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Do your holiday travel plans include hitting the roads this season? Wednesday is the biggest traveling day of the Thanksgiving week.  But it's important to check today that your vehicle is ready for the trip.

In this Angie's List report, why a brake inspection should be a part of that checkup to ensure safety and reliability. Many of us will be traveling over the holidays and we want to make sure our cars are going to make it to our destination.  The last thing you want is to break down with all the family in the car and the presents.

Take your car into the mechanic for a once over before you hit the road. While modern cars are more reliable than ever, they still need regular maintenance and your brakes are one car repair where you don't want to cut corners.

Angie's List owner Angie Hicks says, "Brakes are one of the most important functionality of the car and we don't want to ignore them because it can be a very big issue. If you start hearing noises with your brakes have it checked out right away.  It's not a repair you want to put off. In fact, you should probably have your brakes checked once every six months just as a precaution." 

Another warning sign: Feeling vibrations or pulsations when you apply the brake pedal.

Mechanic Fred Kuhn says, “Brake pads from different companies start off anywhere from $100 up to $200, $300 – it depends on the make and model of the car. The newer cars are more expensive than the older cars and the pads are a different material. That’s why they are more expensive.”

Hicks says, "When looking for a mechanic you want find someone who has expertise with the type of car you have so they have the right equipment to run the diagnostics necessary. Find that mechanic preferably before you have a big issue like your brakes. Use them for oil changes, that way you know you have a rapport and they know your car."

Many of us don't notice a needed repair until something changes, particularly how the car sounds.  You're the most familiar with how your car is supposed to sound, so any new, unusual sound should be a call to action to contact a trusted auto repair pro.

You can find AAA's Thanksgiving Holiday forecast here.