Driving home for Christmas: beating the traffic and avoiding a breakdown

Car Tips/Hacks11/13/2026
Driving home for Christmas: traffic and breakdown tips | Rooster

The days before Christmas are some of the busiest of the year on UK roads, with commuters, shoppers and families all heading off at once. Add short daylight hours, cold weather and cars that have been neglected through the autumn, and breakdowns rise too.

A little planning goes a long way. This guide covers when to travel, how to plan the journey, the car checks worth doing a week before, and what to do if things go wrong.

Last updated 9 November 2026.

Key takeaways

  • The last working day before Christmas, and the Friday afternoon and evening before it, are usually among the busiest times on the roads.
  • Travelling early in the morning, or on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day itself, is often quieter.
  • Do basic car checks a week before you go: tyres, lights, fluids, battery and wipers.
  • Plan rest stops every two hours, and check traffic and weather before you leave.
  • Keep your breakdown cover details handy, and pack a winter kit.

In this guide

When are the roads busiest at Christmas?

The exact pattern changes each year depending on which day Christmas falls, but some things are predictable:

  • The last weekend before Christmas and the last working day are usually the busiest, as people finish work and set off.
  • Afternoons and early evenings are worst, when holiday traffic mixes with the evening rush hour.
  • Roads near shopping centres and retail parks are congested on weekends in December.
  • Christmas Eve morning can be busy, but traffic usually eases by the afternoon.
  • Christmas Day is typically one of the quietest days of the year.

Motoring organisations and traffic data companies publish forecasts for the busiest days each December, so check the latest before you set off.

Planning your journey

  • Travel early in the day if you can. You avoid the worst traffic and get more daylight.
  • Check traffic and roadworks before you leave and keep an eye on updates. National Highways lifts many roadworks over the festive period, but not all.
  • Check the weather forecast and any Met Office warnings along your whole route.
  • Plan your stops. The Highway Code recommends a break of at least 15 minutes every two hours.
  • Share the driving on long journeys if another driver on the policy can take over.
  • Load the car sensibly. Heavy items low and at the back of the boot, nothing blocking your rear view, and presents out of sight when parked.
  • If you drive an electric car, plan charging stops and allow extra time, as public chargers can be busy over the holidays and range drops in the cold.

Car checks to do before you go

Do these a week before, so you have time to fix anything you find.

  1. Tyres: check pressures (adjust for a heavy load, see the handbook) and tread depth. At least 3mm is recommended for winter.
  2. Lights: walk round and check headlights, brake lights, indicators and fog lights.
  3. Oil and coolant: check the levels when the engine is cold.
  4. Screenwash: top up with a winter-strength mix.
  5. Wipers: replace them if they smear or judder.
  6. Battery: if it is over four years old or slow to start, get it tested.
  7. Fuel or charge: fill up before you hit the motorway, where fuel is usually more expensive.

For more detail, use our essential car maintenance checklist.

What to pack

Alongside the presents, keep a basic winter kit in the car: a phone charger, torch, scraper and de-icer, warm clothes, a blanket, water and snacks. If children are travelling, add extra layers, entertainment and snacks in case of long delays. Our winter emergency kit checklist has the full list.

If you break down

  • Get to a safe place. On a motorway, try to leave at the next exit or pull onto the hard shoulder or an emergency area.
  • Switch on your hazard lights and, in poor visibility, your sidelights.
  • Get out on the passenger side and wait behind the barrier, well away from traffic, if it is safe.
  • Call your breakdown provider. If you are in danger, call 999.

Read what to do when your car breaks down for the full guide. If you do not have breakdown cover, it is worth comparing options before the holidays; see our comparison of the best breakdown cover in the UK.

Don’t forget the morning after

If you are driving to see family after a party, or the morning after a celebration, remember you could still be over the limit. See our guide to drink-driving at Christmas.

Frequently asked questions

Is it cheaper to fill up before a motorway?

Usually, yes. Motorway service stations generally charge more than supermarkets and local petrol stations, so fill up before you set off.

Can I drive a family member’s car over Christmas?

Only if you are insured to drive it. Check whether your policy includes driving other cars (many do not), or whether you can be added to theirs. See can I drive someone else’s car on my insurance?

What should I do if I get stuck in snow on the way?

Stay with your car, keep warm and call for help. Our guide to driving in snow explains how to get unstuck.

Sources and further reading