Now that the kids have broken up from school, the summer holidays are in full swing. It’s estimated that around 36 million Brits will be out on the roads in the coming weeks making roads more congested and journeys longer.

According to car manufacturer Dacia, packing the car up to go away was the most stressful part of the whole trip – with one in eight people agreeing with this statement. Additionally, family arguments also fire up when loading the car, with one in five admitting it is the most common scenario.

We’ve compiled a list on how to pack your car in the most effective, time efficient and easiest way possible to prevent any furores or disagreements from erupting.

Stay organised

Staying organised is one of most effective ways to eliminate yourself from being at the front of a family argument. The easiest way to pack your car is to write down everything that you need and measure out your car’s boot capacity and in-build storage compartments. This will make sure that everything falls in place and that nothing is left behind or doesn’t fit. It will also mean you’re better able to set off on time and will give you less headaches with your relatives.

Keep everything compact

When packing bags and suitcases, make sure that all of your clothes and belongings are neatly packed and are stored in the best way to enable more space for other items. Poor packing will mean that you will be using more bags to fit things in, which also means that the car will be full of unnecessary luggage that could have been condensed into fewer bags if packed correctly.

Pack light

Look at everything you're taking with you and question whether you actually need it all. It will be more efficient to take your essentials rather than bringing everything for the sake of it. Not only that, but overpacking will take more time and will cause greater risk of overloading your vehicle which can be dangerous. And, the car will be lighter, making it more fuel efficient.


Maximise the space

Everyday cars are designed to be as practical as possible, so use all of their space. When loading up, make sure to fill its interior storage bins and look in the boot for tethering hooks and tie-down features, as these will all help speed up the process before setting off on your journey. Another thing to note is the tethering hooks in the boot as they will prevent anything from falling over or being damaged, which could also become a hazard when driving along.

Fold down the seats if not in use

Look at the vehicle’s seating arrangements. A lot of cars feature a 60:40 split folding function, which allows you to carry a passenger or two alongside one seat folded to allow for more luggage. Some cars may also have a 40:20:40 rear seat design which gives you even more flexibility for passengers and space. The added benefit is that you can load up your car in a quicker and stress-free time which will benefit everyone who is willing to get going.


Do not overload your car

Before setting off, always check that you haven’t overfilled your car. The reason is that it can be a major safety hazard if travelling with a lot of passengers and a great amount of luggage. This makes the car excessively heavier than it would normally be, which also means it will take longer to stop in an emergency. Also, make sure that nothing is obstructing your view out of the back window or that any blindspots are covered as this could lead to a serious accident.

Our advice would be to check the car before setting off. Consider looking at your car’s tyre pressures and their condition as added extra weight will cause more stress on them and they need to be up to the job for you to arrive at your destination in a safe manner. Always check that any heavy or large bags are fastened down or located at the bottom of the luggage pile so that they’re not able to roll about when you’re moving.