Winter can be a tough time for driving. Snowy and icy roads increase the risk of getting into an accident, and the harsh weather can take a serious toll on your vehicle’s exterior (and interior).
So it’s important to protect your car in cold conditions. In this article, we’ll go over six tips to help you get started.
1. Wash your car regularly
One of the easiest ways to prevent damage to your car in winter is to wash it regularly.
Besides all the dirt and mud that can soil your car, there’s a lot of road salt that poses a threat. Road salt helps melt away snow and ice to make roads safer, but it can also damage your car because of its corrosive qualities. If you’re not careful, it can damage your vehicle’s exterior paint, exhaust system, undercarriage, and more.
Regularly washing your car will help keep it in good condition.
If possible, park your car in a garage to help prevent damage from winter weather in the first place. After all, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
2. Clean your car’s interior
It’s also important to keep the inside of your car clean.
You can do this by vacuuming, cleaning the carpet, and making sure you have good floormats to catch dirt and absorb any snow that you bring in from outside.
It’s important to keep your car’s interior dry. Otherwise, it could lead to stains or even mold, which can be hard to remove and presents a serious health hazard.
3. Keep up with regular maintenance
Regular car maintenance will also help protect your car in winter. This includes:
- Keeping up with oil changes. Colder temperatures can make your oil move more slowly, and your car must work harder to operate as a result.
- Maintaining the recommended tire pressure. Low tire pressure could lead to uneven tire wear, increased risk of sidewall damage, and other damage.
- Checking the battery. You want to periodically check that it’s in good shape, so you don’t get stranded in your car somewhere in the cold.
- Checking the radiator, belts, and hoses. All of these are more susceptible to damage in low temperatures.
4. Check your headlights
Your headlights are especially important to check on in the winter. Why? Because they help you see (and be seen) when it’s snowing, and visibility is low.
Replace any dead bulbs and clean the headlight covers if they start to turn yellow. You can do this by paying for a headlight restoration service or by scrubbing them with water and toothpaste, and waxing yourself.
5. Install winter tires
Installing winter tires can give you more steering and braking control in the snow. They can help keep you from spinning out and damaging your car in a wreck.
That said, not everyone has a place to store their regular tires during the winter. If that’s you, make sure to at least get all-season tires and regularly check their tread.
6. Drive slowly
Lastly, drive slowly in the winter. This is just good common sense since road conditions are often poor. It helps prevent sliding and hitting other cars and infrastructure, and it reduces the risk of a car accident overall.
If you ever do end up in a car accident, an experienced auto accident lawyer. They can help you navigate the complicated legal process for car accidents and help ensure you get the compensation you deserve from insurance companies and at-fault parties.
Of course, it’s best to avoid driving in snow and ice altogether, if possible.
Adding it all up
You depend on your car. You might use it to get to work, to go grocery shopping, and for a hundred other errands. So don’t let the winter months damage this valuable asset of yours unnecessarily.
Be proactive about protecting your car by washing it regularly, cleaning its interior, keeping up with regular maintenance, checking the headlights, installing winter tires (when possible), and driving slowly. Doing so will keep your car in much better shape.