Soon, beaches will be crawling with college Spring Breakers enjoying no more school, no more books…well, you know the rest.

But before O-town becomes a college ghost town, you should consider if you’re ready to take that road trip. Is your vehicle of choice ready for a drive?

To help you out, we’re giving away a free oil change to a UCF student. Just follow us on Twitter at @expertcarcares and post the following tweet. One winner will be chosen at random before the weekend! Contest ends on Friday at 11:59 p.m. (Feel free to save it for after Spring Break, too!)

RT: @expertcarcares follow us and RT this message to win a free oil change in #orlando #ucf area! Details here: http://ow.ly/1dFYi

In addition to changing your oil and checking fluids, here are a few other tips to make sure you’re ready for a road trip. While this is by no means a comprehensive list, these are the common problems we see. Safety first!

• Tires – Who wants a tire blow-out on vacation? Check your tire condition and inflation pressure. The quarter test is an easy way to do a quick check at home.
• Brakes – Any squeaking or grinding when you brake? Because these are “normal wear” items, they need to be replaced every so often. Don’t let them wear down too far, or you’ll risk damaging other parts of the car. See our maintenance guide for an explanation.
• Belts & Hoses – Sometimes the small parts of your car can wreak havoc in big ways. These parts, including timing belts and water pumps, are important in a number of ways – cooling, air conditioning, charging. Follow your manufacturer recommendations for replacements to avoid trouble here.