This week, Florida drivers in the northern part of the state are quickly learning or remembering how to drive in snow and ice as a freak winter storm blows cold white stuff in record-breaking amounts across the Sunshine State, with more cold weather coming .

You also need to take care of your car, which isn't used to these conditions any more than you are. Here's what to know.

Park in garage or carport

If you can keep snow, ice and sleet from getting to your ride in the first place, you're ahead of the game.

Keep snow off windshield, body

If you have to park outdoors, keep an eye on your vehicle and clear off any snow that's piling too high. Heavy snow can strain your windshield, potentially cracking it or causing the adhesive holding to weaken or come free. The weight of the snow can also push down on your car, deforming it, although it's unlikely Florida will see enough snow for that.

It's the safest way to de-ice your windshield, but it's also the most time-consuming. You can speed things up by mixing up a homemade deicing solution with one part isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol, the more pure the better, and two parts water. Spray it on and wipe the melting ice away with a plastic scraper, your windshield wipers or a rubber squeegee.

DO NOT try to break the ice or use any kind of blowtorch, even the cool kitchen one you bought.

If your door is frozen shut, pour some lukewarm — not hot — water over the door to melt the ice, or push on it to see if you can break the seal.

Clear your windshields and roof completely before driving

Not only is this safer — you want full visibility, and you don't want snow sloughing off your roof on the highway and causing problems for other motorists — it's the law.

Florida statutes don't have much to say about snow but they do prohibit anything on the "front windshield, side wings, or side or rear windows" that "materially obstructs, obscures, or impairs the driver’s clear view of the highway or any intersecting highway."

Keep your vehicle from rusting

Check tires, battery

Colder temperatures can cause tire pressure to drop about 1 PSI for every 10 degrees the temperature drops, according to Consumer Reports.

In Florida, that means a swing in temperature from the high 90s to the low 20s could be a 7 PSI drop in tire pressure — enough to change the way your car handles. Check it manually when the temps drop.

Car batteries that are three to-five years old have much less starting power in low temperatures, AAA says. Have them checked and make sure you have jumper cables.

EVs in cold weather

If you’re an EV owner, you've got a few more issues to deal with.

First, if you charge outside at home. your charging connector could freeze. Use a magnetic ECV charging inlet connector cover or bag.

Be sure to warm up the vehicle before you drive and make sure you’re fully charged any time you go out. Cold weather can reduce an EV’s range by 10% to 30% because of the car’s increased energy use to keep warm, and the colder it is the more your range will be reduced. Also, EVs will charge more slowly in cold weather.

If you can, use an app to set your EV to "precondition" so that by the time you're ready to leave, your interior and battery are already nice and warm, you'll get the most performance and range.