7 Autumn Checks to Get Your Car Winter Ready: Your Ultimate Winter Car Maintenance Checklist
19th September 2025
A few simple checks now could make colder months easier. You do not need special tools. A 20p coin, a tyre gauge, winter screenwash and a torch will do for this simple winter car maintenance checklist.
1) Try the 20p test on your tyres
Press a 20p coin into a main tread groove. If you can still see the coin’s outer band, the tread could be too low. UK law says tread should be at least 1.6 mm across the central three-quarters of the tyre.
See clear photos and steps in the TyreSafe 20p test and the RAC guide to checking tyre tread. The Met Office explains why tyre checks help before colder weather in prepare your vehicle for winter.
2) Set tyre pressures when the tyres are cold
Find the figures on a sticker inside the driver’s door or in the handbook. Use a gauge and set pressures when the tyres are cold. This could help the car feel steady on wet roads.
If you want a step-by-step, read the RAC’s guide on how to check tyre pressure.
3) Top up coolant, engine oil and screenwash
Check the coolant when the engine is cold. Antifreeze in the mix could help prevent freezing and protect the engine. Use the dipstick to confirm oil sits between the marks and add the grade in your handbook. Fill the washer bottle with winter screenwash so the jets keep working.
You can read the winter vehicle tips for more details.
4) Book a quick battery check before temperatures drop
A slow start, dim lights at idle or an older battery could point to a weak charge. A simple test now could prevent a no-start on a busy morning. If most of your trips are short, a slightly longer drive once a week could help the alternator top things up.
The RAC explains cold start checks and care in getting started in the cold and shares tips in its winter battery advice.
5) Check all lights and follow winter rules
Switch on the headlights, sidelights, indicators, brake lights and the number plate light. Wipe the lenses clean. Clear all windows and mirrors before you set off.
The Highway Code sets out winter rules for lights and visibility in Rules 226 to 237 and National Highways has a short reminder for fog in travelling in fog.
6) Fit fresh wipers and use winter screenwash
If the wipers leave streaks or skip across the glass, the rubber could be worn. New blades take minutes to fit and could improve your view right away. Use winter screenwash rather than water, so it still works when it is cold.
7) Pack a small boot kit for longer delays
Keep a torch, scraper and de-icer, warm layers or a blanket, snacks and water, a phone charger, a first aid kit and a small shovel if snow is likely. These items could make a long delay easier if traffic builds on an M road or a rural B road.
The AA and RAC share simple prep lists in the AA winter checklist and the RAC winter kit list.
Before you go
You could set a weekly reminder for tyre pressures, screenwash and a quick light check. Save this as your simple winter car maintenance checklist so you can tick things off each autumn.
If these checks lead you to plan for bigger car costs later in the year, you might want to read more about how car loans work and what to consider before you decide. You can find clear information here: Oakbrook car loans.