Winter Car Checklist: Top 10 Tips

It makes sense to service your car at any time of the year, but cold weather puts extra stress on it, so it's especially important to make sure it's in good condition before the cold weather sets in and that you have everything you need to make your winter travels as comfortable as possible. and as safe as possible. 

Here are our top 10 tips to help you winterize your car.

1. Order a winter car check

If you know your vehicle will be serviced during the winter months, it's a good idea to schedule it before the cold sets in and the garages fill up. Winter is hard on cars, but many potential problems and breakdowns can be avoided with regular maintenance.

Even if your vehicle isn't subject to regular scheduled inspections, it's worth considering booking a winter vehicle inspection before temperatures drop. Many auto services offer free or discounted car checks in winter. They include a thorough check of your car's battery, tires, headlights, wipers, and fluid levels to make sure everything is working properly. 

Cazoo Service Centers offer a free security check that covers all of the above (regardless of whether you bought your car through Cazoo or not), as well as a range of services, including inspection, maintenance and repairs.

2. Check your tires

Tires are the only part of your car that actually comes into contact with the road, so it's important to make sure they're in good condition.

You need to make sure that all of your vehicle's tires have adequate tread depth (how deep the grooves are on the surface of the tires). The minimum permitted tread depth is 1.6 mm at the center ¾ of the tire width all around. 

All Cazoo vehicles are sold with a minimum tread depth of 2.5mm at 80% of the tire width, well above the legal minimum. Read more about the quality of our vehicles, including our tire standards, here. 

Tire pressure is also important, so it should be checked regularly. The owner's manual tells you which pressure is right for your vehicle. It's also worth taking a close look at your car's tires to check for cuts, cracks, nails, or broken glass that could be causing problems.  

3. Check Fluid Levels

Your engine needs radiator coolant and engine oil to run properly. If these levels are low, your car should display a warning light to let you know. 

But you shouldn't let your car get to this point because you could damage the engine and cooling system before the fluid level drops to the point where the warning light comes on. Instead, get in the habit of regularly checking your vehicle's oil and coolant levels without waiting for a warning light to come on. 

Learn more about how to check the fluid level in your car. 

4. Watch your battery

Colder weather combined with more frequent use of your car's heater and headlights can put a lot of strain on your battery, so it's worth checking the battery's condition and replacing it if necessary.

As a precaution, it might also be worth investing in a portable starter pack to reduce the risk of being stranded with a dead battery.

If the car is not used for a long time in bad weather, its battery may be discharged. Driving for at least 30 minutes every couple of weeks should boost your charge to a healthier level. If you know you won't be driving regularly, you might want to consider buying a charger that will keep the battery charged and maintained while it's sitting idle.

More car service manuals

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How to take care of your car

5. Keep your windshield clean

Wind, rain, salt, snow and general dirt mean your car's windshield is often dirtier in the winter than at any other time of the year. To effectively clean your windshield, you need to make sure your wiper blades are charged. If the rubber strips are worn too low, the wipers will not effectively remove water, leaving stripes that make it hard to see ahead.

During the winter, you should make sure you top up your windshield washer fluid regularly to keep it from leaking out on the road. You should always use a quality washer fluid (you can buy it as a concentrated fluid or pre-mixed in a bottle) and not just water, which can freeze if it's very cold.

6. Keep your headlights and license plates clean

It's easy to let road grime, salt, and grime build up on your car in the winter, but even if you don't wash your entire car, it's important that you at least keep your headlights and license plates clean and visible at all times.

Dirty headlights make it difficult for you to see things as clearly at night or in bad weather, and also make you less visible to other drivers. Your vehicle's license plates should also be clean and legible. If they cannot be read by police or automatic camera systems, you may be liable for a hefty fine.

7. Check your brakes

Stopping efficiently is always important, especially in winter when road conditions are likely to be slippery due to rain or ice. 

That's why you need to make sure your brakes are in good condition. To some extent, you can do this with a visual inspection. Look behind the wheels for brake discs: if there are any scratches or signs of corrosion, you may want to consider replacing the discs or pads. When in doubt, book your car for a winter check.

8. Assemble an emergency kit

There's never a good time of year to break down or get stuck in traffic, but it can be worse in cold, wet weather, so it's a good idea to have a box or bag of emergency equipment in the car ready for winter. This should include a blanket, flashlight, shovel, basic first aid kit, ice scraper, de-icer and reflective vest, as well as a portable backpack for a quick start if you have one. 

It's also worth stocking up on non-perishable food and drinks in case you get stuck in a snowdrift (which happens more often than you think!) or if emergency services can't get to you quickly. Make sure you always have a well-charged mobile phone and a charging cord with you - another sensible precaution.

9. Don't forget to wash your face!

It's nice to have a clean car, but there's a practical reason to keep your car clean—dirt is bad for it. 

Salt sprinkled on winter roads is corrosive and can damage your car's bodywork, but even ordinary road dirt and grime can accelerate rust development. This is especially true in rural areas, so it's worth brave the cold and go for a bucket and sponge or visit your local car wash.

How clean is the average British car? We discovered…

10. Make sure you have enough fuel (or battery power)

It's a good idea to keep at least a quarter tank of fuel in your car so you have a spare in case there's no gas station nearby if you start to run out of fuel. Or, if you have an electric car, make sure you keep your battery at normal levels. This is a wise practice at any time of the year, but especially in winter when there is a chance of getting stuck due to bad weather. If this happens, you'll want to keep the motor (or electric motor) running so that the heater is on and the phone is fully charged.

Cazoo Service Centers provide a great way to keep your car in good condition during the winter by offering a wide range of services including service, maintenance and repairs, whether you bought your car through Cazoo or not. We also offer a free safety check, checking tires, fluid levels, headlights and brakes to make sure everything is in full working order. To request a booking, simply select the service center closest to you and enter your vehicle's registration number.