<spanArial’,sans-serif;”>Christmas commuters have been offered seven top tips when it comes to packing everything into the car ahead of yuletide celebrations.

<spanArial’,sans-serif;”>Motoring experts from LeaseCar.uk have compiled guidance for the many Brits who will be travelling by car in order to get to their festivities.

<spanArial’,sans-serif;”>From thinking outside the box – quite literally – to planning ahead and being tactical when packing these tips will help turn an often-stressful experience into something slightly more enjoyable.

<spanArial’,sans-serif;”>Tim Alcock from LeaseCar.uk said: “Packing the car is normally on the bottom of everyone’s list when it comes to Christmas, even though it could potentially be the most your car carries all year.

<spanArial’,sans-serif;”>“It’s not just clothes and toiletries that are being packed, but also Christmas presents along with food and drink – it all soon adds up.

<spanArial’,sans-serif;”>“Not only does this have to be done once when many things are wrapped and in order, but again after Christmas once everything is unorganised and spirits may not be feeling quite as high.

<spanArial’,sans-serif;”>“By following these steps you’ll have the peace of mind of knowing you’ve packed everything you need but also that they’re packed safely.”

<spanArial’,sans-serif;”>These are LeaseCar.uk’s top tips for packing the car for Christmas:

<spanArial’,sans-serif;”>1. Travel light

<spanArial’,sans-serif;”>As obvious as it may sound, planning ahead and only taking what you need will leave more space in the boot for other essentials. If you’ll have access to a washing machine you will be able to wash and re-wear clothes.

<spanArial’,sans-serif;”>2. Bag it up

<spanArial’,sans-serif;”>As handy as cases and boxes may be to easily slot into the space, there is a lot of unused space inside these that could be put to good use. Compression bags suck all the air out of the bag, leaving plenty of space for other items.

<spanArial’,sans-serif;”>3. Stay balanced

<spanArial’,sans-serif;”>Keeping the centre of gravity in the car low and heavy weight in the centre of the vehicle will make for a much smoother journey. Larger, heavier items should be placed in first, with lighter items stacked on top. Repacking can sometimes be a good option!

<spanArial’,sans-serif;”>4. Use the hidden spaces

<spanArial’,sans-serif;”>Glove compartments, inner door cubbies and spare tyres can all provide hidden space for smaller items to be places. However, this does increase the risk of forgetting something and leaving it in the car!

<spanArial’,sans-serif;”>5. Fill your boots

<spanArial’,sans-serif;”>If you’re taking big boots, they offer lots of space inside the shoes where smaller things can be kept. Bottles, accessories glasses cases and jewellery can all be left in there.

<spanArial’,sans-serif;”>6. Keep electronics separate

<spanArial’,sans-serif;”>These are most likely to be reached for during the journey meaning it’s best to keep them handy, you can guarantee someone will need to charge their phone at some point in the journey.

<spanArial’,sans-serif;”>7. Include an overnight bag

<spanArial’,sans-serif;”>If you’re travelling late, having a bag full of essentials within easy reach means you can grab it as soon as you arrive. You can then leave the big unload until the morning when you’re feeling more awake and not off the back of a big drive.