Car Safety And Maintenance In Winter

Now that the winter months are rolling in, it is important to be vigilant about a number of things. This includes car safety and maintenance - roads can be much trickier to drive on during the winter so you want to make sure your car is 100% roadworthy before taking it out. You also don’t want to be stuck on the side of the motorway in the freezing cold just because you have forgotten to do some simple checks. Here are some quick tips on car safety and maintenance for the winter months.

Check the condition of your tyres




It is essential that your tyres are in good condition no matter what time of year it is but you want to be sure they are in perfect condition when it comes to winter. Driving conditions can often be wet and icy and you don’t want your tyre condition to be the cause of an accident. The legal minimum depth is 1.6mm but most places recommend a minimum of 3mm during the winter months, just to be on the safe side.

Is your battery OK?

Batteries can be the banes of our lives - running out and leaving us stranded in random places. It would be horrid to get stuck in the freezing cold with no battery to drive anywhere or even heat up the car. Give your battery the once over to check it is running as it should be. If you feel you can’t be too sure if your battery is ok, perhaps take your car to your nearest Kwik Fit and they will be able to help you out.

Antifreeze is your friend

Make sure you always have antifreeze to hand. Top up your engine coolant with antifreeze as topping up with water dilutes the engine coolant over time. During winter, the diluted mixture will freeze so adding some antifreeze should stop this happening. Also, top up your screen washer fluid with some antifreeze too.

Be prepared




Should the worst happen and you do get stranded, make sure you at least have a winter breakdown kit to hand. This should include a shovel in case you need to shovel snow, a torch, blanket, hi-visibility vest, extra screenwash, a scraper and some de-icer. Maybe also pack some food and drink supplies in case you are there for longer than expected. Make sure you have at least half a tank of fuel in case of any delays and enough oil too. Also, make sure your phone is fully charged whenever you set off on a journey.

Ensure you have details of a car accident lawyer to hand especially in countries like the US. This is especially helpful if you are involved in an accident that is not your fault.

Check your windscreen and other parts

Make sure there are no chips in your windscreen as these can grow in the cold weather. If you know how to (some people don’t), check everything brake-related to make sure they are working to full functionality too.

Finally...know what you’re covered for

You wouldn’t believe the amount of people who don’t know what their car insurance covers them. With winter being a prime time for accidents and damage to motor vehicles, ensure you know just what your insurance will and won’t pay out on. Comprehensive cover should, as the name suggests, be comprehensive - but so many people go for third party, fire and theft and then wonder why they aren’t covered in certain occasions. Be completely sure of what policy you have.

Do you have any more tips for car safety and maintenance during these cold winter months?


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12 comments

  1. This is such a good post. My boyfriend is a complete petrol head, so he knows the ins and outs of his car like the back of his hand. My sister on the other hand, she would love a post like this just to make sure she's safe and boost her confidence a bit.

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  2. My first car was a very old Mini and every time I drove it during the winter I was adamant it would give up and I'd be stranded by the side of the road. I never even considered having anything like a blanket or a shovel in my car so I'm glad you mentioned these things! I need to stock up my current car with a kit just in case.

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    1. I think it's important to have a blanket in your car, and water in case of an emergency. Glad this post is of help!

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  3. It's so important to check your car regularly and more so during the winter months! I don't know much about cars as i don't drive but I remember my mum checking hers in the winter.

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  4. Having good tyres is so important as the roads can be so wet and slippery during the winter months x

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  5. I'm learning to drive at the moment, but I know when I pass my test I really need to look after my car.

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  6. Thanks for sharing your wonderful Blog

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  7. Our car is due its MOT shortly, so we'll get our winter check over at our local independent garage then. Thanks for the reminder!

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    1. It's good to get it done the same time as your MOT if you can.

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  8. Such great tips to know, I always get a winter check up done with the dealership I bought my car from x

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  9. These tips are great! I don't think I can add much, these are the essential ones.

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