'That's One Way to Get a Free Rental:' Mechanic Calls Out Customers Who Get Their Car Serviced Just Before a Road Trip

"Well, you’re not going in this vehicle anymore."

car service before trip

Photo by: @toytecc & Mehmet Talha Onuk

Stacy Fernandez

By: Stacy Fernandez

Jul 6, 2025 at 5:00pm ET

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This mechanic says you shouldn’t bring in your car right before a big road trip. Here’s why commenters think he’s wrong.

It’s a common instinct. You’re going on a big trip and want to make sure your car can withstand the miles, so you take it to the mechanic a few days before to play it safe.

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You probably feel so responsible for doing this instead of taking a chance on the road.

But this mechanic is here to burst your bubble because he claims this is the exact wrong thing to do.

Why You Shouldn’t Go to the Mechanic Right Before a Trip

In a viral video with more than 433,000 views, mechanic Billy (@toytecc) shared a hot take on when you should take your car to the mechanic.

“This would happen to be the reason why you do not take your car to the shop right before your trip to wherever the [expletive] you’re going,” Billy says, half joking and half serious.

He explains that a person came in and said they were going on a 900-mile road trip the next day and wanted to get the car serviced to make sure their car could withstand the trip.

“Well, you’re not going in this vehicle anymore,” he says with a cartoon villain laugh.

In the video, there's a snapped wire hanging, seemingly indicating that it's a part from the car or from the machine used to hoist the car up during repair.

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Commenters Had Mixed Reactions

“Or we find out something is wrong and it won't make it that far,” a top comment read.

“I swear as soon as they say that they are going on a trip or that they need the car by a certain time, everything is jinxed,” a person said.

“If it’s not stuck on the lock, it’ll still go down,” another pointed out.

“The real reason is if we find stuff wrong, there won’t be time to fix it,” a commenter stated.

What do you think?

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How to Get Your Car Road Trip Ready

Here are some tips from AAA to help get your car ready for a long-haul drive and prevent any roadside issues:

Check all tires (plus the spare) for cuts, bulges, and good tread. Make sure to fill them up to the recommended air pressure.
Get a brake inspection, especially if you hear any sound or vibration when applying the brakes. Don’t forget to get the belts and hoses looked at, too.
Get your battery checked.
Make sure fluids—like the engine oil and coolant—are at the correct levels.
Replace your wiper blades if they’re worn out. Check to make sure the windshield washer reservoir doesn’t have debris and has an appropriate amount of wiper fluid.
Run your A/C to make sure it works. No one wants to be stuck in a hot car for hours.
Make sure you have a solid emergency kit with things like first aid supplies, water, snacks, a car battery booster cable, and emergency flares.

Motor1 reached out to Billy via email and TikTok direct message. We'll be sure to update this if he responds.