There are certain preparations that will have to be made before people travel by car. Some of these preparations will involve the automobile itself, and others will involve the travelers. If these preparations are not made, then travel by the car might not be as enjoyable as it could be and some trips might have to be cancelled or planned for a later date.

The number of people that will be in the car for a trip will determine the size of the vehicle that is needed. All persons must have access to a seat belt because this is required by all law enforcement agencies. A small car would not be very comfortable for anyone but some people travel this way because a small car is more economical to drive than larger sedans, SUV's or vans.

The amount of trunk space that a car has will also be a deciding factor on whether the car is suitable for a long road trip. When traveling by car, all passenger luggage will usually be placed in the trunk and if the trunk is too small, then the driver will need to get prepared to mount luggage on the top of the car if it is equipped with a roof luggage rack. Mounting devices such as bungee cords might have to be purchased to get the family ready for travel.

Some families choose to travel by car that is owned by a rental car company. Rental cars usually offer people better gas mileage when they travel by car because rent car chains usually replace their fleet of cars every year. The latest automobile models are generally equipped with more energy efficient engines in them than the family car would have and will save a family money when refueling throughout their trip.

Renting a car will require a person to pay for insurance in addition to the cost of the rental car, if the renter's current automotive insurance policy does not cover rental cars and most do not. The person might choose to upgrade their coverage to include rental cars. The driver might also choose to be prepared for the long road trips by updating the number of drivers on the policy. That way all licensed drivers will be insured and they will be authorized to drive some of the distance when traveling by car.

Some travelers might feel better prepared if they install a GPS device onto their car. This device will give the driver a direct route to their next location and make travel by car a less expensive task. Other travelers join travel clubs to get discounts for their trips. Along the way, they have an opportunity to save on lodging, meals and some recreational events such as amusement park tickets.