Winter officially starts on December 21, but you should not wait until then to prepare your car for it. It’s not so much the season you need to prepare for, but the risk of snow, ice and cold, all of which could come far earlier. If you leave it until winter has officially begun, you may already have got caught out.
Here are some of the jobs you can get started on now:
Check your battery condition
The cold can play havoc with batteries. If your car fails to start because the battery is dead it could inconvenience you, causing you to be late for work or to drop the kids at school. In some cases, a failure to start could put you in danger, such as in a sketchy neighborhood at night or in a remote part of the countryside with the temperatures dropping.
Check you can see and be seen
You need all your lights working to comply with the law on any day of the year. Yet often, you won’t have those lights on. You will use your lights more than ever in winter, and ensuring they function properly can help you avoid a ticket as well as protect your safety. Lights help you see, and they help others to see you.
Check your tires
Ice or snow on the road will reduce grip. Thus you cannot afford to have your grip reduced further by worn tires. If you are likely to travel to areas that require snow chains, consider putting them in the trunk now, so they are available when needed.
Taking these steps now can reduce the chance you encounter problems this winter. They cannot, however, rule out the possibility that another driver crashes into you, perhaps because their vehicle was not prepared. If that happens, you’ll need to understand your legal options.
