Your Ultimate Winter Driving Checklist

As winter sets in, our vehicles face a unique set of challenges, and a little preparation can make all the difference; whether it's maintaining good visibility with proper screenwash or having the right tread to help you grip onto wet roads.

So, to help you stay safe and comfortable on the road this winter, we’ve put together an essential checklist for the cold season ahead.

Tips for driving during winter

For a safe and stress-free journey, start with the following simple tips:

• Plan ahead to avoid delays — give yourself ample time for the trip to accommodate any potential delays.
• Use your SatNav or maps app — apps like Google Maps can help you plan your route and give you live traffic and roadworks updates. You can even share your ETA with your loved ones via the app!
• Pack smart for emergencies — you need more than just presents for a wintry drive! Pack a phone charger, ice scraper, blankets, jump leads, snacks, a breakdown triangle, and warm clothes in case you experience a breakdown or severe delays.

Winter weather can change quickly, so keep an eye on conditions and adjust your driving as needed. Staying vigilant and prepared will help ensure that you and your passengers arrive safely, no matter the winter road challenges ahead.

Winter car checks you can do yourself

Getting your vehicle ready to take on winter doesn’t need to be difficult. Here are some basic car maintenance tips that can help your car survive the season.

Check your oil

Checking your oil is particularly important before embarking on a long journey, but you should check your dipstick regularly regardless to ensure your engine is properly lubricated - and to prevent damage to the components.

To read your oil level, make sure you park on an even surface, then open up the bonnet. Check your vehicle handbook for instructions specific to your car’s make and model but, in most cases, the dipstick should be recognisable from the yellow handle. Pull it out, wipe it down with a clean rag, and reinsert all the way into its housing. Pull it out again and take the reading. Your dipstick should have two marks indicating the minimum and maximum oil levels.

If your oil is below the bottom marker, you need to add oil to the engine. Make sure you include the correct type of oil for your car. Again, check your vehicle handbook for specific instructions. If you’re not confident with checking and changing your oil at home, get in touch with your nearest Kwik Fit for assistance or book in for an Engine Oil and Filter Change today.

Lights

It gets darker earlier and at a rapid pace during winter, so ensuring you have properly-functioning headlights, brake lights, fog lights, and indicators are absolutely essential.

It is important that you check all your lights are working and clean them regularly prior to any trip. Dirt can easily build up on your headlights, hindering your vision of the road and potential hazards.

Ensure that you replace blown bulbs as soon as possible. Not only is this an instant MOT fail, but other road users may not be able to see you clearly in wintry conditions.

Tyres

The weather throughout the winter days tends to cycle between really cold and moderate. This variation in temperature causes the rubber in tyres to expand and contract which, in turn, can lead to the rubber splitting or changes in tyre pressure. For this reason, it’s crucial to check your tyres every few weeks in winter.

Adequate tread is critical to help tyres grip cold icy roads and to avoid aquaplaning. We recommend making sure you have at least 3mm of tread on all your tyres - the more tread you have, the shorter your stopping distance will be on cold, wet, or icy roads. If you do a lot of winter driving, consider fitting all-season or winter tyres for added grip and control in the snow.

Coolant levels

Engine coolant helps regulate the temperature of your engine, providing protection during the winter months from extremely cold temperatures. If the engine fluids were to freeze, it could cause serious damage resulting in cracks forming in the engine block.

Be sure to check your level before leaving to keep your engine temperature regulated and avoid any nasty surprises on the road.

Battery

If your car battery is more than 5 years old, have it checked regularly to ensure it carries on working effectively.

Batteries naturally lose their charging capability over time but during the winter, the cold takes its toll and a fully charged battery is weakened by about 35%. Batteries are the number one cause of breakdowns, so if you’ve been having trouble starting the car lately, get your battery checked.

Checks the garage can do

Unfortunately, it’s impossible to check all the core components of your car at home to assess how prepared it is for winter! But you can take it to a garage for specific checks or an overall service. These may include:

Brakes

The stopping distance is already increased significantly in wet and icy weather, so pair this with worn brakes and it’s a recipe for disaster.

Make sure that you’re aware of how your brakes are behaving: if your car pulls to one side, your brakes feel spongy or unresponsive, or your brakes make strange noises, book an inspection with your local garage as soon as possible.

It’s worth remembering that if you’re having trouble with your brakes, you should try to avoid driving at fast speeds.

Air conditioning

It’s a good idea to refill your air conditioning in time for winter. Yes, you heard us right!

Switching on your air conditioning may seem like a strange thing to suggest during the winter, but the dry warm air produced by your car air conditioning system is the most effective way to demist your windscreen, ensuring maximum visibility when you need it most. Also, regular use of your air conditioning in the winter ensures the system remains charged and still works effectively the following summer.

If you think your air conditioning needs a more in depth check, book in for a free air conditioning check with Kwik Fit today.

Essentials to keep in your car

Preparing for winter driving isn't just about checking your vehicle; it’s also about being ready for unexpected situations on the road. Keeping a few key essentials in your car can make a big difference if you encounter bad weather, traffic delays, or even a breakdown.

De-icer and an ice scraper

There’s no denying that de-icer and an ice scraper are two winter driving essentials. In the UK, it’s a legal requirement to ensure your front and rear windscreens are clear before driving. While some cars have heated windows, many do not. If your vehicle doesn’t have this feature, it’s important that you spend some time clearing any ice or snow from your windows before you set off on a journey.

Whether you use a spray or aerosol can, de-icer can help speed up this process, while an ice-scraper allows you to manually remove any stubborn ice or snow from your vehicle. So that you can clear your car quickly, it pays to have these must-haves in your car at all times during the Winter months.

Jump leads

The battery in your car could fail at any time, but it’s more likely to happen in cold weather. So, to make sure that you’re not caught out this winter, you could keep a set of jump leads in your car. These cables provide you with a quick and easy way to recharge your car battery if it’s flat. In order for them to work properly, you will need to have access to a car with a fully charged, working battery with the same voltage as yours.

An in-car mobile phone charger

Running out of phone battery is never good - especially if you get lost or break down. In situations like these, it’s more than likely that you’ll need your mobile to call for assistance or find your bearings. So, to make sure you don’t run out of juice in your hour of need, you might want to keep an in-car mobile phone charger in your vehicle at all times.

Reflective warning signs

Red reflective warning triangle placed behind car in the snow while a wheel gets replaced in the distance.

In many European countries, reflective warning signs are a legal requirement. Usually, these accessories come in the form of a small, brightly coloured triangle that is used to alert other motorists that your vehicle has broken down, helping to avoid potential collisions.

Ideally, you should keep two in your car, so in the event that you break down, you can position one at the front of your vehicle and one at the back. These signs should be positioned at least 45 metres away from the car, and it’s important to note that you shouldn’t use them on motorways as it’s not safe to do so.

A torch

On a dark winter’s evening, the thought of pulling over at the side of the road can be frightening. So that you can see what you’re doing, make sure you have a torch to hand. Don’t forget to keep extra batteries in your car too. Alternatively, you could go for a wind-up version.

Warm clothing and blankets

If you break down on your travels, it’s likely you’ll have to stand outside your vehicle while you wait for assistance. So that you’re as comfortable as possible, it’s important that you have some warm clothing to wear, such as a thick coat, scarf, gloves, and a hat. You could also keep some blankets in your car to ensure you and your passengers stay warm despite the dropping temperatures.

Suitable footwear

It’s important that you always drive in sensible, comfortable footwear. However, it’s also a good idea to keep a separate pair of shoes with good grip (such as boots) in your car during the winter months. When it’s wet, icy, and snowy outside, the ground can be extremely slippery underfoot. So, to reduce your chances of taking a tumble this chilly season, make sure you pack a pair of suitable shoes for when you get out of the car.

A shovel

If you live in an area that’s particularly prone to snow, it might be a good idea to keep a shovel in your car. In these conditions, it can be easy for your wheels to get stuck, so a shovel can help you get the snow away from your car. If you can’t fit a regular shovel in your boot, you could go for a foldable design.

Food and drinks

Breaking down at the roadside isn’t ideal - but it can be made even worse if you end up being stranded with an empty stomach. So, to keep your hunger pangs at bay, it pays to make sure your car is stocked with food and drinks. Go for snacks that are non-perishable, such as cereal bars and crisps, and don’t forget to pack a few bottles of water too. If you’re planning a long journey, you could think ahead and take a flask of tea, coffee or soup with you to keep you well fed and watered.

A sat nav or road map

Winter weather conditions can make driving tricky, so it’s important that your attention is on the road in front of you at all times. However, if you’re embarking on a long drive somewhere new or unfamiliar this chilly season, there’s no doubt you’ll want to make sure that you’re going the right way, meaning it can be easy to become distracted by road signs. So, to help you get to your destination, you could use a sat nav – but be sure that you’re not doing so illegally. Alternatively, if you have a passenger in the car, you could use a road map instead.

A pair of sunglasses

Even in the winter, the sun can affect your visibility when you’re behind the wheel. When it’s lying low, the sun’s glare can make it difficult to see the road in front of you. To avoid being dazzled by its beams, make sure you keep a pair of sunglasses in the car.

When you’re out and about on the roads this winter, it’s important to be prepared. By keeping these items in your car, you’ll be ready for whatever the weather throws at you, helping you stay safe while you’re behind the wheel.

Winter driving hazards

Other than the obvious risk of aquaplaning in wet conditions, the less obvious risk in winter is ‘Black Ice’. This is ice that’s the same colour as the road, making it difficult or impossible to spot.

This is surprisingly common in the frosts of mid-winter, so be sure to drive at a speed and stopping distance that can account for unexpected changes in road grip.

Free winter check at Kwik Fit

Now that your winter essentials are sorted, it’s a good time to ensure your car is ready for the colder months, too. If your engine is struggling to start in the morning, your wipers are smearing the windscreen or you have any other concerns about your vehicle, book a free winter safety check at your local Kwik Fit centre, and we'll carry out a full inspection that will help keep your car moving this winter.

Our team will perform a thorough inspection to help keep your car safe and reliable all winter long. For any other information, head over to our blog section on our website or contact your local centre today.