How to prepare your car for winter

As the weather closes in, the conditions drivers can expect to face on the road change too.

To help you prepare for Britain’s winter roads, we’ve listed the top things you need to get and keep your vehicle winter-ready.

Essential vehicle checks

In winter it pays to make sure your car is prepared for the colder temperatures. Preventing freezing in the radiator, washer bottle, or cylinder block can help you to avoid having to pay for costly repairs if you try to use your car when something is frozen and cracks, like parts of your engine.

As the weather turns colder, ensure your engine has the correct amount of antifreeze (according to your vehicle handbook) to keep everything operating properly.

Days are shorter during winter, meaning the likelihood of it being dark during your journey to and from work is higher. Make sure all the lights on your car are in full working order so you can be seen on the road.

What’s in your car boot?

You also should be prepared for the weather to suddenly turn, which can cause long delays in traffic.

Making sure you have the right items in your car so you and your vehicle can cope with long waiting times caused by, for instance, traffic jams or road incidents is vital.

The AA recommends making an emergency kit to keep in your car through the winter. This should include:

• Blanket, rug, or sleeping bag
• Extra screen wash
• Flask of hot drink
• Ice scraper and de-icer
• Mobile phone and in-car charger
• Shovel
• Snacks – chocolate or cereal bars
• Sturdy footwear
• Torch and batteries
• Warm winter coat, scarf, hat, gloves, and warm clothes
• Waterproofs

These items will help you take care of your car in snowy and icy conditions. This is not only when starting a journey, but in case you get stuck along the way or caught in any traffic delays.

This emergency kit also includes items that are intended to keep you and your potential passengers safe during a journey where you get stuck. Sugary foods and cereal bars can be vital for sustenance, while ensuring you have a means to charge your phone in the car to call for help, whenever necessary, should be a major consideration.

Any time you need to use an item from the kit during the winter months, it’s important that you replace it as soon as possible to make sure you’re always fully prepared. So, for example, if you use your spare set of batteries for the torch, make sure you buy some more batteries to replace the spare set as soon as possible.

Getting your car ready for winter not only helps your vehicle to run more reliably during the colder months and protect it against damage. It also improves your safety and that of your passengers if the weather takes a turn for the worse and you get stuck.

Driving throughout winter and if difficult conditions can put extra wear and tear on your vehicle. To find out more about how you can fix your car without spending a fortune viit out blog about saving money on your car repairs.