How to get your car ready for winter
Get a car ready for winter before the first freeze: have the battery tested, check tire tread and pressure or fit winter tires, fill the washer tank with a winter fluid, swap worn wiper blades, and pack a cold-weather kit with a scraper, a blanket and a small shovel. Check the coolant level with the engine cold, and on snowy roads, slow down and leave far more room.
About 20 minutes to learnTake care: injury or damage if careless
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How to do it
- Have the battery load tested at a parts store or garage before the first cold snap.
- Check tire tread and pressure, since pressure drops as the air cools, or fit winter tires if you drive in snow.
- Fill the washer tank with a winter-rated fluid that will not freeze.
- Replace wiper blades that streak or chatter.
- Check the coolant level in the see-through reservoir with the engine cold.
- Pack an ice scraper, a snow brush, a blanket, gloves, a small shovel and a bag of sand or cat litter.
- Keep the fuel tank at least half full in winter.
- On snow or ice, slow down, brake and steer gently, and leave several times your normal following distance; take a winter driving course if you are new to it.
Stop and call a professional if
- The battery tests weak, or the car cranks slowly on cold mornings: have the battery and charging system checked by a mechanic before it strands you.
- Coolant is low again soon after topping up, or you see a leak: have the cooling system checked by a mechanic.
Common mistakes
- Topping up with summer washer fluid that freezes in the lines.
- Driving off with only a peephole scraped in the windshield.
- Assuming all-season tires grip like winter tires on ice.
Quick self-check
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Teach: How to get your car ready for winter
What to say
Get a car ready for winter before the first freeze: have the battery tested, check tire tread and pressure or fit winter tires, fill the washer tank with a winter fluid, swap worn wiper blades, and pack a cold-weather kit with a scraper, a blanket and a small shovel. Check the coolant level with the engine cold, and on snowy roads, slow down and leave far more room.
What to show, in order
- Have the battery load tested at a parts store or garage before the first cold snap.
- Check tire tread and pressure, since pressure drops as the air cools, or fit winter tires if you drive in snow.
- Fill the washer tank with a winter-rated fluid that will not freeze.
- Replace wiper blades that streak or chatter.
- Check the coolant level in the see-through reservoir with the engine cold.
- Pack an ice scraper, a snow brush, a blanket, gloves, a small shovel and a bag of sand or cat litter.
- Keep the fuel tank at least half full in winter.
- On snow or ice, slow down, brake and steer gently, and leave several times your normal following distance; take a winter driving course if you are new to it.
When to stop and call a professional
- The battery tests weak, or the car cranks slowly on cold mornings: have the battery and charging system checked by a mechanic before it strands you.
- Coolant is low again soon after topping up, or you see a leak: have the cooling system checked by a mechanic.
The check question
Ask: What happens to tire pressure as it gets colder?
Related skills
- How to check tire pressure and tread
- What to keep in your car emergency kit
- How to jump start a car
- Every skill in Car and Road
Words on this page
Sources
- Your vehicle's owner's manual, for your model year. Checked September 28, 2026.
Last reviewed . First published .