Is it worth booking a car service in Sheffield before driving into the Peak District? If your car is due a service, I’d get it done before you go. If it’s been serviced recently and everything is working as it should, I’d spend ten minutes checking the car and the rest of my time deciding where to stop for lunch. That’s a much more enjoyable part of planning a day out.

On a recent road trip from Spain to Romania and back, I discovered that my wheel alignment was off which lead to me needing to replace both front tyres long before I’d expected to. If I had gotten my car checked over before setting off, I probably would have avoided needing to change my tyres only 3 months after putting them on!

A day in the Peak District is a different proposition from driving across Europe and back, of course. But the same question is worth asking before either trip. Is there anything you’ve been meaning to get checked and keep putting off? A weekend away can be a good nudge to finally deal with it, especially if the last time you thought about it was when you turned the radio up.

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When it’s worth getting your car serviced before you go

Start by checking when your car was last serviced and what the manufacturer recommends for your model. The handbook or service display should point you in the right direction. If a service is coming up, a weekend away is as good a reason as any to get it in the diary. If you’re local, you can get it sorted at Dexel Tyre & Auto Centre before heading out of Sheffield.

If you’ve noticed a new vibration, the car pulling to one side or a change in how the brakes feel, tell the garage exactly what you’ve noticed and when it happens. That gives them something specific to investigate. I’d get it checked before setting off, even if the next service is months away. My front tyres would probably have appreciated that approach.

If you’re unsure what to book, ask the garage what’s due for your car and what’s included in the quote. It’s also worth asking whether investigating a specific issue costs extra. That way, if you’re calling because the steering feels different after an encounter with a pothole, you can discuss that from the start and find out what the garage needs to look at.

What does a service check that an MOT doesn’t?

An MOT checks whether your car meets the required road safety and environmental standards at the time of the test. A service covers routine maintenance, and what’s included depends on the car and the type of service you book. It might include an oil and filter change alongside checks on the tyres, brakes and fluid levels. The manufacturer’s schedule is the place to check when specific maintenance is due.

If you’ve recently bought a used car and the seller told you it had “just been done”, have a look through the paperwork to see what was actually done and when. An MOT certificate and a service invoice tell you different things. The invoice can also jog your memory if the garage flagged something to keep an eye on last time and you promptly forgot about it the moment you got home.

What to check before driving into the Peak District

Give the tyres a proper look

Check the pressures when the tyres are cold and use the figures recommended for your car and the load you’re carrying. If you’re taking a car full of people and walking kit, check whether your handbook gives a different pressure for a heavier load. And if you’re using a garage air machine, set the target pressure before you attach it. I can tell you from experience that doing those two things in the wrong order can make a simple job considerably less satisfying.

While you’re there, look at the tread across each tyre and check the sidewalls for visible damage. The wear on mine was uneven, which is why I now look across the tyre rather than giving the bit I can see from the pavement a cursory glance. If one edge is wearing faster than the rest, ask a garage to take a look. I’d have preferred that conversation to the one about the price of two new tyres.

Check you can see and be seen

Give the windscreen a wash and see whether the wipers clear it properly. Top up the screenwash if needed, and ask someone to help you check the brake lights while you’re going through the rest of the lights. If you’re checking oil or coolant levels, follow the instructions in your handbook and leave the coolant cap alone while the engine is hot.

I’d download the driving route and the walking map before leaving home. They’re two separate things, which is easy to forget when all you’ve saved is a pin for the village. Put the car park into your map as well. It’s much easier to do that at the kitchen table than to arrive hungry, with someone in the passenger seat insisting they saw a parking sign three turns ago.

Give yourself time for the drive

If you’re heading towards Castleton, you could start with a wander around the village and decide how much walking you fancy once you’ve checked the forecast. A walk up towards Mam Tor makes sense if you’re in the mood for a hill and the conditions suit. If the tops are in cloud and everyone’s already asking when lunch is, I’d be quite happy with a shorter outing and more time in the village.

On steep stretches such as Winnats Pass, take your time and stay in an appropriate gear. The Highway Code explains that coasting downhill takes away engine braking and can increase reliance on the footbrake. On narrow stretches, give yourself room to slow down and expect to meet someone coming the other way. If your plan only works when every drive takes exactly as long as your phone says it will, I’d take something out of the itinerary.

So, is it worth it?

If the service is due, book it before you go. If something has started making a noise, pulling to one side or feeling different under braking, give the garage a call and explain what’s changed. And if the car’s running normally and the maintenance is up to date, do the usual checks and get on with planning the day. The decision I’d happily spend longer on is whether to stop for lunch before or after the walk..