How to protect your car in winter?

A harsh winter could put your car through its paces. How can you protect your vehicle and avoid cold-related problems?

12 tips and tricks for braving winter

1. Check the condition of your battery. A weak battery generally can't fully recharge in cold weather, which can cause starting problems. If that's the case, it's better to replace it. Drive at least 25 kilometres on a motorway or a road where you can drive without stopping, to recharge the battery. Check out our blog article with "tips and tricks" on batteries and starting problems. Do you have an electric vehicle? Read our tips here to limit battery issues in winter.
2. Use windscreen washer fluid with antifreeze and check that there's still enough coolant in the engine.
3. Make sure you have the essential winter accessories to fight the cold or the effects of frost: a scraper, a cloth or a piece of cardboard to cover the windscreen, and a de-icer spray.
4. Plan for the possibility of having to wait out in the cold (due to a breakdown, traffic jams, etc.) and bring along a blanket, a spare warm winter coat and a torch, as well as a tow rope. Make sure your phone battery is sufficiently charged. If you're setting off on a long journey, bring some food and hot drinks.
5. Stop door frames from freezing by coating the rubber seals with talc, glycerine, or by using a silicone spray. If your door is frozen shut, don't force it open. You risk damaging the rubber seals. Tip: using a spray made of 2/3 alcohol and 1/3 water will de-ice the window more quickly. Rubbing half a potato on the window to prevent frost is not an effective "trick".
6. Make sure your handbrake can't freeze, especially overnight. If you don't have an automatic handbrake, leave your car in gear and, if necessary, place a wheel chock under the wheels.
7. In winter, drive on winter tyres. Below temperatures of 7°C, winter tyres grip the road better. They also drain water to the sides more effectively. In some countries, using winter tyres is mandatory. For more information, check out our blog article "Driving on winter tyres".
8. Wash your car regularly: de-icing salt attacks the chassis, bodywork and tyres. It also dirties the windows, which significantly reduces visibility. Head to the car wash if temperatures are below freezing.
9. Have any broken bulbs (headlights, indicators) replaced as soon as possible. Good visibility on the road ("see and be seen") means safety. Watch out, in some countries you have to drive with your headlights on, even during the day!
10. Before setting off, make sure your windows are clean and free of any condensation (both inside and out) to ensure good visibility. Clear your windows of any frost or ice by scraping the windscreen (and rear window) with a scraper before turning on the wipers. A rough surface risks damaging your wiper blades' rubber, which will then no longer work as well. Don't wash frozen windows with hot water: you risk cracking the glass. Instead, use lukewarm water and dry the window immediately so the water doesn't turn to ice. Tip: wiping the inside of your windows with a cloth dampened with a little dish soap or shampoo will help prevent condensation!
11. Make sure your wiper blades' rubber doesn't freeze onto the windows. Lift the wipers up overnight or place a few wine corks between the wiper rubber and the window. Don't operate frozen or stuck wipers.
12. Low sun can be very dazzling for drivers. A pair of sunglasses can therefore be useful, even in the middle of winter.

And finally: if, as you set off, you notice that your car or parked cars have frozen windows, or that lawns are white with frost, the road is likely to be icy too (patches of frost). Be careful.
Your vehicle's thermometer shows the ambient air temperature, not the temperature at ground level!

First published: 12/2014 - Updated: 12/2022