Tips for avoiding winter car repairs

When it comes to financial planning, it’s easy to overlook the steps we can take to prevent emergency costs from occurring. We’re used to borrowers coming to us to meet unexpected costs that can’t wait until payday. And one of the most common uses for payday loans is car repairs.

The winter months can take a major toll on your car, so it’s a good idea to carry out some simple winter car checks before the cold weather sets in.

In this guide, we’ll explore simple steps that can help reduce the risk of costly car repairs, protecting your money and preventing the need to take out a loan to cover the costs. Check out our winter car care advice below.

In this guide:

• What causes winter car troubles?
• Essential winter car checks: How to prepare your car for winter
• Staying on top of winter car care

What causes winter car troubles?

According to research by Axa Insurance, there are five main reasons why cars break down in the winter months. This is why it’s so important to take specific steps to prevent car problems at the beginning of winter, before the weather gets cold and icy.

Here’s Axa’s top five winter breakdown causes:

1. Empty battery: Research shows you’re 51% more likely to have problems with your car battery in the winter. This is due to change in usage (you’re much more likely to drive with lights and heating on in winter) as well as batteries struggling to transfer full power.
2. Flat tyres: You’re 36% more likely to suffer a flat tyre during the winter, as the rubber can become stiff, reducing air pressure in the tyres.
3. Engine cuts out: This happens 27% more often during winter months, as batteries are more likely to struggle to generate the necessary power to start your engine.
4. Car won’t start: Engine trouble is a common theme too. There are 18% more incidents of cars not starting in winter than in the summer.
5. Engine warning light comes on: This is 4% more likely to happen in the winter, as the cold weather can exacerbate existing issues and impact various components of your vehicle.

Essential winter car checks: How to prepare your car for winter

To help you protect your car against seasonal repairs, we’ve put together a winter car checklist with key measures you can take to help protect your car against the elements.

1. Get the basics checked and invest in car servicing

Although it may come at a cost, having your car serviced before winter is a sensible move if you want to avoid a costly winter breakdown, for which you may not be prepared. If you’re financially struggling to keep your car checked over, you may be eligible for a short-term MOT loan for emergency checks.

There are also basic winter car checks that everyone should do regularly, regardless of the season, but particularly before the cold weather arrives. These checks include:

• Your tyre pressure
• Your oil and water levels
• Making sure your lights are working correctly

As well as preventing the unexpected cost and inconvenience associated with a breakdown, carrying out these checks will also help to keep you safe on the road.

2. Pay attention to your battery

We all recognise that sinking feeling when your engine fails to start as you turn the ignition key, or your car fails to even unlock. These issues are often down to a flat battery, which will either need charging or replacing. The winter takes a far greater toll on your battery – think about how much more you use the lights, the heater and the wipers.

Making sure your battery is in tip-top condition could prevent unnecessary problems, so it makes sense to get your battery checked in advance of the coldest winter months.

We recommend getting your battery checked at a garage, but you can also do it yourself with the help of your car manual and a battery tester. Batteries do have a shelf-life, so you may need to invest in a new one as part of your winter car checks if it’s proving unreliable.

Remember, a scheduled expense is always better than an unscheduled expense, so think carefully about investing in a fresh battery if you know yours is old and worn out.

3. Check tyre tread and wiper blades before driving in the rain

The tread of your tyres should, ideally, be 4mm for winter driving. The legal minimum is 1.8mm, but winter driving requires a thicker tread. If in doubt, get your tyres checked professionally or replace them with new ones that you know will help keep you safe.

Your wiper blades also need to be checked for cracks and splits. They don’t last forever, so it’s vital to ensure they’re working OK before setting out on rainy days.

It’s easy to go months without using your wipers, but you don’t want to find yourself on the motorway in the heavy rain with substandard wiper blades. If you need to replace your wipers with new ones, you can do it yourself or ask your local garage to fit them for you.

4. Keep up with tyre maintenance

Maintaining the correct tyre pressure isn’t as black and white as most drivers may believe. In the winter months, cold temperatures can reduce the pressure in your tyres. Therefore, it’s a good idea to increase the pressure by 0.2 bars, which is about 3 PSI.

When you go to inflate your tyres, try to find a garage that’s close to home so you can inflate them while they’re still cold. Your tyres will be cold if you’ve driven less than two miles at a slow speed.

Another factor to consider is the type of tyre on your vehicle. Winter tyres are specifically designed to cope with temperatures under zero degrees and can help you gain traction on slippery, wet, snowy or icy roads. Summer tyres are not appropriate for temperatures of under seven degrees as they will lose traction in colder weather, making an accident much more likely.

5. Keep an eye on your antifreeze levels

The cooling system of your engine should be filled with half antifreeze and half water. Check the antifreeze levels and ensure that your levels of water and antifreeze are, indeed, equal. The pressure levels in your cooling system can sometimes be a little off. Sometimes, getting the pressure checked can show leaks that are only just starting to appear.

Spotting these early winter car checks will help prevent your engine from breaking down when the weather gets really cold.

6. Make sure you have the right winter gear in your car

There are a few items that you should carry in your car for the winter months that you wouldn’t need during the summer. These won’t always prevent a breakdown, but they’re a key part of our winter car checklist, as they could help you if you do find yourself waiting by the road for a recovery vehicle:

• Ice-scraper
• De-icer
• Torch
• Warm car blankets, and warm clothes for all passengers
• High-vis jackets for all passengers
• Spare in-car phone charger for emergencies
• Portable battery jump starter

Staying on top of winter car care

Cold weather is unpredictable, but these winter car checks can help you prepare your car for winter and keep you safe throughout the season.

We explore a range of different funding options for car repairs on our blog, but if the worst does happen and you can’t cover an emergency or last-minute fix, talk to the crew at Moneyboat. We offer flexible payday loans for car repairs that can help keep you on the road.

Access financial support this winter

Between Christmas and car care, winter can be an expensive time of year. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or unsure about your next steps, there are many third-party support charities and organisations that might be able to help you out. The following organisations can help you understand your options:

• StepChange: Offers free debt advice, including help with budgeting, repayment plans, and more
• Citizens Advice: Provides guidance on budgeting, employment, and benefits
• MoneyHelper: A government-backed resource for free money and pensions advice