Christmas just past us (Merry Christmas to everyone from the Colley family) and winter is upon us.

However, as we get ready for the new year, you need to think about the preparedness of your car for our winter season.

A recent report by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police showed us that nearly 30% of all collisions were on wet, icy, or snowy roads. Generally, winter weather conditions present an array of challenges to vehicle drivers, putting you at risk of various inconveniences and road accidents.

Now, how prepared is your vehicle for the challenges and environmental changes that come with the coldest season of the year?

Well, road safety experts recommend various measures to help you keep your vehicle in good shape and avoid accidents and other winter-related undesired eventualities.

Here are some of the recommended tips we have summarized for you that can be implemented to get your vehicle ready for winter.

Winter tires are a must

No blog or safety tip for winter car preparation would be complete without the recommendation of good winter tires.

Snow tires provide more grip on slippy roads in winter than regular all-season tires.  These tires are not only good for the snow but also perform better in colder weather in general vs. the all-season alternatives that you can use in the warmer months.

This is especially important if you have new or young drivers in the family who are looking to be active on the road in the winter months.

The advanced rubber compound for winter tires and the deeper treads all provide for a safer driving experience.

A plus in this is that winter tires help keep folks safe on the road, minimize the risk of accidents.  So if you mention this to our customer service team – we can apply a discount to your insurance premium if it has not already been applied.  Another great way to offset some of the costs, keep you safer on the roads, and give you peace of mind.

Get your standard wiper blades replaced with snow wiper blades

Imagine that you are driving to your work on a cold winter morning.  Heavy fast snow and high winds suddenly start coming down earlier than the weather lady predicted early this morning.

And in the middle of the storm that is now coming down hard, your wipers break.

Yikes! This does happen. A lot.

Visual impairment is the last thing most folks want in the middle of a snowstorm.

Your standard wiper blades won’t be fully effective in wiping your car’s windshield when winter kicks in full gear. It will do you good and give you extra protection if you replace them with heavy gauge snow wiper blades with a tough rubber boot surface.

The snow wiper blades are strong enough to keep snow and ice accumulation off your windshield. Just make sure they are also installed properly.

Check fluid and oil levels

Your car has crucial fluids in the transmission, power steering, windshield, and brake systems. Ensure that these fluids are filled to proper levels.

Also, it is worth bearing in mind that some of these fluids, such as oil and washer fluid are only good within a specific temperature range.

Therefore, considering winter temperatures go below zero degrees, you need to ensure that the fluids that your car is going to operate on during the season are safe and effective even in extremely low temperatures. Otherwise, it’s crucial to get the oil or fluid replaced with a suitable type.

Check tire pressure

Tire pressure influences tire traction, a key factor in icy, wet driving conditions. And because the looming winter is likely to affect your tire pressure drastically, make sure that your tires have the right pressure levels to offer the right traction for winter driving.

Have the battery checked

A dead car battery can be chaotic. Therefore, make sure that your battery is checked by a certified mechanic to ascertain if it can hold enough charge for your winter travels.

If it is ineffective or has signs of dying (e.g corrosion), the battery should be replaced.

Belts and hoses

Your vehicle’s belts and hoses are prone to wear and tear due to extended use and/or extreme temperature changes.

To avoid dangers associated with the wear and tear of these safety components, you should make sure that they’re in good shape before winter arrives. Again, most local mechanic shops promote winter tune-ups that cover these car maintenance steps to help get prepared for winter.

Ensure you have valid and the right car insurance coverage

If your car insurance is about to expire, you should have it renewed on time.

Driving without insurance will not only put your driving license at the risk of being suspended but can make you incur huge costs if your car causes property damage or god forbid – an injury.

At Colley Insurance, we do our best to ensure every customer gets the best insurance coverage that meets their unique requirements.  Reach out at customerservice@tgcolley.com or call us, or simply fill out the form on our Contact Us Page.

Closing Thoughts

Those are some of the crucial things you need to do to make sure that your car is safe, strong, and effective enough to handle the unique winter challenges.

Preferably, let a certified mechanic assist you in evaluating your vehicle and fixing the detected issues as far as the above preparations are concerned.

Having done that, you’ll have peace of mind knowing the car will run superbly in cold weather.

Safe driving out there!