Winter Driving Tips

Before You Go

Get Your Car Serviced

No one wants their car to break down in any season, but especially not in cold or snowy 

winter weather. Start the season off right by ensuring your vehicle is in optimal condition.

• Visit your mechanic for a tune-up and other routine maintenance.

• Have your vehicle checked thoroughly for leaks, badly worn hoses, or other 

needed parts, repairs, and replacements.

Check for Recalls

Owners may not always know that their vehicle is under an open recall and needs to be 

repaired. NHTSA’s Recalls Look-up Tool lets you enter a Vehicle Identification Number 

(VIN) to quickly learn if that specific vehicle has been recalled in the last 15 years and 

whether it has been repaired or not. Check for recalls on your vehicle by searching now: 

www.nhtsa.gov/recalls. If your vehicle is under a recall, get it fixed at your nearest dealer 

FOR FREE.

Know Your Car 

Every vehicle handles differently; this is particularly true when driving on wet, icy, or 

snowy roads. Take time now to learn how your vehicle handles under winter weather 

driving conditions.

• Before driving your vehicle, clean snow, ice or dirt from the windows, the forward 

sensors, headlights, tail lights, backup camera and other sensors around the vehicle.

• When your area gets snow, practice driving on snow-covered or icy roads— but 

not on a main road. Sharpen your winter weather driving skills and know how your 

vehicle handles in snowy conditions by practicing in an empty parking lot. See 

your vehicle’s manual to familiarize yourself with the features on your vehicle—

such as antilock brakes and electronic stability control—and how the features 

perform in slippery conditions. For example, your vehicle or pedals may pulsate 

when controlling traction.

• For electric and hybrid-electric vehicles, minimize the drain on the battery. If the 

vehicle has a thermal heating pack for the battery, plug your vehicle in whenever 

it’s not in use. Pre-heat the passenger compartment before you unplug your 

vehicle in the morning.

• When renting a car, become familiar with the vehicle before driving it off the 

lot. Know the location of the hazard lights switch in case of emergency, and 

review the owner’s manual so that you’re prepared for any driving situation that 

may arise.

FOCUS ON SAFETY

Winter Driving Tips

When the chilly temperatures of winter set in, will your vehicle be ready for the cold? 

If you live in a part of the country that gets snow and ice, are you prepared to drive in those conditions? Planning and 

preventative maintenance are important year-round—but especially when it comes to winter driving. 

VIN
Winter Driving Tips

Go Over Your Vehicle Safety Checklist

Battery 

When the temperature drops, so does battery power. For gasoline and diesel engines, it 

takes more battery power to start your vehicle in cold weather. For electric and hybridelectric vehicles, the driving range is reduced when the battery is cold, and battery 

systems work better after they warm up. Make sure your battery is up to the challenges 

of winter.

• Have your mechanic check your battery for sufficient voltage, amperage and 

reserve capacity.

• Have the charging system and belts inspected.

• Replace the battery or make necessary system repairs, including simple things like 

tightening the battery cable connections.

• Keep gasoline in a hybrid-electric vehicle, to support the gasoline engine.

Lights 

See and be seen! Make sure all the lights on your vehicle are in working order. Check 

your headlights, brake lights, turn signals, emergency flashers, and interior lights. Towing 

a trailer? Be sure to also check your trailer brake lights and turn signals. Trailer light 

connection failure is a common problem and a serious safety hazard.

Cooling System 

• Make sure the cooling system is in proper working order.

• Make sure you have enough coolant in your vehicle and the coolant meets the 

manufacturer’s specifications. See your vehicle owner’s manual for specific 

recommendations on coolant. 

• Thoroughly check the cooling system for leaks or have your mechanic do it for you.

• Have the coolant tested for proper mix, proper pH (acidity) and strength of the 

built-in corrosion inhibitors. Over time, the rust inhibitors in antifreeze break down 

and become ineffective.

• Drain and replace the coolant in your vehicle as recommended by the 

manufacturer, to remove dirt and rust particles that can clog the cooling system 

and cause it to fail. 

Windshield 

Washer Reservoir

You can go through a lot of windshield wiper fluid fairly quickly in a single 

snowstorm, so be prepared for whatever might come your way.

• Completely fill your vehicle’s reservoir before the first snow hits.

• Use high-quality “winter” fluid with de-icer and keep extra in your vehicle.

Wipers and Defrosters 

Safe winter driving depends on achieving and maintaining the best visibility possible.

• Make sure your windshield wipers work; replace worn blades.

• Consider installing heavy-duty winter wipers if you live in an area that gets a lot 

of snow and ice.

• Check to see that your front and rear window defrosters work properly.
Winter Driving Tips

Go Over Your Vehicle Safety Checklist continued

Floor Mats 

Improperly installed floor mats in your vehicle may interfere with the operation of the 

accelerator or brake pedal, increasing the risk of a crash. 

• Remove old floor mats before installing new mats; never stack mats.

• Use mats that are the correct size and fit for your vehicle. 

• Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for mat installation. Use available 

retention clips to secure the mat and prevent it from sliding forward.

• Every time the mats are removed for any reason, verify that the driver’s mat is 

reinstalled correctly.

Tires 

• If you plan to use snow tires, have them installed in the fall so you are prepared 

before it snows. Check out www.nhtsa.gov/tires for tire ratings before buying new 

ones and look for winter tires with the snowflake symbol. 

• Regardless of season, inspect your tires at least once a month and before long 

road trips. It only takes about five minutes. If you find yourself driving under lessthan-optimal road conditions this winter, you’ll be glad you took the time. Don’t 

forget to check your spare tire.

• As the outside temperature drops, so does tire inflation pressure. Make sure each 

tire is filled to the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended inflation pressure, which 

is listed in your owner’s manual and on a placard located on the driver’s side door 

frame. The correct pressure is NOT the number listed on the tire. Be sure to check 

tires when they are cold, which means the car hasn’t been driven for at least three 

hours.

• Look closely at your tread and replace tires that have uneven wear or insufficient 

tread. Tread should be at least 2/32 of an inch or greater on all tires. 

• Check the age of each tire. Some vehicle manufacturers recommend that tires 

be replaced every six years regardless of use, but check your owner’s manual to 

find out.

• For more information on tire safety, visit NHTSA’s Tires page.

Stock Your Vehicle 

Carry items in your vehicle to handle common winter driving-related tasks, such as 

cleaning off your windshield, as well as any supplies you might need in an emergency. 

Keep the following in your vehicle:

• Snow shovel, broom, and ice scraper.

• Abrasive material such as sand or kitty litter, in case your vehicle gets stuck in 

the snow.

• Jumper cables, flashlight, and warning devices such as flares and emergency markers.

• Blankets for protection from the cold.

• A cell phone with charger, water, food, and any necessary medicine (for longer 

trips or when driving in lightly populated areas).

DRIVE SAFE
Winter Driving Tips

Go Over Your Vehicle Safety Checklist continued

Plan Your Travel and Route 

Keep yourself and others safe by planning ahead before you venture out into bad weather.

• Check the weather, road conditions, and traffic. 

• Don’t rush; allow plenty of time to get to your destination safely. Plan to leave early 

if necessary.

• Familiarize yourself with directions and maps before you go, even if you use a GPS 

system, and let others know your route and anticipated arrival time.

On the Road

Stay Alert 

• Keep your gas tank close to full, even with a hybrid-electric vehicle. If you get 

stuck in a traffic jam or in snow, you might need more fuel than you anticipated to 

get home or to keep warm. 

• If road conditions are hazardous, avoid driving if possible. Wait until road and 

weather conditions improve before venturing out in your vehicle.

• On longer trips, plan enough time to stop to stretch, get something to eat, return 

calls or text messages, and change drivers or rest if you feel drowsy.

Driving in Winter Conditions 

• Drive slowly. It’s harder to control or stop your vehicle on a slick or snow-covered 

surface. On the road, increase your following distance enough so that you’ll have 

plenty of time to stop for vehicles ahead of you.

• Know whether your vehicle has an antilock brake system and learn how to use 

it properly. Antilock brake systems prevent your wheels from locking up during 

braking. If you have antilock brakes, apply firm, continuous pressure to the brake 

pedal. If you don’t have antilock brakes, you may need to pump your brakes if you 

feel your wheels starting to lock up.

Navigating Around Snow Plows

• Don’t crowd a snow plow or travel beside it. Snow plows travel slowly, make wide 

turns, stop often, overlap lanes, and exit the road frequently.

• The road behind an active snow plow is safer to drive on. If you find yourself 

behind a snow plow, stay behind it or use caution when passing.

• When you are driving behind a snow plow, don’t follow or stop too closely. A snow 

plow operator’s field-of-vision is limited; if you can’t see the mirrors, the driver 

can’t see you. Also, materials used to de-ice the road could hit your vehicle. 

• Snow plows can throw up a cloud of snow that can reduce your visibility to zero 

in less time than you can react. Never drive into a snow cloud – it can conceal 

vehicles or hazards.

MAIN STREET
Winter Driving Tips

In an Emergency

What to Do in a Winter Emergency

If you are stopped or stalled in wintry weather, follow these safety rules:

• Stay with your car and don’t overexert yourself.

• Put bright markers on the antenna or windows and keep the interior dome light 

turned on.

• To avoid asphyxiation from carbon monoxide poisoning, don’t run your car for 

long periods of time with the windows up or in an enclosed space. If you must run 

your vehicle, clear the exhaust pipe of any snow and run it only sporadically — just 

long enough to stay warm.

Safety First

Protect Yourself and Your Loved Ones 

Always wear your seat belt and ensure that everyone else in your vehicle is buckled-up 

in age- and size-appropriate restraints. 

Protect Your Children

• Remember that all children under age 13 should always ride properly restrained in 

the back seat.

• Make sure car seats and booster seats are properly installed and that any children 

riding with you are in the right car seat, booster seat, or seat belt for their age and 

size. See NHTSA’s  child passenger safety recommendations to find out how to 

select the right seat for your child’s age and size. To learn more and find a free 

car seat inspection station near you, please visit the Child Car Seat Inspection 

Station Locator.

• Though thick outerwear will keep your children warm, it can interfere with the 

proper harness fit on your child in a car seat. Instead, place blankets or coats 

around your child after the harness is snug and secure.

• Never leave your child unattended in or around your vehicle.

• Always remember to lock your vehicle and to keep your keys out of reach when 

exiting so children do not play or get trapped inside.

Avoid Risky Driving Behaviors

• Do not text or engage in any activities that may distract you while driving.

• Obey all posted speed limits, but drive even slower if necessary for weather conditions.

• Drive sober. Alcohol and drugs impair perception, judgment, motor skills, and 

memory – the skills critical for safe and responsible driving.

13291-110717-v2a

www.nhtsa.gov/winter-driving-tips