The first cold night always comes sooner than you think. One morning the car is fine, the next it's covered in frost, the washer fluid is frozen and the tires look a little flat. A bit of preparation in the autumn saves you a lot of stress later.
Here's a simple 10-point checklist to get your car ready before the first frost.
1. Switch to winter washer fluid
Summer washer fluid freezes in the tank and the lines. Top up with a winter fluid rated for the temperatures where you live, and run the washers for a few seconds to get it through the system.
2. Check your wiper blades
Worn wiper blades smear, squeak and leave streaks that are dangerous in low winter sun. If the rubber is cracked or hard, replace them. Lifting the wipers off the glass on frosty nights also stops them freezing to the windshield.
3. Check tire pressure – and keep checking
Tire pressure drops when the temperature falls, so tires that were fine in September can be under-inflated in November. Low pressure means worse grip, longer braking distances and higher fuel use. Check the pressure once a month in winter and after big temperature drops.
A portable digital tire inflator lets you check and top up at home, without waiting in line at the gas station.
4. Change to winter tires in good time
Don't wait for the first snow, when everyone else books at the same time. Check the tread depth and the local rules for when winter tires are required or allowed where you live.
5. Test the battery
Cold weather is hard on car batteries, and an old battery that worked all summer can fail on the first cold morning. If your battery is more than four or five years old, or the engine turns over slowly, have it tested.
6. Get a windshield cover for frosty nights
The easiest way to skip scraping is to stop the ice from forming. A windshield snow & frost cover goes on in a minute in the evening and comes off in seconds in the morning, leaving a clear windshield.
7. Put a proper ice scraper in the car
Even with a cover, you'll need to clear side windows and mirrors sometimes. A sturdy scraper beats an old card every time, and a rechargeable electric ice scraper makes the job quicker on the coldest mornings.
8. Pack a small winter emergency kit
- Warm gloves, a hat and a blanket
- Snow brush and scraper
- Phone charger or power bank
- Flashlight
- A small shovel if you live where it snows a lot
9. Keep moisture out of the cabin
Snow on boots and wet jackets cause fogged and frozen windows on the inside. Use rubber floor mats, empty them often and run the A/C together with the heater to dry the air.
10. Make the cold drive more comfortable
Dark, cold mornings are easier with a warm coffee. A heating & cooling cup holder plugs into the 12V socket and keeps your drink warm on the way to work. And with more slippery roads and poor visibility, a dash cam gives you a recording if something happens.
Ready for winter
Work through this list once in October or November and most winter-morning problems disappear. If you want the two most useful winter items in one go, our Winter Car Kit combines the windshield snow cover and the electric ice scraper, with free shipping.
