{
  "slug": "preparing-your-car-for-winter-road-trips",
  "url": "https://checklists.org/c/preparing-your-car-for-winter-road-trips",
  "markdown": "https://checklists.org/c/preparing-your-car-for-winter-road-trips.md",
  "title": "Preparing Your Car for Winter Road Trips",
  "description": "What to check and pack before a cold-weather drive so a small problem doesn't turn into a long wait on the shoulder.",
  "category": "travel",
  "tags": [
    "winter-driving",
    "car-maintenance",
    "road-trip",
    "safety"
  ],
  "version": "1.0",
  "updated": "2026-10-13",
  "sources": [
    {
      "name": "AAA — Winter Driving Guide: Safety Tips, Hacks and Myths Debunked",
      "url": "https://www.acg.aaa.com/connect/blogs/6c/auto/winter-driving-safety-tips"
    },
    {
      "name": "NHTSA — Winter Driving Tips (PDF)",
      "url": "https://www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/winter-driving-tips.pdf"
    },
    {
      "name": "AAA (via 29News) — AAA warns cold weather weakens car batteries",
      "url": "https://www.29news.com/2025/12/09/aaa-warns-cold-weather-weakens-car-batteries/"
    },
    {
      "name": "AAA Western and Central New York (via WNY Papers) — Brrrr: Batteries cranking in cold temperatures",
      "url": "https://www.wnypapers.com/news/article/current/2025/12/03/164718/brrrr-batteries-cranking-in-cold-temperatures"
    },
    {
      "name": "Ready.gov (FEMA) — #WinterReady Safety Graphics",
      "url": "https://www.ready.gov/collection/winter-weather-safety"
    },
    {
      "name": "Ready.gov (FEMA) — #WinterReady Social Media Toolkit",
      "url": "https://www.ready.gov/winterready-social-media-toolkit"
    }
  ],
  "intro": "Cold weather is hard on cars in ways that don't always show up until you're already stuck somewhere — a weak battery, worn tires, or an empty washer fluid reservoir can turn a routine drive into a long wait on the shoulder. Here's what to check and pack before you head out, roughly in the order you'd tackle it.",
  "itemCount": 30,
  "essentialCount": 12,
  "sections": [
    {
      "title": "Weeks Before You Go",
      "items": [
        {
          "id": "1h16oid",
          "text": "Get the car serviced with a general tune-up",
          "note": "No one wants their car to break down in any season, but especially not in cold or snowy winter weather, so start the season off right by ensuring your vehicle is in optimal condition.",
          "essential": true
        },
        {
          "id": "gthtsv",
          "text": "Check for open recalls using your VIN before you go",
          "note": "Owners may not always know that their vehicle is under an open recall and needs to be serviced."
        },
        {
          "id": "vcox2v",
          "text": "Test the battery rather than guess its age",
          "note": "Cold hits batteries hard — a car battery loses a third of its power in freezing temperatures, and battery problems account for a third of winter roadside calls.",
          "essential": true
        },
        {
          "id": "6xvqy3",
          "text": "Note your battery's age and plan ahead for replacement",
          "note": "The average lifespan of a car battery is three to five years."
        },
        {
          "id": "mfi5i2",
          "text": "Check tire tread depth with the quarter test",
          "note": "Use the \"quarter test\" to check your tread depth: insert a quarter into the tread groove with Washington's head upside down. If you can see all of Washington's head, your tread is too low and it's time for new tires.",
          "essential": true
        },
        {
          "id": "w7uekb",
          "text": "Install winter tires in the fall if you use them, rather than waiting for the first snowfall",
          "note": "If you plan to use snow tires, have them installed in the fall so you are prepared before it snows, and look for winter tires with the snowflake symbol.",
          "when": "runs-dedicated-winter-tires"
        },
        {
          "id": "xo9x5a",
          "text": "Have hoses, belts, and fluid leaks inspected",
          "note": "Have your vehicle checked thoroughly for leaks, badly worn hoses, or other needed parts, repairs, and replacements."
        },
        {
          "id": "nrkw97",
          "text": "Top off or switch to winter-weight washer fluid rated well below freezing"
        },
        {
          "id": "t2tf0x",
          "text": "Check antifreeze/coolant level and mix ratio for your climate"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "title": "Day or Two Before",
      "items": [
        {
          "id": "1kcfqp9",
          "text": "Check tire pressure when cold, including the spare",
          "note": "Regardless of season, inspect your tires at least once a month and before long road trips. It only takes about five minutes.",
          "essential": true
        },
        {
          "id": "12nr49f",
          "text": "Pack a winter emergency kit with a flashlight, ice scraper, sand or kitty litter for traction, phone charger, jumper cables, and reflective warning signs",
          "note": "Build an emergency car kit including flashlight, scraper, sand, phone charger, jumper cables and reflective signs.",
          "essential": true
        },
        {
          "id": "n9fj2o",
          "text": "Add water, non-perishable food, and a spare set of warm clothes or blankets to the kit",
          "note": "Keep water, non-perishable food, and an extra set of warm clothes in the car in case you get stranded during winter weather.",
          "essential": true
        },
        {
          "id": "15mr6q2",
          "text": "Throw in a basic first aid kit and a day or two of any medications you can't skip"
        },
        {
          "id": "12lpgz",
          "text": "Check wiper blades and swap in winter blades if you drive through heavy snow often"
        },
        {
          "id": "7xby8t",
          "text": "Practice driving on snow or ice somewhere safe before you need to do it for real",
          "note": "Take time now to learn how your vehicle handles under winter weather driving conditions, and when your area gets snow, practice driving on snow-covered or icy roads — but not on a main road."
        },
        {
          "id": "2a853v",
          "text": "EV only — plan charging stops with buffer",
          "note": "Charge more frequently in winter since range can drop by 20–40% in cold weather.",
          "when": "driving-an-ev"
        },
        {
          "id": "c18i1z",
          "text": "EV only — leave the car plugged in overnight before departure when you can",
          "note": "Leave your EV plugged in overnight whenever possible — this keeps the battery warm and prevents deep discharge in freezing temperatures.",
          "when": "driving-an-ev"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "title": "Morning of Departure",
      "items": [
        {
          "id": "13pytkb",
          "text": "Check the weather and road conditions along your whole route, not just where you're starting",
          "note": "Before you head out, check the weather forecast along your route.",
          "essential": true
        },
        {
          "id": "1bnir3g",
          "text": "Fill the tank (or fully charge an EV)",
          "note": "Make sure you have a full tank of gas, emergency supplies, and a charged phone.",
          "essential": true
        },
        {
          "id": "1fg5wth",
          "text": "Charge your phone fully and bring a car charger",
          "essential": true
        },
        {
          "id": "ropsns",
          "text": "Clear all snow and ice off windows, mirrors, lights, and sensors before moving — not just a peephole in the windshield",
          "note": "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.",
          "essential": true
        },
        {
          "id": "rfokrb",
          "text": "EV only — precondition the battery while still plugged in",
          "note": "Precondition your battery: warm up the battery before driving by using the preconditioning feature while the car is still plugged in. This helps maintain range and efficiency.",
          "when": "driving-an-ev"
        },
        {
          "id": "h49a2i",
          "text": "Tell someone your route and expected arrival time if you're heading through remote or storm-affected areas"
        },
        {
          "id": "1a1fjrc",
          "text": "Decide your bail-out point in advance: the last safe spot to stop or turn back if conditions turn bad"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "title": "On the Road",
      "items": [
        {
          "id": "hvo6jb",
          "text": "Slow down, leave extra following distance, and brake smoothly before steering — don't jerk the wheel on slick surfaces"
        },
        {
          "id": "m12m7i",
          "text": "Stay off the road if conditions get genuinely dangerous; waiting it out at a rest stop or motel is fine",
          "when": "weather-deteriorates-mid-trip"
        },
        {
          "id": "1vqbxuh",
          "text": "Keep headlights on in snow or low visibility, even during the day"
        },
        {
          "id": "1pbedi",
          "text": "Give snowplows and salt trucks a wide berth rather than passing them"
        },
        {
          "id": "165dr1u",
          "text": "If you get stuck or stranded, stay with the vehicle and run the engine periodically for heat, cracking a window for air",
          "note": "Leaving the vehicle in a storm is a common cause of exposure injuries and deaths.",
          "essential": true
        },
        {
          "id": "11zakuk",
          "text": "Keep the exhaust pipe clear of snow any time you run the engine while stopped",
          "note": "A blocked exhaust can push carbon monoxide back into the cabin.",
          "essential": true
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}