Winterize Your Car With This Handy Checklist!

Winter is coming. Is your car ready?

Winter in Colorado can mean learning all sorts of new, exciting things about your car—especially if it needs maintenance. Cold weather, snow, and buildups of road salt can all significantly widen the margins for things to go wrong under your vehicle's hood. Beyond that, it can often seem like everyone in Colorado forgets how to drive once the first snow comes down, so driving over the next few months means sharing the road with plenty of drivers who are managing their own set of snowy stressors.

There are a couple of things you can do now to prepare for when the snow comes. You really, really don't want to learn anything surprising about your car's condition on the side of the road at 9:45 p.m. on a 15° November evening, so a little preparation goes a long way. Here's our checklist of steps you can take to winterize your car:

Before things get too much colder, make sure to check (and top off) both your windshield wiper fluid and antifreeze. The former is incredibly useful for keeping snow and sleet from blocking your windshield, while the latter keeps both your engine cool and your cabin hot.
If your car is scheduled for an oil change in the next thousand or so miles, it can be helpful to go ahead and get your oil changed early. A properly lubricated engine is much better equipped for dealing with the cold.
Take look at your tires, especially the wear bar that's set in the grooves of the tire tread. This black rubber bar measures how worn down your tires are. If it's completely worn away, or it's worn unevenly, then it's time to replace your tires.
The last thing you'll want to check is your car's battery, especially if you've been parking outdoors. There's a reason why dead batteries are the No. 1 source of AAA calls, and Colorado's cold weather can be especially draining. Your dealership or local garage will be able to easily check your battery's charge for you, and replace it if necessary.

Following all of these steps can greatly lower your chances of experiencing a mechanical failure during the winter, especially if you anticipate doing a lot of driving in the snow.

No matter how equipped you are for the snow, however, there's always the risk of an accident beyond your control. Whether it's a wild animal, a careless driver, or an unavoidable road condition, driving in winter always comes with the risk of a break-down. If that happens, then having a properly stocked emergency kit in your car can be a literal lifesaver. Safety experts recommend making sure that the following is in your car:

Road flares, a first aid kit, and a flashlight are must-haves for any car.
In the event of a battery failure, it's a good idea to have jumper cables or a portable battery charger.
Make sure to include additional warm clothing or some other source of warmth, such as heavy blankets or emergency heat sheets.
Packing an ice-scraper or ice brush is a must in Colorado. In addition, a compact shovel can be useful for digging out a stuck car.
Protein bars can also be a good idea if you're going to be driving through remote locations—such as national parks or mountains—where roadside assistance could take longer to arrive.

We get it: winter driving in Colorado can just flat-out suck at times. By being a little proactive about your car's condition, you can protect yourself from the worst the season has to offer. If nothing else, you'll be keeping your car running happily and smoothly through next year!