Eight things you should do to make sure your car is safe for winter

Winter is here and there’s nothing worse than breaking down in freezing conditions and being stuck on the side of the road.

Even if you’re not an expert on cars, there are a few simple things you can do to make sure your vehicle is ready for the cold months ahead. Not only will this help prevent breakdowns, it could potentially save your life - or someone else's.

RAC patrol Will Shepherd offers the following advice:

1. Check the coolant level

“The last thing you need is a frozen engine or for your car to overheat,” says Will. “Although it’s a sealed system and shouldn’t need to be topped up, you should always double check when the engine is cold and look in your handbook for the correct coolant and mix to use, should you need to top it up.”

2. Top up your screen wash

Will says: “There’s more muck and dirt on the roads during the winter, as well as salt, so it’s important to make sure you can keep your windscreen clean. Remember to keep topping the level up during the winter.”

3. Check the oil level

This should be between the minimum and maximum mark. Refer to the handbook or local dealer to find out the correct oil and top up if necessary.

4. Look at your battery terminals

Check that they are clean and tight. Will recommends cleaning off any corrosion with hot water and applying petroleum jelly.

5. Get your charging system checked

Take it to a local garage to have it looked over, to ensure the battery and system is working correctly.

6. Make sure tyres are winter-ready

Will says: “Tyres are the only connection between you and the road so check your tyres for general wear and tear – cracks, splits or bulges, and, more importantly, tread depth.

“Although the minimum tread level is 1.6mm, during winter it’s advisable to have 3mm of tread on your tyres to help with traction and grip. Also ensure that you have the correct pressure in your tyres."

7. Clean and check your lights

“It’s vitally important to make sure not only that you can see where you’re going but also that other drivers can see you,” says Will. “Walk round your car and make sure all lights are working and that the lens covers are clean. Lights get extremely dirty during the winter months so clean them on a regular basis.”

8. Check your wipers

Check the blades for splits or cracks and replace if necessary. Will says: “Wiper blades can get frozen to the windscreen – don’t pull them off as you will damage them but make sure you free them off either by using the demister or de-icer.”