Preparing your car for winter
If the weather’s turning colder, here's a few handy hints and tips to prepare your car for the winter ahead.
Driving in the winter months can be challenging for even experienced drivers. With the nights drawing in, these tips will help you prepare as best you can for winter driving.
Firstly we have some advice on a few things that might help you prevent a breakdown, and then some hints should you be unlucky enough to have a breakdown.
Servicing
Make sure your car is serviced – A lot of garages have all-inclusive winter services, so why not take the opportunity to get the experts to give your car the once-over.
Alternatively, make sure that your car's oil, brake fluid and engine coolant levels are all correct. Refer to your owner's handbook, local dealership or car accessories shop to find out the right fluid levels. Of course, if you have an MOT coming up, it makes sense to get the service done at the same time.
Lights
Check that all of your car's lights are working properly, and that they are clean and undamaged. Also make sure that the lights are aligned correctly so that they don't dazzle oncoming traffic. Replace blown bulbs and keep spares in your glove box.
Windscreen wipers
Check your windscreen wiper blades. Look out for splits and other wear and tear as this will affect the way that the windscreen is cleared, and may lead to smearing on the glass or juddering of the wiper.
Screenwash
Top up your screenwash regularly and make sure that it includes a winter additive to stop it freezing in cold weather. Some makes already have this added.
Don't spray the screenwash until the windscreen is warm or it might freeze as ice on the windscreen and obstruct your view. And if you do have ice on the windscreen or windows, use a scraper or car de-icer – make sure you follow the directions on the tin.
Never use hot or boiling water from a kettle as this could crack the glass
Tyres
Check your tyres are at the right pressure – use your driver's manual to check what the correct pressures are. Also check that the legal minimum requirement of a tread depth of 1.6mm across the tyre is met.
Battery
Make sure that your car battery is fully charged. Watch out for warning signs on the dashboard that it is low. A greater strain will be placed on you car's battery during the winter months because of the strain of more lighting and heating being used.
Weather
Just before you set off on your journey, check the internet for the weather where you're going, and also updates on road conditions or roadworks. Local news stations are good, or look at the Highways Agency site.
Breakdown cover
If you don't already have cover, think about some breakdown cover. LV= offers Britannia Road Rescue which you can add as an optional extra to your LV= car insurance policy. Or if you'd prefer standalone cover visit www.britanniarescue.com for a quote.
Mobile phone
Make sure that you have a fully charged mobile phone to call the breakdown company or, where appropriate, emergency services. You might also need to phone friends or family to let them know you're going to be late. Never phone or text while you are driving.
Emergency kit
Get a good stock of emergency gear to use:
- Jump leads in case you have a flat battery and someone can give you a jump start (though always check the instructions to make sure you have wired up the leads in the right order).
- First aid kit for minor injuries, though call the emergency services if ever in doubt.
- Bright torch with spare long-life batteries.
- Warning triangle to warn other drivers that you car has broken down. This should ideally be 100 metres behind the car – further on a motorway.
A flexible insurance policy for comprehensive accidental damage cover
LV='s car insurance is 5-star rated by Defaqto, the independent financial product research company. So you know you're getting highly rated car accident cover that's both flexible and comprehensive when you buy car insurance from us.
Get a car insurance quote from LV= now, or retrieve a quote online.
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