Winter Car Care

While this winter hasn’t been too terrible yet, there is still time for a big snowstorm and plummeting temperatures! Both of these could cause issues for your vehicles. With plummeting temperatures, you need to be concerned about your battery; with snowstorms, you want to make sure your vehicle can get you where you need to go, should you need to drive during the snowstorm. Let’s review a few things you can do to make sure your vehicle lasts through the winter months.

Battery Health
Cold temperatures and car batteries don’t mix well together. If we have any weeks where the temperatures start to really drop into the teens and single digits, it’s a smart idea to have your battery tested. You can conduct the test yourself or go to a professional to conduct the test. Depending on the life of your battery, you may need to have it charged or replaced.

Time For Tires
How are your tires holding up? If you know you need new tires, don’t wait until it’s too late. Tires with low traction will not fair well during a winter snowstorm. It’s better to be safe and have them replaced than end up in a ditch, or worse!

Auto Insurance
It’s not a bad idea to review your auto insurance and make sure it will cover any unfortunate incidents during the winter months. If it’s been awhile since you reviewed your insurance, it might be a good idea to consider requesting a new quote. Here at WestSide Insurance Services, we can provide you with an appropriate coverage quote.

Survival Kit
Especially during the winter months, it would be beneficial to have a survival kit in your car. You can find many car emergency kits at local stores, but you should also consider adding a few more items to your car besides what is included in those. Here is what else you may want to include:

  • Blanket
  • First-Aid Kit
  • Flashlight
  • Cellphone charger
  • Small shovel
  • Salt or kitty litter
  • A few bottles of water and nonperishable snacks

Here are a few other items you may want to consider taking care of or just remember!

  • If your windshield wipers have seen better days, replace them!
  • Keep your gas tank full, especially if there is a winter storm coming. You never know what you are going to encounter if you end up driving in a winter storm. A full gas tank will come in handy should you end up in a bit of traffic.
  • When your car is covered in snow and ice, be sure to clear your vehicle as much as possible.

We hope you have a safe winter season! Should you need any insurance assistance, be sure to reach out.