Before you know it, the first snowflakes begin to fall and frosty mornings make their return, winter has arrived! This season brings unique challenges for drivers, icy roads, heavy snowfall, and freezing temperatures can turn a routine drive into a risky endeavor if your vehicle isn’t ready for the harsh conditions.
Whether you’re planning a holiday road trip, commuting through wintry weather, or simply driving to the store to get some goodies, ensuring your vehicle is winter-ready is essential for safety and peace of mind. In this guide, we’ll explore the must-do preparations—from equipping the right tires to maintaining essential fluids—that will keep your car performing reliably and protect you from unexpected cold-weather mishaps.
Bundle up, grab a warm drink, and let’s gear up for safe and confident winter driving!
How to Prepare Your Vehicle
Equip Winter Tires
Good winter tires are the first line of defense from the sometimes treacherous road conditions that come with the cold season!
Winter tires are specifically designed to handle cold temperatures and slippery surfaces. Unlike all-season tires, they have a softer rubber compound that remains flexible in freezing temperatures, ensuring better traction. Their unique tread patterns are engineered to bite into snow and channel away slush, reducing the risk of skidding or losing control. Without winter tires, your vehicle might struggle to stop or steer effectively, especially on icy patches or snow-covered roads, putting you and others at risk.
Best part, you even get a discount for them! Take a look at your policy, if you don’t see the winter tire discount, send us an email. Once it has been applied to the policy you get the discount all year, no need to let us know when they come off!
Top up Essential Fluids
No, I’m not talking about your morning coffee!
Your car has important fluids in it that are important for it to run smoothly and winter conditions put them to the test:
- Antifreeze (Coolant): Prevents the engine from freezing in subzero temperatures. Ensuring it’s at the correct concentration is vital for protecting your engine.
- Windshield Washer Fluid: Winter-specific formulas resist freezing and help clear salt, snow, and grime for better visibility. The summer stuff is not enough! Make sure you are ready with winter quality stuff!
- Oil: Cold weather thickens motor oil, making it harder for your engine to start. Switching to a winter-grade oil can improve performance.
- Brake Fluid: Proper levels and quality are crucial for reliable braking, especially on slick roads.
Best part, when you go in for your winter tire change, just ask them to do a fluid check as well!
Check Please!
Here are a couple more things that you can check yourself before hitting the road:
Check Your Battery: Avoid Getting Stranded
Cold temperatures can significantly reduce your car battery’s efficiency. A weak battery that starts fine in the summer may struggle or fail completely in winter conditions. Checking the battery’s charge level, cleaning corrosion from terminals, and ensuring secure connections are all vital steps. If your battery is older than three years, it’s wise to have it tested or replaced before the cold weather settles in. A reliable battery means fewer worries about being stuck with a car that won’t start on a freezing morning.
Check Tire Inflation: Boost Traction and Efficiency
Tires lose pressure as the temperature drops—about 1 PSI for every 10°F decrease. Underinflated tires can lead to reduced traction on slick surfaces and uneven wear, compromising both safety and fuel efficiency. By regularly checking and inflating your tires to the manufacturer’s recommended PSI, you’ll ensure optimal performance, better control on icy roads, and improved fuel economy.
Pack an Emergency Kit: Prepare for the Unexpected
Winter weather is unpredictable, and even the best-prepared drivers can face sudden storms, breakdowns, or road closures. An emergency kit is your safety net in these situations. Include essentials like:
- Blankets and warm clothing: To keep you warm if you’re stuck for hours.
- Non-perishable snacks and water: Energy and hydration in case of delays.
- Flashlight and extra batteries: For visibility in the dark.
- Jumper cables or a portable jump starter: To handle a dead battery.
- First-aid kit: For minor injuries.
- Shovel and traction aids: To free your car from snow or ice.
By paying attention to your battery, tire inflation, and emergency preparedness, you’ll be better equipped to face the challenges of winter driving with confidence and safety.
Quick List Before You Hit the Road
- Check the weather and the route for accidents/ delays, give yourself plenty of time
- Know what conditions to expect and be prepared if the conditions change along the way! Remember, even in the worst slow downs, it is better to be late than end up in an accident!
- Make sure you know the claims insurance number
- Should the worst happen, be prepare with knowing your insurance companies claims information! You can either find it on your liability slips (can’t find those? Email us!) or bookmark the link below:
- Claim Information
- Get roadside assistance:
- This can give you support in many ways, a tow to a safe place, quick mechanical work to get you moving or even a battery replacement. Don’t have roadside assistance currently? Sign up for CAA for peace of mind:
- CAA Membership Information
- If you are currently insured with CAA, there is a discount available! If not, let us know and we can take a look at their rates with the discount for the next renewal.
- Brush all the snow off your car!
- I know you are cold, its windy and miserable out. But taking the time to properly clear your car makes the drive much safer for you, and everyone else around you! Make sure you have a full view out of all windows, the wipers are clear of ice and no debris can slide down your front window or fly at someone else!
We are all in this together, follow these tips and make the roads safer for you and everyone!
