an underlying problem that should be investigated.

5. Cooling System – Particularly Important for Classics

Classic cars deserve a little extra attention here.

Before a long tour, inspect:

• Coolant level
• Radiator
• Hoses
• Hose clips
• Expansion tank
• Radiator cap
• Cooling fan
• Drive belts
• Signs of coolant leaks

A classic car may happily cruise around town but reveal a cooling problem after spending hours on the road, particularly during warm weather or long climbs.

If your car normally runs at a particular temperature, get familiar with that normal behaviour.

Know what normal looks like so you can recognise abnormal.

6. Battery and Electrical System

A healthy battery is easy to take for granted—until the car refuses to start.

Check:

• Battery condition
• Battery terminals
• Charging system
• Alternator belt where applicable
• Electrical connections
• Any warning lights

Also check every light:

• Headlights
• Sidelights
• Indicators
• Brake lights
• Rear lights
• Fog lights
• Number plate lights
• Hazard lights

The Highway Code specifically highlights the importance of functioning lights, indicators, reflectors and number plates being clean and clear. (GOV.UK⁠)

7. Windscreen, Wipers and Visibility

A touring assembly isn’t much fun if you’re struggling to see where you’re going.

Before leaving, check:

• Windscreen condition
• Wiper blades
• Screen wash
• Mirrors
• Demister
• Headlights

A dirty windscreen can become particularly problematic when driving towards a low sun or when spray from other vehicles hits the glass.

Keep the glass clean inside and out.

8. Steering and Suspension

You don’t necessarily need to dismantle the suspension before every tour, but you should be aware of how your car feels.

Watch for:

• Excessive bouncing
• Knocking noises
• Steering vibration
• Pulling to one side
• Wandering or unusual steering feel
• Uneven tyre wear

If something has recently changed, don’t ignore it.

The Highway Code notes that faults involving steering, suspension, tyres and wheel alignment can affect the safety and handling of the vehicle. (GOV.UK⁠)

9. Fuel – Don’t Make It a Navigation Challenge

Know your car’s realistic range.

Touring assemblies can take you through areas where fuel stations are surprisingly scarce, particularly in rural parts of the UK.

A sensible approach is to start the day with plenty of fuel rather than relying on the final few miles of your tank.

Think about the route and where the fuel stations are before setting off.

For older cars, this can be especially important if fuel consumption varies significantly depending on terrain and driving conditions.

10. Breakdown Equipment

Nobody plans to break down—but sensible preparation means that a breakdown doesn’t have to ruin the day.

Consider carrying:

• Breakdown recovery details
• Warning equipment appropriate to your vehicle and circumstances
• Basic tools
• Spare bulbs where applicable
• Fuses
• Tyre inflation equipment
• Puncture repair equipment or spare wheel
• Jack and wheel brace where applicable
• Torch
• Gloves
• Basic fluids
• Phone and charging cable/power bank

Make sure you actually know how to use your equipment.

There’s little value in carrying a wheel-changing kit if you’ve never worked out where the jack goes.

The Met Office also recommends checking your spare wheel, jack and wheel brace before a long journey and being familiar with your tyre-repair system if your car doesn’t have a spare. (Met Office⁠)

11. Classic Cars – Preparation Is Even More Valuable

Classic cars are one of the great attractions of touring assemblies.

But remember that a car built decades ago may have been designed for a very different type of motoring.

Before a long event, consider having a competent mechanic check:

• Belts and hoses
• Cooling system
• Brakes
• Wheel bearings
• Suspension
• Steering
• Fuel system
• Battery
• Charging system
• Engine oil leaks
• Gearbox and differential
• Exhaust
• Tyres

You don’t need to rebuild the car before every event.

The goal is simply to identify potential problems before they become roadside problems.

For vehicles of historical interest, some cars over 40 years old can be MOT exempt depending on their status and modifications. However, MOT exemption does not mean that the car doesn’t need to be maintained or roadworthy. (GOV.UK⁠)

12. Modern Classics and Everyday Cars

Don’t assume newer cars don’t need preparation.

A 10-, 15- or 20-year-old car can be just as capable of completing a touring assembly as a classic, but age-related problems can still occur.

Modern cars also contain considerably more electrical equipment and electronic systems.

Before a tour, consider:

• Warning lights
• Battery health
• Tyres
• Brakes
• Cooling
• Oil level
• Service history
• Any existing mechanical issues

And don’t ignore a warning light simply because the car still appears to drive normally.

13. Don’t Forget the Driver

Preparing the car is only half the job.

You are going to be driving for several hours, sometimes on unfamiliar roads.

Before setting off:

• Get a good night’s sleep
• Eat properly
• Take water
• Wear comfortable clothing
• Plan breaks
• Don’t rush
• Know when you need to stop

THINK! recommends planning opportunities to take breaks on longer journeys and making sure you are properly rested before driving. (THINK!⁠)

A touring assembly isn’t a race.

There is no prize for arriving at the next control five minutes before everyone else.

14. Preparing Your Navigation Equipment

Many touring assemblies use a roadbook, tulip diagrams, written instructions or other navigation methods.

Make sure you understand the navigation system before the event starts.

Consider bringing:

• Roadbook holder
• Clipboard
• Pens/pencils
• Tripmeter
• Sat-nav or phone as appropriate
• Phone mount
• Charging cable
• Paper map
• Spare batteries/power bank

If you’re using a tripmeter, make sure you know how to reset and adjust it before the start.

Why?

Because discovering how your tripmeter works while you’re trying to interpret your first tulip is not the ideal way to begin a tour!

For beginners, it’s perfectly reasonable to practise with the navigation system beforehand.

15. Make the Car Comfortable

A touring assembly might involve several hours behind the wheel.

Small improvements can make a huge difference.

Think about:

• Comfortable seating position
• Correct mirror adjustment
• Comfortable driving position
• Sunglasses
• Water
• Snacks
• Phone charging
• Suitable clothing
• A small amount of luggage

Don’t fill the car with unnecessary equipment.

Everything you carry needs somewhere secure to go.

The Highway Code specifically states that luggage should be securely stowed and that the driver’s seat, seat belt, head restraint and mirrors should be correctly adjusted. (GOV.UK⁠)

16. Give the Car a Test Run

One of the best things you can do before a major event is surprisingly simple:

Drive it.

If your car normally only does short journeys, take it for a decent run before the event.

Listen.

Feel.

Watch the temperature.

Check for leaks afterwards.

Notice anything unusual.

This can be particularly useful with a classic that has recently been recommissioned, serviced or repaired.

Finding a problem 30 miles from home is considerably better than discovering it 150 miles into a touring assembly.

17. The Night Before

Don’t leave everything until the morning.

The evening before, check:

Car

• Tyres
• Fluids
• Lights
• Fuel
• Windscreen
• Battery
• Luggage

Navigation

• Roadbook
• Tripmeter
• Pens
• Maps
• Phone
• Charger

Personal

• Driving licence
• Event paperwork
• Money/payment method
• Food and drink
• Appropriate clothing

Then get some sleep.

18. What Are the Benefits of Proper Preparation?

Preparing your car isn’t about turning it into a rally car.

It’s about removing unnecessary problems.

A well-prepared car gives you:

Greater confidence

Knowing your tyres, brakes, fluids and mechanical systems have been checked means you can concentrate on the road and navigation.

Better enjoyment

Mechanical worries have a habit of distracting you from the reason you’re there in the first place.

Improved reliability

Finding a worn belt, low fluid or damaged tyre before the event gives you the opportunity to fix it at home.

Better safety

Good tyres, brakes, lights, steering and visibility are fundamental to safe road driving.

More time driving

Nobody wants their touring assembly experience to become an afternoon waiting for a recovery vehicle.

Peace of mind

Perhaps the biggest benefit is simply knowing you’ve done what you reasonably can to prepare.

19. Preparation Doesn’t Mean Modification

One of the biggest misconceptions about touring assemblies is that you need a competition-style car.

You don’t.

A touring assembly should be accessible to a wide range of road-going vehicles.

You don’t need:

• Competition suspension
• Racing seats
• Roll cages
• Harnesses
• Huge brakes
• Performance tyres
• A modified engine

Unless the particular event has specific requirements, your normal road car can be perfectly at home.

The best preparation is often the least glamorous:

Good tyres. Good brakes. Good fluids. Good maintenance. Good navigation.