… and save cash on repairs, maintenance and insurance.
As a general rule it costs less to fix something before it goes horribly wrong than wait for the worst to happen. Cars are no exception. And anything you can do to avoid an insurance claim is worth doing, to keep your premiums as low as possible and hang onto your no claims bonus.
Here are seven sensible thing to do to prepare your car from the coming winter.
Book a service
If you’ve been driving your car any length of time you’ll know how it ‘feels’ and you’ll notice if something doesn’t seem right. If you have the slightest suspicion something isn’t quite as it should be, get your vehicle serviced now and fix ominous rattles and groans before the weather gets nasty.
Double check your lights
The long days mean millions of us never drive in the dark during the summer. Check your lights are all working before the nights draw in, replacing broken or dodgy bulbs.
Keep your windows clean
The better you can see, the safer you are, the less likely you are to have an accident and have to spend time and money sorting things out. Clean your car windows regularly even if you don’t bother cleaning the rest!
Drive extra-carefully
Drive like a nutter in freezing, wet or foggy weather and you stand a much better chance of losing your no claims bonus, getting speeding tickets and potentially trashing your car. If you’re one of those people who can’t resist illegally using a mobile phone on the move, turn it off and bung it in the glove compartment out of temptation’s way.
Prepare a common sense survival kit
The jury’s out over what the weather will be like this winter and it’s notoriously difficult to predict anyway. It’s best to be prepared for anything and everything. Here’s a few ideas about what to keep in your boot:
- warm clothes
- a shovel
- snacks
- first aid kit
- a fully-charged mobile phone
- your breakdown service details