Last Updated: June 2026
High temperatures can have an impact on all of us, and on our vehicles, especially if we're not used to them. That's why we've put together this guide to keeping yourself cool and safe in the heat, and what you can do to help your classic VW or campervan stay cool, too.
With the summer months here in the UK seeming to get hotter every year, it's important to remember a few simple steps you can take to help ensure you and your vehicle get where you're going safely. This is especially true if you've got an air-cooled Volkswagen like a Beetle or T2 Bay, which can find driving in the heat particularly challenging.
• Driving in Hot Weather
• Severe High Temperature Warnings
• Staying Cool While Camping
• Getting Your Classic VW Ready for Hot Weather
• Keeping Your Modern VW Ready for Hot Weather
Staying Safe While Driving in Hot Weather
Driving in hot weather is rarely a pleasant experience, even if you’ve got a modern vehicle with air-conditioning and are fully prepared. High temperatures can introduce new hazards while you’re on the road, which don’t tend to pop up as frequently as things like heavy rain or ice.
Here are a few things to look out for while driving in hot weather:
Engine overheating, which is more likely when it’s especially warm.
It’s always possible that your engine could overheat, due to the way that internal combustion engine work, but it’s more likely to be a problem when the environment around your engine is already particularly hot.
For air-cooled VWs like the Beetle or T2 Bay, this can be a real problem which can cause serious damage, since these engines rely on a flow of relatively cool air to maintain a safe temperature. You can read more about this in our blog The Ultimate Guide to Classic Volkswagen Air-Cooled Engines. Upgrading the tinware in your air-cooled engine can give it more surface area to get rid of the heat it's generating, and you can help to channel more air down into your engine compartment with a set of Earz which fit over the air intakes on the sides of your VW.
Water-cooled engines have it a bit easier in the heat, but may still need extra help in warm weather. If you haven’t done so recently, then be sure to check the coolant levels in your vehicle and to check for leaks or damage to the cooling system. Having enough engine oil is also important, as it helps your engine maintain a proper temperature.
Regardless of what engine you've got, it's important to keep an eye on how hot it's getting and pull over as soon as it's safe to do so if you notice it getting alarmingly high, to give it a chance to cool down.
Less effective brakes, as they struggle to release built-up heat.
Your vehicle’s braking system can become less effective when it’s particularly hot, as it’s less able to shed the heat built up when slowing and stopping. You could notice that you need to press harder on the brakes to slow your vehicle, which is sometimes known as ‘brake fade’, and is especially common if you’re driving long distances and/or in traffic which sees you braking often.
In particularly extreme heat, your brake fluid can expand inside the system and cause leaks as the fluid pushes up against seals etc., leaving you with ‘spongey’ feeling brakes. It's important to check your vehicle's brake fluid levels if you're going to be doing a lot of driving in hot weather, and to top it up if you see the levels have dropped.
This is especially important to look out for in classic VWs where the braking system is already less effective than in modern vehicles!
Tyre damage and blowouts, caused by the air in your tyres getting too hot.
We know things tend to expand as they get hot, and this is also true of the air inside your tyres. Although rubber doesn’t conduct heat particularly well, modern tyres are strengthened with things like carbon black and steel cords, which definitely do conduct heat. This can cause the air in your tyres to heat up and expand, which can lead to damage or even blowouts, since your tyres are sealed and that expanding air has nowhere to go.
You may feel that your vehicle is handling differently if you're driving in high temperatures, due to the increased volume of the air in your tyres or the strain on the tyres themselves.
If this is the case, it's recommended that you lower the pressure in your tyres to allow for this expansion, especially if you know you’ll be driving for a long time in high temperatures.
Dehydration and fatigue, which can worsen your reaction times in traffic.
It's not just your vehicle which can suffer in the heat. Prolonged exposure to high temperatures can lead to dehydration as your body uses up water to keep you cool, and can also lead to you feeling exhausted. Both of these issues can affect your ability to pay proper attention while driving or react in good time if there’s a hazard on the road ahead.
Be sure to pack water with you for yourself and passengers, and bring snacks which won’t melt or become inedible in the heat, to keep yourself hydrated and alert. It's better to drink too much water and need to pull over to find a toilet than it is to not drink enough and end up dehydrated while in control of a vehicle. Besides, if you pull over to use the loo it'll also give your vehicle a chance to cool down, so everyone wins!
Harsh light and glare, which can dazzle you or other drivers.
Bright light can impact your visibility while driving just like rain can, although it's less immediately obvious. It’s always a good idea to ensure you’ve got a good pair of sunglasses with you before you set off, that your sun visors are in good shape, and to make sure your windscreen is clean and clear. All of this can help you reduce the amount of bright sunlight you’re being exposed to while driving, and stop the sunlight highlighting any streaks or splatted bugs on your windscreen, which can affect your vision and ability to drive safely, especially if you’re going to be on the road for extended periods.
Dust and dirt can also build up on your windscreen more readily during the hot weather, especially if there hasn't been any rain to wash the dust off road surfaces, so make sure your washer fluid is topped up and your wiper blades are in good shape, ready to clear your windscreen.
Severe High Temperature Warnings
At the time of updating this blog, Monday 22 June 2026, there is an Amber weather warning in place for Severe High Temperatures for much of the south of England and Wales, with Red warnings on the horizon later this week.
The Met Office advises that you should check road conditions and delays before you set off to give yourself the best chance of avoiding disruption, as well as ensuring you carry plenty of water. More people are also likely to be travelling to and around coastal areas, lakes, and rivers in an attempt to cool down, and that some systems may be affected by the heat, which could impact essential services such as water, electricity, gas or mobile phone reception.
You can keep an eye on the latest warnings and advice here on the Met Office website, to stay informed and keep yourself safe.
Staying Cool While Camping
While we've talked a lot about your vehicle's mechanical systems, it can be just as important, and sometimes more difficult, to keep the inside of your campervan cool in hot weather. Luckily, it's far from impossible to do with relatively little investment of time and money. Here are a few things you can do to keep your camper's interior cool and comfortable, so you can really enjoy your camping trip.
Keep the air flowing, either by cracking windows or using a roof fan
It can be a bit of a balancing act to keep the interior of your camper cool without letting every passing insect (or opportunistic thieves) into your van. Keeping the windows open can help make your camper feel less like a greenhouse, but it's only really an option if you'll be staying in or with your vehicle. Luckily, you can get window vents for your camper which let the air flow through but keep sticky fingers and mosquitos out, so you don't have to return to a camper that you could cook a roast in.
If you're still building your campervan, or you're just sick of waking up being uncomfortably hot, then you can invest in a roof vent like the MaxxFan to help circulate air through your camper and maintain a more reasonable temperature. These can be used all year round, and also help stop condensation from building up while your camper is in storage over the winter.
Block the heat out with a set of reflective thermomats
We stock a whole range of reflective thermomats which help keep your camper's interior cool and dark. They're available for a range of different vehicles, and have been shaped to fit the dimensions of your camper's windows so they fit easily and fill the space fully. All you need to do it attach them with to the glass with the suction cups, and you'll be able to bounce the heat and UV light out during the day, so your camper's interior doesn't become nearly as hot inside.
They also work really well as blinds, to keep the early morning sunlight from waking you up in the summer when dawn is about 4am in the height of summer!
Use a fridge or cool box so you can chill food and drinks
If you're going to be away from home for any length of time, it's a great idea to make sure you've got a campervan fridge or cool box where you can keep cold water and cool, fresh food. This can help you tackle the effects of hot days (and nights) and will make a real difference to how comfortable your camping trip is.
A proper fridge or coolbox will also help keep food from spoiling faster in the warmth, which is definitely something you'll want to avoid while camping!
Treat yourself to a 12v fan, for cooling on demand
There are loads of different 12 volt fans available, which can be plugged into your camper's 12v socket whenever you feel like you or your camper's interior are getting too hot.
Most of these won't draw a huge amount of power from your vehicle's battery or leisure battery, but it's still best to check their draw and how full your batteries are before you leave them on overnight.
Lots can be done to prevent problems caused by the hot weather! Preparation is important, whether your car is modern or classic, the heat poses threats to both and it’s good practise to make sure that everything is running in working order before you commit to a long road trip or holiday in your camper.
Getting Your Classic VW Ready for Hot Weather
Classic VW’s are generally air-cooled, but more and more water-cooled vehicles are making their way into the retro shows these days such as Mk1 Golfs and Scirocco’s. It’s important to check your engine’s ability to keep cool in heat, if you can do this a week or a few days before a long journey, you will have time to prepare for any problems.
As an air-cooled engine uses air to keep it cool, it’s wise to make sure that the fan which helps force cool air over the fins, is working effectively. A working fan is essential for classic VW’s and the like, so maybe invest in a new fan belt and fan prior to the summer, if this is something that’s not been replaced for a few years.
Something that applies to both modern and classic vehicles is the comfort of the driver. It may be worth investing in a proper pair of driving sunglasses, after all your vision is an integral part of a safe drive in your vehicle!
Image credit to Nicolas Cool
Keeping Your Modern VW Ready for Hot Weather
As the water is pumped around your vehicle, old or new, there can be issues with your coolant system which may result in a loss of water. Be sure that prior to your long journey, that your reservoir and radiator are well topped up. If it’s especially hot, maybe consider packing a 2 litre bottle of water in the boot! On occasion, water can boil out from the coolant system, however if your car is notorious to issues like this, it may be time to look into getting your head gasket replaced.
Much like an air-cooled engine, it’s worth checking the condition of the engine fan. If your fan is incorrectly wired, the fan may not kick in until the engine is too hot or if the fan is old and missing fins, it may be worth replacing. It’s wise to check over all parts of the coolant system a week or so before so that you can replace parts before a long trip.
In addition to this, if your vehicle features a radiator, this can sometimes become damaged. In the unlikely event that your journey results in any radiator damage, or a leak in the coolant system, it may be worth having a bottle of K-Seal handy – or something similar.
These products can be very controversial, especially for older cars, but speaking from experience it can be the difference between making it to a show or not! It’s a temporary fix, and once you get your beloved car home, you will have the chance to take a proper look over the vehicle and replace parts which are on their way out.
Help from Just Kampers Insurance
If your vehicle is covered with Just Kampers Insurance, then never fear! If the weather gets the better of your situation and you end up stuck, then Just Kampers Insurance will have your back.
Just Kampers Insurance customers get UK and European roadside assistance and home-start cover from just £42.00 for cars, £47.00 for vans, and £90.00 for campervans annually. This means that we can rescue you rain or shine, if you break down and need a helping hand.
