I rely on the AA or RAC. It's amazing what you need, and how often the requirements can change too.

Check country requirements in regards to vignettes, tolls and green cards, You may need to purchase the vignette prior to entering on a motorway. You can normally purchase them at petrol stations.

Some countries also have different durations for the vignettes. For more information check out the Tolls.eu site.

Make sure you're covered for your entire journey. If you're heading to the Nurburgring to tackle the green monster, or any other race course, make sure you have the correct cover.

Also, if you're planning on crossing country borders ensure you know the requirements of each country.

On our trip to Croatia, we also wanted to visit Mostar in Bosnia & Herzegovina, which is not within the EU, so a green card was necessary from our insurers.

If you are hiring a car, check your cross border agreements.

Nobody wants to think the worst may happen - but it can. Take the stress out of your road trip.

Make sure it's not due to expire. (There lies a story about our 2010 Canadian Road trip!)

Do you need to charge a lot of USB devices on the go? Why not look at getting a multi-socket USB cigarette lighter charger.

Also consider a cigarette power splitter if you want to use the cigarette lighter, or you have a device that requires a dedicated cigarette socket).

A legal requirement in many European countries, but still worth having a travelling kit on board.

Be it a Swiss Army Knife, a Leatherman or something similar - just real handy to have.

A good LED one, and if you can charge it via USB, all the better!

Ring bound, not fold out. I guess some folks are saying really? What's wrong with your Sat-Nav/GPS? Nothing, it's brilliant as an aid in getting from A to B via C, D E… Etc. However, this is a road trip and you'll probably want to explore a little. A map's much better for that.

Useful in so many ways - especially if language is a barrier, or you just need to note something down and hand it to somebody.

Have you got your sunglasses? I have prescription sunnies, so I can't just pick up a set along the roadside. It's also worth checking point 3 thoroughly because in certain countries if you need glasses to drive, you must carry a spare pair (for example Spain)

Or get somebody to do it for you. That means inside & out - You're going to be spending a lot of time in your chariot, so make sure it's in tip-top condition.

Have you the right tunes for the trip. Build your ultimate playlist for your trip. Stack up on your CD's, fill your memory cards, just make sure you have something - local radio can sometimes suck...

Why not check out our post ' Soundtrack of a road trip'

Keep yourself hydrated and it'll help with your concentration.

Many handy uses to keep you fresh in your car. Especially if you like to pick up a snack en-route.

This is probably more handy if you have a convertible, it doesn't take long for my fair skin to flip to raspberry if I forget these. It's also handy if you take a tour of a town or a sight. Also packing these is a good reason for item 19!

Handy in the glove box to have travel painkillers that can be swallowed without water - and you're going to need them after the 'n'th argument over directions 😉

To remove what the occasional bird decides to deposit on your pride & joy. (I should also mention caution when parking under trees when on a road trip - again from experience!)

I take this planning seriously - A road trip without Werther's Originals does not bare thinking about.

Let's not put a downer on the trip - but we are British 🙂

I need a sweet treat every 50 miles or so - it helps count down those miles until I hit our destination.