After a long school year, many of us are ready for a road trip. But before you hop in your car, SUV or truck for a summer getaway, take a few minutes to check your vehicle. A hot summer’s day is not the time to deal with a broken car. Whether it’s a trip to the lake or beach, a drive along the Pacific Coast Highway or through the Sierra Nevada, nobody wants mechanical troubles.

Here are some summer car care preparations to help you avoid a breakdown:

✔ Periodically check and test batteries for proper charging. (Summer heat drains batteries faster than the cold of winter.)

✔ Be sure your cooling system has the proper antifreeze and coolant, and belts, hoses and the water pump are properly working. (Never open a hot radiator cap — the liquid inside is a scalding 200 degrees or hotter.)

✔ Check the air conditioning system for leaks and proper coolant.

✔ Verify that the viscosity of your motor oil will stand up to hot weather days (10W-30 or 10W-40).

✔ Check the tires for tread and proper inflation.

✔ Make sure the spare tire is inflated and there is a jack and tire-changing tools.

✔ Test your windshield wipers and change them if they are streaking.

Do you know what to do if your car overheats or there is a flat tire? Find some handy tips , and keep a basic safety kit in your car that consists of:

• Cellphone and spare battery
• First aid kit
• Fire extinguisher
• Warning light or reflective triangles
• Tire gauge
• Jumper cables
• Foam sealant for flat tires

Some repairs may be more complicated. That’s why it’s important to have a reliable backup. Whether the battery let you down, your spare tire went flat, or you locked the keys in the car, for as little as $1 a month California Casualty’s towing and roadside assistance can get you back on the road with:

• Dead battery start
• Flat tire repair
• Lockout service
• Fuel, oil or water delivery
• Towing to the nearest repair shop (even if you break down 4-wheeling)

Learn more at mycalcas.com/.

Now that your car is ready, how about your insurance? You might want to get an auto policy review to make sure you’re covered if one of the one-in-eight drivers without insurance hits you, or if your vehicle is damaged by a deer or a rock. Without Uninsured Motorist or Comprehensive coverage, you might be paying out of pocket.

California Casualty is ready to help protect your vehicle and those riding with you this summer. Contact an adviser today for an insurance checkup at 800-800-9410 or visit calcas.com/CTA. Learn more at CTAMemberBenefits.org/calcas.

Use Access to Savings This Summer

CTA members can use Access to Savings discounts to save money on food, lodging, entertainment and more. Get the My Deals app on your smartphone from the App Store or Google Play. Set up your account (Program ID 200449) and verify eligibility with your email address and, if prompted, 10-digit CTA Individual ID Number. For more information, go to CTAMemberBenefits.org/Access.