Preparing your car for winter

As winter draws in and we get cosy indoors, our cars remain outside, exposed to the elements. As such, winter can really take its toll on your car.

But it’s not all doom and gloom – luckily there are a few things you can do to ensure your car is ready for the winter weather. And it might cost less than you think!

What are some simple checks I can do myself?

If you don’t want to splash out on a full service amid rising living costs, you can perform some simple checks yourself.

Firstly, check your battery. Car batteries work for around 5 years. So, if your car battery is nearing its sell-by date, you’ll want to invest in a new one. Otherwise, you might end up stuck in your car in freezing temperatures!

Then, move on to your engine coolant. In winter, you’ll need to top up your coolant with antifreeze to make sure that your engine doesn’t overheat because of your coolant freezing.

Next, check your tyres. Although the legal tyre tread depth is 1.6mm, in winter it’s a good idea to keep your tread depth closer to 3mm to give you a better grip.

You might also wish to consider swapping over to winter tyres as they provide increased traction in snow, slush, ice and rain.

What car maintenance or cleaning should I do?

Although cleaning probably isn’t your idea of fun, it’s important to keep your car clean during the winter.

Start by cleaning your windscreen wipers of dirt, rust or grease. Then move onto cleaning your windscreen.

It’s important to ensure that your wipers are free of nicks and tears and your windscreen is free of chips. Chipped windscreens can crack in cold weather, so it’s important to get any chips fixed as soon as possible.

Be sure to top up your screenwash with anti-freeze too!

What else can I do to ensure I’m safe on the road?

If you’ve done all of the above but you want to cover all bases, you might want to consider a winter car service.

Many main car dealers and car repair shops can do this relatively cheaply, so it’s worth looking into it if you’re not confident when it comes to car checks – or you simply don’t have the time!

What should I keep in my car over winter?

Cold conditions can increase your chances of being in an accident or stranded somewhere. So, it’s important to keep a few items in your car.

As a minimum, you should keep the following in your car:

• A torch
• A shovel
• A blanket
• Screenwash
• A high-visibility jacket
• Drinks and snacks
• A scraper and de-icer
• A map
• A mobile phone and charger

Now all that’s left to do is enjoy your winter road trip!