If your car is looking a little worse for wear, then now is the time to give it a little TLC. If you don’t then this could lead to a ton of issues later down the line and you may even end up with repairs that you can’t afford. If you want to get around this then there are a few things that you can do about that.

Your car battery should always be your first priority. In winter, your car is having to face very cold temperatures. This, combined with the increased use of lights, heaters and even blowers can put it under even more strain. Batteries do tend to have a very good lifespan and they can often last way more than 5 years, but if you are having problems or if you suspect that yours is at the end of its life then now is the time to get that checked out. If you ever find yourself with a dead battery then it is possible for you to jump-start your car, but you should avoid doing this where possible as it can degrade your car if done too often. You might want to look into battery venting as well.

Your engine coolant should be a mixture of 50% water and 50% antifreeze. You will need to top it up as it will become diluted over time as well. So many people make the mistake of topping their engine up with water throughout the year and this can reduce the amount of antifreeze. This can lead to freezing, which in turn can make your engine overheat. Avoiding this repair is very simple to do, and by taking the time to monitor your coolant, you could save yourself thousands.

Your car’s tyres are the key to steering and braking as well. It is super essential that you keep them in very good condition. It’s recommended that you have around 3mm of depth on your tyre treads during the winter. This will give you way better grip when you are out and on the road, and it will also help you to avoid skidding when driving on sheet ice.

Reflectors can get dirty over time, and the last thing that you need is to have them dimmer than they should be in winter. It’s a good idea to check to see if your rear reflectors are clean and to also make sure that you have no cracked lenses or even blown bulbs. Checking your full-beams, fog lights and even indicators is also a good idea.  It’s very dangerous to drive in winter with dull or even dirty lights, and it doesn’t take much to clean them out either so take your time and make sure that you do the job properly. You never know, it could save you from having an accident, especially if you frequently drive at night.