Preparing Your Car For Winter Driving

24 Oct 2024

Summer 2023 went by in a flash, and it has to be said, the weather was distinctly underwhelming. Now, the winter months are fast approaching. The weather forecasters are undecided right now on whether we’re going to get mild temperatures or properly cold winter temperatures.

Whatever the forecast, we always advise students who are learning to drive about the importance of being prepared for anything the weather throws at us. This includes making sure your car is fully winter-ready.

First things first

It’s a good idea to get your battery checked. Summer driving puts less strain on car batteries as you generally don’t have lights, radio or heating on etc, but winter driving draws more power from the battery. Make an appointment with your local garage or Halfords for a full battery check. Replace it if it’s old or failing to avoid getting caught out with a flat battery this winter.

Next, get your car serviced if this hasn’t been done for a while. Check the manual for recommended service intervals – and don’t ignore any red warning lights which appear on the dashboard. If any do appear, find out what they mean and get it checked as soon as possible.

Check oil and fluid levels

If you’re unsure how much oil and brake fluid your car needs, or how to check and fill up if needed, consult your car’s user manual or book it into a local garage. Too little oil can result in engine damage and too little brake fluid can affect the car’s braking capacity – the last thing you need on icy roads!

Check brakes and tyres

Worn tyres and brakes are lethal on slippery roads. Get your brakes fully checked and serviced before the winter. Check the depth of your tyre treads – the law says this should be a minimum of 1.6mm. However, because you may need greater stopping distances on winter roads, the experts recommend a minimum tread depth of 3mm.

Top up antifreeze

Antifreeze, or coolant, is essential to stop the water in the radiator from freezing and damaging the radiator.

Check wiper blades, screen wash levels and lights

A clear windscreen is essential, and a legal requirement, so if wiper blades are worn, get them replaced. Dirty blades can be cleaned with a damp cloth. Keep your screen wash bottle regularly topped up through the winter to keep the windscreen clear at all times.

Lights, including number plate lights should be clean at all times.

Finally, be prepared for any breakdown or lengthy traffic hold-ups by keeping an emergency kit in your car. This could include:

• Warm clothing or blanket and practical footwear for if you need to get out of the car.
• Torch and batteries.
• Snow shovel.
• Snacks and drinks for long waits.
• Mobile phone – fully charged!
• De-icer and windscreen scraper.
• Warning triangle.

The key to safe winter driving is good preparation. Making sure your car is fully prepared means the wintry conditions won’t catch you out. 

And finally, if you feel you need a helping hand with your winter driving skills, the team here at Beverly Slater are here to help boost your confidence.