I år har vi sett bränslepriserna öka till oöverträffade nivåer, ekonomisk osäkerhet och familjer över hela landet som tittar på att sänka kostnaderna där det är möjligt.
Dessa tips täcker ett brett spektrum av problem som du kan tänkas möta som bilägare den här vintersäsongen – samt några extra idéer som du kanske inte har tänkt på.
Innan du läser vår expertguide för att minska kostnaderna vid vinterkörning, kolla in våra 30 snabba, pengarbesparande tips också.
Redan innan du har lämnat huset finns det några steg du bör ta innan du går ut i det kalla vädret.
Du bör planera din resa så att du vet om det finns någon trafik på din rutt och om det finns några alternativa vägar du kan ta.
Att köra på tomgång i bilen kan tappa bränsle i onödan. Bilar är som minst effektiva när de är kalla. Dagens motorer är designade för att fungera från det ögonblick du vrider om nyckeln – att värma motorn behövs inte längre.
Istället för att slå på din värme i fordonet kan det vara värt att investera i en bil med uppvärmda säten och uppvärmd ratt.
Kom dock ihåg att stänga av dem när du har värmt upp, eftersom de kommer att öka din bränsleförbrukning när de slås på.
När du väl är ute på vägen och vill tanka din bil med bränsle är det värt att leta efter bensinstationer nära dig som är baserade på stormarknader. De tenderar att vara billigare än andra alternativ.
Slutligen, behöver du verkligen sätta dig bakom ratten för att komma till din destination? Korta resor kan vara slöseri med bränsle och pengar när man inte behöver köra bil. Att veta hur man sparar bränsle kan hjälpa till att spara mycket pengar.
Med levnadskostnadskrisen som kommer att fortsätta under vintermånaderna, kan vara medveten om din bils driftskostnader – och var du kan göra besparingar – göra stor skillnad.
Being aware of what is in front of you when driving can help save money by avoiding unnecessary damage to your vehicle.
Dodging potholes and road surface damage will ensure that you don’t get any minor or major issues with your vehicle.
Also, if you know that you will be heading down country lanes, then it is also important to be wary of what you might have to drive across. Fallen branches, uneven road surfaces and tight gaps can all lead to potential damage to your car.
Although it is common for road conditions to worsen during the winter months, one key cash saving tip is that you can get compensation should your car get damaged from driving over a pothole.
Knowing how to report a pothole and claiming for damage can be a good backup plan, should anything occur when out on the road.
We also have a guide to potholes and other road defects you may encounter on your journey. Be prepared for what you might come across on your next journey.
Throughout the time that you own a vehicle, you will have encountered a problem that you would need an expert to look at.
However, there are some very simple checks that you can carry out yourself before the weather becomes cold and difficult to drive in.
In order to prevent a breakdown, carry out these 12 essential car maintenance checks and keep your vehicle in the best condition popular.
RAC data shows that less than a fifth of car owners check that their own vehicle is ‘road-ready’ – with 30% also revealing that they never check their car before setting off.
Spending a short amount of time carrying out these checks will save money, reduce the cost of an MOT, and keep you safe behind the wheel.
If you wish for a professional to check over your vehicle, then a service is a good option for car owners. Although these come with a cost, they can help uncover issues before they become expensive problems. Visit your nearest garage or contact a mobile mechanic to carry out a service.
Every winter, you will see a news article where an unsuspecting driver has found rodents, birds, and even cats living in or under your vehicle.
In colder weather, warm engines may attract animals – who will then potentially cause damage.
Animals seeking shelter could chew through wires, or get stuck within your engine.
If you leave your car in a place where an animal may be able to hide from the elements, make sure you check under the bonnet before setting off.
Even if there is nothing under there, it is good practice to check for any potential issues or lack of fluids.
One of the most important tips for any driver during the winter season is to make sure that your various fluids are all topped up.
Perhaps the most important fluid during the colder weather is your antifreeze levels. This is because you can damage your radiator and other car components if freezing occurs.
The video below explains how you check your engine coolant and antifreeze.
Coolant is used to maintain the engine’s temperature all year round, and most good quality coolants also contain anti-freeze properties to keep the coolant functioning in sub-zero temperatures.
Always check the label of products.
Antifreeze also helps prevent scale build up and corrosion inside passages.
Also, running low on engine oil can lead to damage to your engine – so make sure it is topped up before the cold weather hits.
The video below shows you how to check and top up your engine oil.
Have you noticed that your car is leaking? Then this guide will help you identify what the liquid dripping from your car is and what to do.
Windscreen wipers can be relatively expensive to repair or replace. During the colder, icier weather, they’ll wear out much more quickly – especially if you use them when your windscreen has frozen over.
Never use boiling water or use your windscreen wipers with fluid – this will damage the wiper blades and not remove the ice. It can also lead to shattering the glass.
Instead, clear the ice from the windscreen with a scraper or use de-icer instead. This is a much safer and cheaper alternative.
Ice scrapers are cheap to buy and can be stored easily within your vehicle. If you haven’t got a scraper, prices start from as little as £1.
One key piece of advice is to clear all ice from the windscreen before using your windscreen wipers. Even smaller bits of ice than remain can cause damage.
Should the worse happen and the rubber has degraded, then knowing how to change your windscreen wipers is vitally important.
This may be a simple piece of advice – but one that many people ignore.
By regularly washing your vehicle, you will notice any small issues or bits of damage. If you resolve them now, then you will avoid a large bill at a later date.
Also, when you are out on the road, there can be many distractions and inconsiderate drivers. However, remain calm and drive safely. There is no positive outcome from driving aggressively.
It will likely lead to damage to your vehicle, waste fuel and potentially put your passengers and other road users in harms way.
Driving along our road network comes with its own dangers in the winter time – but where you park your car can also make a massive difference when looking to cut costs.
Parking away from other vehicles means you are less likely to have your car hit by another – especially during icy conditions and if you are parked on a tight, city street.
It is also less likely to suffer frost damaged if it is kept out of the harsh weather.
In theory, it will also save on your car insurance quote – as your vehicle will be kept in a safer location.
Tyre safety is important all year round – but treacherous driving conditions in the winter months can create extra challenges.
This tyre buying guide gives you all the information you could need to make the best decision. However, if you live in a place where the winter can cause problems – you may need to consider winter tyres.
They are designed to offer optimum traction and grip in cold conditions. Winter tyres have a softer compound, along with deeper grooves and narrow cuts built into the tread.
These tyres disperse water, ice, and snow, allowing the rubber to move around which improves contact with the road. There are pros and cons to winter tyres, but they are a good option if you live in conditions where they suit the roads.
Winter tyres have a snowflake symbol on the sidewall.
However, investing in an all-year, all-purpose is the best way to go, as you will be ready for all types of road conditions.
If you purchase this option, the key is to make your tyres last longer.
No matter what tyre you currently have, looking after them is the best way to save money. Checking your tyre tread depth and overall health is vital for the safety of you and other road users – as is having the correct tyre pressure.
The video below shows how you can check for tyre pressure.
If you don’t drive very often, then you could suffer from a flat battery.
This is because the battery itself will degrade and lose charge. This is more likely in older cars with weaker batteries.
In order to prevent this, consider using a trickle charger to keep the battery topped-up if your car is left in a garage for an extended period of time or a battery conditioner if it appears to hold less charge than usual.
If your battery does go flat, having to jump start a car puts additional strain on the battery and may damage the engine management system and other delicate electronics:a double-whammy of increased wear.
To look after your battery without a trickle charger, you should try to drive your car at least once a week if possible – particularly in winter.
However, should the worse happen and you have suffered a flat battery, this guide will help you.
Throughout the year, you could encounter problems out on the road, or your vehicle could suffer an issue.
So, knowing what your dashboard warning lights mean that you can react accordingly.
However, in winter there are some that appear more commonly than others – such as check engine light, brake system warning light, low fluid levels and tyre pressure warning light.
Many vehicles also have a winter warning light – often a snowflake symbol – meaning that driving conditions are treacherous.
Also, in modern cars, there is also a notification that will appear stating that temperatures are low and there may be ice on the road.
Here at the RAC, we say ‘Layers save litres’ – and over a winter period, it could end up saving you money.
Instead of using your car’s heating or heated seats, put on an extra layer of clothing to keep yourself warm.
This means that your fuel is only being used to power the vehicle, rather than operating other systems within the car.
In wet and cold conditions, rust is more likely to appear on your vehicle.
The best course of action is to treat it before it develops into a more serious issue later on.
During the winter months, a gritter truck may have spread salt over main roads to help drivers.
However, a negative side effect of this is that salt can help accelerate the rusting process. Hand wash your car after driving on salted roads to avoid any issues.
This guide on how to remove and prevent rust is a good stating point to help you and your vehicle this winter.
Following on from the above – if you are out on the rods when the grit truck is spreading, then be careful.
Leave ample room so that the salt doesn’t hit your windscreen or scratch your vehicle.
Here is what you should do if you get tuck behind a gritter.
Preheating your electric vehicle (EV) is an important part of driving in winter conditions.
The biggest energy consumption within your EV is your heating system. Therefore, it is important to start preheating your car while it is still plugged into the chargepoint.
By doing this, the battery also gets hot when you start driving, and the car doesn’t have to use electricity to heat it up.
When it comes to preventing a winter breakdown, remember the acronym FORCES, which stands for Fuel, Oil, Rubber, Coolant, Electrics, Screen wash.
Learn more about how to check for each of these here.
Also, make sure you have your winter breakdown kit in your vehicle.
Here at the RAC, we have a number of helpful guides for driving in winter conditions. There are some useful guides you should check out to help you save some cash.
Obviously, we hope that you have no problems when driving out on the roads this winter.
However, the best way to save money – and have peace of mind – is to take out breakdown cover.
In order to be completely prepared for a breakdown – check out this guide for what to include in a winter emergency breakdown kit. It could make all the difference!
Finally, it might also be worth checking out how to get cheap car insurance.
Learn more about saving money on your vehicle with the RAC.
Stay safe and wrap up warm!
