How to care for your car this winter

Despite the festivities, winter weather comes with a multitude of changes… from shorter days to colder weather, caring for (and driving) your car needs a little more attention in winter.

So, to make sure your car’s ready to get you from A to B safely (because nobody wants to be broken down in the cold!), let’s take a look at some simple steps to get things in order before the freeze…

• Keep your car dry – moisture in the car (e.g. internal ice or condensation) can lead to rust and damage to electronics. So, clear out any wet clothes, used bottles and cups.
• Put on your heat and air conditioning system as soon as you get in, to clear up your windows - make sure your windows are fully cleared before driving off.
• Winter roadside essentials stored in your car could come in handy. Things like your breakdown details, warm clothing, something high-vis and a torch… just in case.
• Make sure your lights are clean – you’ll be driving in the dark more during winter, so your lights being in working order is essential for your vision and safety.
• Check your car battery – they work extra hard in winter due to more use of lights, heaters and wipers, so if your battery runs down, have it checked by a professional.
• Add antifreeze to your engine's cooling system to stop the coolant in your car from freezing. Check coolant levels and top up with antifreeze as recommended by the manufacturer.
• Use winter screen wash – winter specific screen won’t freeze up and is great for clearing your windscreen of ice and grit. Anything to make those cold mornings a little easier!
• Check your tyres – cold and wet weather can damage your tyres. You should also make sure they are comfortably above the minimum legal tread depth of 1.6mm across the central ¾.