7 Exterior Car Parts to Check Before a Summer Road Trip
5-minute read
Before a long summer drive, most people check the tyres, top up the fluids and make sure there's enough room in the boot. The outside of the car is easier to forget, but it takes its own share of punishment once the journey starts.
Loose trims, tired wipers, cracked lenses or anything hanging lower than it should can quickly turn from "I'll sort that later" into an annoying or expensive problem on the road.
A quick exterior check before setting off can help you catch small problems while they are still simple to sort.
The Quick Answer
Before a summer road trip, check the exterior parts that affect visibility, weather sealing and secure fitment. Start with the wiper blades and headlight lenses, then check the tailgate struts, engine undertray, door seals, number plates and any roof rack mounting points.
Look for split rubber, cracked plastic, corrosion around fixings, unreadable plates or anything that moves when it should stay secure. Catching these faults early can help prevent water ingress, damaged bodywork, reduced visibility and loose components becoming dangerous at speed.
If anything needs replacing, use the registration lookup tool on our site to find parts that match your vehicle before ordering.
Are Your Wiper Blades Clearing the Windscreen Properly?
Wiper blades are often overlooked during dry weather, but summer driving often brings dried insects, pollen, dust and sudden heavy rain.
Inspect each rubber blade for splits, hardened edges or sections pulling away from the frame, then test the washers and wipers together. The blades should clear the swept area smoothly without leaving broad streaks, skipping across the glass or smearing dirt into the driver's line of vision.
Worn blades can make low summer sunlight and spray from other vehicles much harder to see through. They may also be recorded as an MOT defect if they cannot clear the windscreen effectively.
Replace damaged blades before travelling rather than waiting for poor weather to expose the problem.
Will the Tailgate Stay Open While You Load the Car?
Weak tailgate struts often become noticeable when the boot is being packed for a journey. The tailgate may rise slowly, stop before reaching its full height or begin to drop without warning.
Open the tailgate fully and check whether it remains securely in position. Both sides should move evenly, without stiffness, leaking fluid or damaged mounting points.
A failing gas strut can allow a heavy tailgate to fall while luggage is being loaded or removed. This creates an injury risk and may also damage the hinges, latch or surrounding bodywork.
Tailgate struts are usually replaced in pairs so that both sides provide balanced support.
Is the Engine Undertray Secure?
The engine undertray protects lower engine components from water, grit and road debris. It is held in place by a combination of screws, clips and plastic push rivets, any of which can be lost after contact with a kerb, pothole or road obstacle.
Look beneath the front of the car for an undertray that sits lower on one side, has visible cracks or moves when lightly pressed. Scraping noises and plastic hanging below the bumper are also clear warning signs.
A loose undertray can catch the airflow beneath the vehicle and begin dragging against the road. Once this happens, the panel can tear away, damage adjacent trim or leave the sump and lower engine components more exposed.
If the vehicle has recently been involved in a minor bump, inspect the undertray alongside the bumper, wheel arch liners and lower mounting points because damage is not always visible from above.
A missing undertray is not automatically illegal, but a loose panel should be repaired before a long trip.
Are the Door Seals Letting in Water or Wind Noise?
Door weather seals are the rubber gaskets fitted around the door openings. When they split, harden or pull away from the body, you may notice extra wind noise before you ever spot a leak.
Check for flattened sections, tears, hardened rubber and seals pulling away from the body. Pay particular attention to the lower corners, where dirt and trapped moisture tend to collect.
A damaged seal may initially cause nothing more than extra wind noise. During heavy rain, however, water can enter the door opening or cabin and reach carpets, connectors or electrical components.
Cleaning the seals and replacing damaged sections before travelling reduces the risk of leaks during sudden summer storms.
Are the Headlight Lenses Clear and Undamaged?
Plastic headlight lenses can become cloudy or yellowed after prolonged exposure to sunlight, while road debris can leave scratches or small cracks across the surface. This is not just a cosmetic issue: damaged or hazy lenses can scatter the beam and reduce the amount of useful light reaching the road.
The problem becomes more noticeable on unlit roads, during rain or when driving late to avoid daytime traffic.
Inspect both headlights for:
- Clouding or yellowing
- Cracks and stone damage
- Moisture inside the unit
- Loose mountings
- Uneven light output
A slightly marked lens will not automatically result in an MOT failure. However, the headlamp can be recorded as defective if deterioration significantly reduces its output or affects the beam pattern.
Restoring or replacing a damaged lens before the journey gives you a clearer view of the road and makes the vehicle easier for other drivers to see.
Are Your Number Plates Secure and Readable?
Number plates must remain securely fitted and clearly readable. Cracks around the screws, loose adhesive pads and delaminating reflective material can all worsen during a long drive.
Check that both plates sit flat against the vehicle and do not move when gently pressed. The registration characters should be clean, correctly spaced and unobstructed.
Replace a number plate if it is:
- Cracked through the registration characters
- Faded or discoloured
- Delaminating
- Loose at one or more mounting points
- Difficult to read from a normal distance
An unreadable or incorrectly displayed number plate can lead to an MOT defect and may also result in a roadside stop or financial penalty. Cleaning the plates before departure is one of the quickest exterior checks you can make.
Are the Roof Rack and Mounting Points Secure?
This one matters if you are carrying a roof box, bicycles, surfboards or additional luggage.
Inspect the roof bars, clamps, feet and mounting points before loading anything onto them. Tighten each fixing according to the manufacturer's instructions and check for cracked plastic covers, corrosion or movement around the anchor points.
The load should remain within the limits specified for the vehicle, roof rack and carrier. It must also be distributed evenly and secured so that it cannot shift during braking, cornering or motorway driving.
Do not assume the rack fits because it was previously used on a similar model. Roof profiles and mounting systems can differ between body styles, trim levels and model generations.
Recheck the fixings after the first part of the journey, particularly if the rack or roof box has recently been installed.
Summer Road Trip Exterior Check FAQ
How often should wiper blades be replaced?
There is no single replacement interval that applies to every vehicle. Inspect the blades regularly and replace them when they split, judder, smear the windscreen or leave uncleared sections. Many drivers find that replacement is needed approximately every six to twelve months, depending on use and exposure.
Is it illegal to drive without an engine undertray?
A missing engine undertray is not automatically illegal. The concern is whether anything is loose, insecure or likely to contact the road. A damaged undertray should be repaired if it is hanging down, scraping or no longer protecting the components it was designed to cover.
Can cloudy headlights cause an MOT failure?
Yes, if the deterioration significantly reduces the light output or affects the beam pattern. Light clouding may not fail on its own, but heavily oxidised or damaged lenses should be restored or replaced.
Can I drive with a cracked number plate?
A small crack away from the registration characters may not immediately make the plate unreadable, but the damage can spread. Replace the plate if the characters, reflective background or mounting security are affected.
Should roof rack fixings be checked during the journey?
Yes. Check all fixings before departure and again after the first stage of the journey. Loads and mountings can settle once the vehicle has been driven, particularly when carrying a roof box or bicycles.
Ready to Hit the Road?
A summer road trip places different demands on a vehicle than short local journeys. Parts that only rattle or sit slightly loose around town can become much more serious at motorway speeds.
Use our registration lookup tool to find the exact parts for your vehicle before you set off.
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