Snow, ice, rain – is your vehicle ready for it?
The New York winters are harsh and cold. While we turn up the heat and dig out the warm blankets, we should spare a thought for our vehicles. A little bit of preparation goes a long way to ensure our vehicles are ready for the cold months ahead. These simple steps can help to prevent you from experiencing nasty inconveniences over the winter. Here are a few tips on how to get your vehicle winter-ready.
Inspect the battery. The colder it gets outside, the harder your battery has to work. The cold weather quickly drains the battery, and the heater, lights, and blower put even more strain on it. If the weather gets particularly cold one night and your battery has low power, you could wake up to find yourself stranded in your driveway. Take your vehicle to your mechanic to check the condition of the battery. If it is nearing its third year, consider replacing it before the winter.
Check your radiator system. If you have low coolant levels, the extreme cold can cause the coolant to freeze, resulting in severe engine damage when you start your car. Now is a good time to make sure you have plenty of coolant available.
Top up the tires. When the weather gets cooler, your tires have a strong tendency to lose pressure. Make sure you get your tire levels checked, which will help you from getting a flat tire. While you’re at it, consider swapping your tires out to winter tires that guarantee less slippage and give you better braking performance on snowy surfaces.
Get the ice scraper ready. This might seem obvious until you’re caught without one! Double check that you have an ice scraper in the vehicle, ready for those early morning frosts.
The team at Perry & Carroll can ensure that you sustain reliable car insurance throughout the winter and beyond. To get started on your New York auto insurance, contact us today.