The Essential Guide To Winter Car Maintenance

As we are experiencing the depths of British winter, we have put together this comprehensive guide to share our essential tips and advice for winter car maintenance. Ensuring that you’re preparing your vehicle for colder months and navigating the roads safely!

Why Winter Car Maintenance Matters

The cold weather brings a variety of challenges for drivers as it can cause your tyre pressure to drop, reduce your car battery life and impact your coolant levels. 

Car care for winter is imperative to ensure it’s well maintained and in the best condition possible to face adverse weather conditions. If not, you could be at higher risk of breakdowns, reduced safety and even legal fines. 

Preparing Your Vehicle for Cold Weather

Firstly, let’s take a look at our vital cold weather car tips and checks:

Battery Checks

It’s important to check the health and condition of your car battery so it remains reliable throughout the winter. You can do this by checking the age of the battery on the manufacturer sticker as well as taking it to a mechanic so they can assess how your battery retains charge.

Tyre Maintenance

As mentioned, your tyre pressure can drop during cold weather so we recommend checking them more regularly as they may require air more often.  It’s also important to check your tyre tread depth at the same time to ensure it’s road legal but also so it has better traction for wet, snowy and icy roads. 

You can even swap your tyres out for winter tyres which have deeper tread grooves for increased grip. Most tyre garages will offer winter tyre options and can provide you with more information about them.

Winter Fluids

Your vehicle’s fluids are also particularly vulnerable in winter so you should also check the levels of your engine coolant, windscreen washer fluid and oil. 

We also have an in-depth blog which you can read to find out further details and guidance for preparing your vehicle for the winter weather. 

Essential Winter Car Accessories

There are various car features and accessories available that help you stay safe and comfortable as the temperatures drop.

De-icing Tools

Every driver and car owner should have a bottle of de-icer and a scraper at the ready.

Windscreen Covers

Windscreen covers are a great and cheap addition during winter as they protect against frost, mist and ice. Saving you from the faff of having to de-ice and de-mist your car before your journeys!

Snow Chains

If you live in an area that gets particularly bad snow and ice during the winter then having snow chains fitted to your tyres is beneficial. As a relatively inexpensive solution, they increase the traction when driving through snowy and icy roads.

Heated Seats

Heated seats are a great feature to improve comfort during your winter journeys and also help to reduce muscle stiffness. If this isn’t a standard feature in your vehicle then don’t worry, you can purchase heated seat covers as an alternative cost-effective solution.

Car Accessibility Aids

If you already struggle with getting in and out of your car, then this will only become more challenging during rain showers, snow and icy conditions. We recommend installing a car accessibility aid such as a transfer plate or swivel seat to assist with your transfers and increase safety and confidence.

Winter Driving Safety Tips

Now that you have prepared your vehicle for the colder temperatures, follow our suggested winter driving safety tips for comfortable and safe journeys.

Safe Distances

It takes longer to slow down on wet and icy roads so always leave more space between your car and the car in front of you to ensure you have increased reaction times. It also enables you to brake more gently rather than having to stop suddenly which can lock your wheels.

Route Planning

When venturing out during the winter, it’s worth taking care to check and plan your routes in advance so you can check traffic, any road accidents and diversions. It’s also wise to allow yourself extra time for de-icing your car, checking your car and extra travel time.

Pack An Emergency Kit

Prepare and pack an emergency kit that can be easily stored in your car. We recommend having one all year-round but it’s especially important to pack extra items for the cold such as:

• A thermal blanket
• Hand warmers
• Non-perishable snacks
• A flashlight and batteries
• Extra medication (if applicable)
• A phone charger

Maintenance Checklist for Winter

To make prepping your car during winter as simple as possible, follow our recommended winter car maintenance checklist:

• Check your tyre pressure monthly or before a particularly long journey
• Get your car battery tested ideally at the beginning of the season 
• Check your vehicle fluids ideally at the beginning of the season or before a particularly long journey
• Pack your winter emergency kit 
• Research and buy any extra car accessories you will find handy 
• Ensure you car is well charged or has plenty of fuel at all times to protect from any unforeseen delays 
• Plan your route before every journey and particularly before a long or unfamiliar journey

With just some extra care and due diligence, driving in the winter is manageable and safe so you can enjoy the season with peace of mind. If you would like any further information about our car accessibility aids and driving aids, please get in touch with our mobility experts online or by phone on 0800 288 4422. 

Explore our blog Tips to Eliminate Car Condensation in Winter for advice to improve visibility during winter.