20 tips to prepare your car for cold weather

Tires are essential for driving in the winter. Be sure to check yours before snow falls and ice collects on the road. You may need new ones, and you want to get them put on before it’s too late. 

If your tires' treads are ready for winter, make sure your tire pressure is, too. Tires naturally deflate over time, and they deflate even more in cold weather. Get ahead of the game by getting your tire pressure where it should be before winter hits so you don’t have to complete that task in the freezing cold. 

Winter weather can change on a dime. If you travel often or live in a rural area, make sure your car has a winter safety kit with items like matches, battery-operated flashlights, jumper cables, and a first aid kit. 

Make sure that all fluid levels in your car are where they need to be before the winter, especially windshield wiper fluid. Then, be sure to monitor the levels closely throughout the entire season. 

Just in case something happens, keep warm clothing in your car during the cold months. At the very least, keep a winter coat with you, but it’d be wisest to also keep gloves, a hat, a scarf, and boots.  

The winter will do a number on your engine oil, so change it ahead of the season to make sure that it’s a good consistency for a smoother run in the cold months. You want to run thinner oil in the winter than in the summer. 

It may seem silly and unnecessary, but you never know when you’ll need a shovel. Make sure you keep one in your car in case your vehicle gets surrounded by heavy snow, especially if you drive a sedan without all-wheel drive. 

Cold weather can ruin belts and hoses. Before that time comes, check those pieces in your car and replace anything you worry may break during a cold snap. 

Make sure your car is outfitted with ice scrapers before it gets cold. Even if it doesn’t snow much in your area, you’ll likely have to scrape frost off your windshield at some point. And for those thicker frosts, credit cards just don’t cut it. 

If your car has all-wheel drive or four-wheel drive, remind yourself how to engage it, especially if you have to do so manually. Depending on the weather where you live, you may not need it to remain on throughout the entire season, so consider what’s best for your car and road conditions. 

If you don’t keep your car in a garage or travel often, consider installing a remote start or paying a monthly subscription to use the function on your car. It’s not totally necessary, but if you’re willing to spend the money, it’ll make life much easier in the winter. 

As brakes wear down, it takes them longer to engage. Before winter comes, properly assess your brakes so that you can adjust your driving accordingly when the roads become slippery. If your brakes are really bad, have them replaced. 

Be sure to wash your car before the cold weather sets in to avoid the development of rust, and be sure to continue washing your car throughout the cold months, especially if it snows. If there’s salt on your car, it’ll do an unwanted number if you don’t wash it off. 

Antifreeze will be your best friend on super cold winter days. It helps your car run better in cooler weather. You can certainly add it to your car when winter comes, but you’ll thank yourself if you get it done ahead of time. 

Blankets are another important accessory to keep in your car in the winter, even if you have warm clothing with you. The more layers to keep you warm, the better. 

You’ll want good wiper blades in the snow and ice. If your wiper blade is falling apart or doesn’t remove moisture as well as it used to, have it replaced. 

Make sure that your cabin air filter is clear going into cold weather, too. If it’s clogged, it can make it more difficult for your windshield to defrost. If you don’t know how to check it, have a mechanic do it for you. 

Another just-in-case: Keep some non-perishable food items and some bottles of water in your car. Granola bars, dried fruits, and nuts are all good options. 

It’s also important to have a strong battery ahead of winter. Have a professional check out your battery before winter hits to make sure it’s healthy. You don’t want to have to deal with a dead battery in a snowstorm or on a cold winter night. 

If your car is a little older or you don’t open the hood that often, check your hood lifts. Make sure that they’re still able to keep your hood open for extended periods of time in case you need to jump your battery.