It’s about to be that time of the year again, the holidays. The time when you race around whipping up casseroles, wrapping gifts and wishing you had a third arm to wrangle all the kids and family members into the car to drive to Grandma’s house. We’ve all been there. Some of us even deserve gold medals for most houses visited during a day, or amount of miles covered in the car without spilling the gravy (oops!)

The last thing you want to worry about during these hectic times is something going wrong with your car. So here are some tips for how to prepare your car for the holiday season:

Make sure your tires are in good shape. Whether you’re going on a cross-country trip or just across town, it’s never good to stumble across a tear, hole or not enough air. Especially when you’ve got a potato casserole still warm in the backseat. Be sure to check on the tires in advance or schedule a checkup before the holidays.

Winterize your car. Cold weather and ice often go hand in hand with the holidays. Be sure to check your engine coolant, engine oil and windshield wipers and fluid. Keep an ice scraper handy and be sure your heaters and defrosters are working well.

Be smart with Packing. Aside from all the food, gifts and other various holiday musts, don’t forget to pack the essentials. An emergency and first aid kit, a blanket, plenty of snacks and entertainment for the kids and a GPS or detailed directions or maps for your destination.

Drive Safe. Of course you’re in a hurry to get where you’re going. You don’t want the last piece of pumpkin pie to be gone before you get there, do you? However, driving safely, especially on icy or dark roads is more important. Beware of black ice or poorly lit streets. Make sure your headlights are working well and that you have a flashlight as a backup in your emergency kit.

Don’t let car problems ruin your holidays. Scratched the roof of the car while tying the Christmas tree to the top? Your crazy uncle bumped into your car after a couple too many cups of holiday cheer? Don’t sweat it. Accidents happen, and sometimes things that are out of your control may happen. But don’t let it ruin the holidays for you. That’s what places like Colors On Parade are for. There are plenty of services and places that can help fix your car. So sit back, eat some Turkey and enjoy yourself!