5 Tips For Preparing Your Car For Winter

As the seasons change, temperatures drop, and snow starts to fall in some places, now is a good time to do a check up on your car. Car troubles are never any fun, but they become far worse to deal with in the cold and during winter storms. 

Here are five tips to help prepare your car for winter: 

In snowy areas, you especially need to heed this advice. Frequent cleaning helps keep the windshield easy to see through. 

It's easy for the lights to get dirty in winter, so make it a habit to wash them off each time you fill up your car with gas. It only takes a few minutes, and it will keep your vehicle visible on dark nights. Consider changing the light bulbs before winter. That way, you're not stuck trying to do so in a snow storm. You also won’t risk getting pulled over by a cop for having a light out. 

The cold temperature causes air pressure in your tires to drop. Keep them inflated so that your car is safe to drive. If it's time to get new tires, consider getting this done before winter sets in. Make it a habit to check the air pressure and refill as necessary. This is also the time to switch to winter tires, if you usually do so. 

Always prepare for the worst by having things you'd need in a worst-case scenario situation. You may already have a basic emergency kit that has water, tools, your auto insurance papers, and a reflective vest. For winter, include a flashlight and extra batteries, a phone charger, gloves, blankets, sand, first aid kit, a tow-rope, and an ice scraper. Consider having an extra set of clothes and shoes for each family member as well. 

Now's the perfect time to take care of those important, but not urgent tasks — such as replacing a well-worn battery or changing the oil. Not only will doing this now get the task off your to-do list, but you'll also potentially save money by taking care of these issues before they turn into even larger problems. 

Make some time in your weekend to get these preparations taken care of. That way, you decrease the chances of having roadside problems this winter. Also, make sure you have your car insurance on hand just in case you need to make a claim.