The weather is getting colder, and it’s time to think about winter maintenance for your vehicle. Doing so ensures better safety and can even save you money on your car insurance. Changing to winter tires is a no-brainer, but there are several other easy winter maintenance tasks that you should do to reduce your risk for accidents, which could cause your car insurance premiums to increase.
Change Your Wiper Blades
Few driving scenarios are more dangerous than having your visibility reduced by a dirty windshield. Wiper blades are inexpensive and easy to change, so there’s really no reason not to do it. Change them every six months or at most once per year to ensure that they are in the best condition to adequately clean your windshield when you need it most.
Check Your Fluids
Most winter automobile maintenance packages usually include topping up of brake fluid and engine coolant but don’t forget the washer fluid. Fill the reservoir with winter washer fluid, which freezes at a lower temperature than the summer stuff. It also contains additives that help remove salt and dirt that tends to splash up during messy winter driving conditions.
Dig Out the Snow Brush and Ice Scraper
Except on the iciest of days, it only takes a few minutes to clean the ice and snow off of your car. And that includes all of the windows, mirrors, lights, and the roof. Failing to clean your car completely can cause dangerous conditions if, while driving, ice or snow fly into the path of another vehicle, or slide around on your own vehicle, unexpectedly obstructing your view. Not cleaning your car can even earn you a fine in some jurisdictions. So, before you need them, take the time to find your snow brush and ice scraper and keep them in your vehicle. Then take the extra time necessary to completely clean your vehicle before you go for a drive.
Check Your Tires
Inspect your tires for wear and adequate tread depth before winter hits and replace them if necessary. Consider changing to winter tires when the average temperature drops below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Winter tires have been proven to decrease stopping distance on ice and snow-covered roads, making them safer in places that get significant snowfall. Swapping out your tires also helps prolong the life of your all-weather tires and, can even get a small discount on your premiums from most auto insurance providers. Better safety and a discount? Everyone wins with winter tires.
Check Your Breaks
Whether you choose winter tires or not, making sure your brakes are in good shape before winter begins is a good idea. Stopping is difficult on ice and snow, and even the best snow tires won’t help if your brakes are worn to the metal.
Check Your Driving Habits
Many of us are driving less lately and experiencing a deterioration in our skills. Even if this isn’t the case for you, when the road is wet, icy, snow-covered or all of the above, take a little more care when driving. Keep your speed down and leave lots of room between you and the vehicles around you. Be extra cautious of pedestrians or other obstacles that may be obscured when snow is plowed to the roadside, and give plows and salting equipment plenty of space to work.
A little winter maintenance and prevention can keep you safe and accident-free this winter, keeping your auto insurance rates in check as well. Call us to talk about car insurance in Troy Michigan and the surrounding area, and let us help you find the best rates for your auto insurance policy.
