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During the winter months, your car maintenance needs a little extra thought and is key to reducing the risk of breakdowns, accidents or costly repair fees. Now that the cold months are approaching, preparing your car early for the winter will save you both time and money during the UK winter.

and a lack of vehicle maintenance before the cold snap. Winter breakdowns or accidents can cause hefty repair costs, large insurance claims or possible fines, so with this in mind, experts at have compiled a winter car maintenance checklist to ensure your car is fully prepared in advance for this year’s winter season.



Check Your Tyres

Every winter, searches for winter tyres spike. In November 2022, there were over 25,000 searches which was an increase of +43% in comparison to October 2022. As we enter the colder months this year, searches for winter tyres are already +57% over the last month which means, as our winters get longer and start earlier, drivers are preparing for colder conditions earlier than ever before.

Worn tyres are dangerous at the best of times, but especially during the winter when stopping distances increase in icy, snowy or wet conditions.

• Check your tread depth - The minimum tread depth for tyres is 1.6mm by law, but they are recommended to be changed once the tread reaches 3mm. This will maintain stopping distances and improve the grip your tyres have on the road to avoid loss of control in winter conditions. If the temperatures drop below 7 degrees Celsius or you are regularly driving on rural or uneven roads, winter tyres are required for ultimate safety, especially when driving in snow and ice.

• Check your tyre pressure - This will ensure that you will have the utmost control of your vehicle on the roads during the winter whilst avoiding any potential blowouts uneven or incorrect tyre pressure can cause. Find your nearest  for advice, professional checks and winter tyre options.

Check Your Car Battery

A flat car battery is the most common reason for a breakdown, especially in the winter where battery failure is more likely in the cold and wet weather. In fact, across the year. It is advised to check your car battery before the cold weather hits, but ensure you are changing your car battery every 3 years, if possible, to avoid problems in the cold weather.

•  Check for any unusual issues - A main indication of battery failure includes the engine turning over more slowly than usual when you start it.

• Check your battery light - you may see the red battery light in the instrument display flicker while you are driving or take much longer than usual when you start the engine when your battery is indicating failure. To avoid battery failure whether sitting in traffic, out on the road or starting your car on the driveway, make sure you take it to your local to check your battery before the winter and change if needs be. 

Check Your Antifreeze

Searches for “how to unfreeze your car engine” see an annual spike in November. November 2022 saw an increase of 62% in comparison to October 2022. Ensuring your antifreeze is working properly is a must in the winter months, doing just as the name suggests which is to stop the water in the engine's cooling system from freezing.

• Check your antifreeze is working correctly - if it needs topping up or not working correctly, unscrew the coolant reservoir cap under the bonnet whilst your engine is cooled, lower the antifreeze tester tube into the coolant and squeeze the rubber bulb. This will suck up some of the antifreeze inside the tester. It is then easy to read the freezing point of the antifreeze using the scale inside the tester to see if everything is as it should be. An antifreeze tester can be bought from local car spare shops, or if you are unsure, for assistance.

Check Exterior Lights

This may seem simple, and it is, but many will bypass or forget this simple check before the winter hits. The days are much shorter and the weather is getting worse, and so maintenance on your exterior lights is an important aspect of any winter car checklist.

Although Searches for new car headlights annually peak in December where 2022 saw 54,000 searches (+18% compared to November 2022), a revealed that 64% of drivers will still risk the £100 fine by failing to carry spare headlamp bulbs with them.

• Clean your lights - To avoid any fatalities or fines, make sure you check and clean your lights regularly. Salt and dirt can quickly build up, especially if the roads have been gritted in preparation for the icy and wet weather. The build-up will reduce the visibility of your vehicle to other road users as well as reduce your ability to see in the dark.

• Carry spare bulbs - It is best to ensure you are carrying extra bulbs in case of failure, which holds a higher possibility of happening when it is cold and wet outside, and being stuck in the dark with no headlights is certainly not an ideal time to have to learn how to do so!

• Ensure your headlights are not too bright - Bright headlights are not only annoying to other drivers but can also cause accidents, especially on dimly lit roads. The headlight glare can take the focus of other drivers off the road, reducing visibility and increasing the difficulty of driving safely. If you are unsure if your headlights or high beams are too bright, ensure you check with a

Ticking Off Your Winter Car Maintenance Checklist

Getting your car ready for winter may seem like an additional effort to your regular car checks, but by following this expert-approved checklist, you can avoid any expensive emergency repairs or accidents from occurring during the winter and ensure you and others on the road stay as safe as possible this year.