Winter is a tough time of year for motorists. Not only do the conditions and low visibility make driving more dangerous and daunting, but the weather can also take its toll on your vehicle. This is why maintenance is so important during the colder months of the year and there are 4 important tips that every motorist needs to keep in mind.
Check & Top Up Fluids
First, you need to check and top up your various vehicle fluids throughout winter. These are often needed the most during the colder months and are critical to the car operating properly. You need to check the engine oil, coolant and windshield washer fluid and to keep these at the recommended level throughout the colder months.
Get Insured
You also want to make sure that you have a sufficient level of cover in place in case you have any troubles during the winter. In addition to your car insurance, you should also make sure that you have an extended warranty in place in case you break down. This could save you a huge amount if you encounter any issues and can often include useful extras like the cost of roadside recovery and onward travel costs.
Winter Tyres
The roads can be dangerous and difficult to navigate during winter, especially when the temperature drops and surfaces become icy. Winter tyres are a sensible option for the colder months of the year as they can provide superior grip by staying flexible at low temperatures. You need to have confidence while driving in winter and many motorists find that winter tyres give them both protection and confidence while behind the wheel.
Emergency Kit
You never know what will happen while driving during winter. Even a skilled and experienced motorist could be involved in an accident or your car could break down in the middle of nowhere. This is why you always need to have an emergency kit in the car, which should contain items such as a torch, shovel, de-icer, blankets, spare clothing, jump leads and food and water. Hopefully, you will never have to use the kit but it is important that it is always in the car during the winter months (and throughout the year).
These 4 tips should come in handy and help you to stay safe during the winter months. This is a difficult season for motorists, but when you know how to keep the car safe and protected you should be able to drive with confidence.
