Quick Tips to Prepare your Car this Winter

Autumn is finally here and with the changing season comes changing responsibilities for your car. As the temperature drops and the weather conditions become colder and more dangerous it’s important you take some precautions. We’ve put together this guide with three things that you’ll need to check regularly throughout the most wonderful time of the year.

1. Check your tyres!

This step is often overlooked but it’s one of the best things you can do for your vehicle. The first thing to check is the tyre tread depth - it should be at 1.6 mm to meet legal requirements. You should also check the tyre sidewalls to make sure that there aren’t any cuts or bulges. If you want a professional opinion we’ll always be happy to check your tyres in our garage. Our team will be able to offer you expert advice and we can give competitive quotes too.

2. Stock up on emergency supplies

It might sound a bit over the top but it’s better to be prepared for cold, wintery traffic then get caught out in it. We suggest keeping extra blankets, coats, scarves and gloves in your boot for the colder days. And, we recommend that you have an ice scraper and de-icer on hand to speed up the defrosting process during icy mornings. Other things that might come in handy include a shovel for snow, a torch for darker days and snacks to keep you going!

3. Get under the bonnet of your car

This sounds complicated but it’s very simple and anyone can run these checks. When you’re parked on level ground, lift up your bonnet and locate your engine oil. Once you’ve done this pull out the dipstick and wipe excess oil off it. Dip it in and out of the oil to check the levels. If the oil is below the minimum marking on the dipstick be sure to refill your oil as soon as you can. We also suggest checking your brake fluid, screenwash and antifreeze levels.

Is your MOT or service approaching? Don’t forget to book online using our quick, easy and free online booking tool. All you need to do is enter your registration number and select the service you’d like. booking online today!