Cold temperatures are tough on cars, making accidents and claims to your auto insurance more possible.
Though we may not get a lot of actual snow in many parts of Texas, Blue Northers with those low, heavy clouds that produce freezing rain and cold, miserable conditions are more likely to happen as winter approaches.
Is your car ready for this kind of inclement weather?
Before the temperatures drop, check over these helpful tips recommended by auto insurance agencies to stay safe and avoid an accident.
Beyond keeping up the right car insurance, prevention is always the best protection as is keeping cars ready for winter!
1. Maintenance
Carmakers, mechanics, and auto insurance carriers all agree that a highly important factor for keeping a car safe in winter as well as the rest of the year is providing required maintenance.
A well-maintained vehicle is much less likely to break down which lowers the possibility of encountering a dangerous situation that results in an accident.
2. Lights and Battery
As the temperatures drop, have the battery tested to make sure it is strong and can hold a charge so the car will start when you need it to.
Also, check all car lights as malfunctioning headlights are responsible for many accidents that auto insurance agencies see claims filed.
Make sure all lights are intact and in good shape, working as they should especially brake and turning lights.
3. Tires and Tire Pressure
Heading into winter when accidents on dangerous, slippery roads could leave cause and accident and require filing a car insurance claim, it is essential that tires are up to the task of keeping you safe.
Check the tread and get a new set if the current tires are bald or approaching that point.
Tire pressure is equally important for maintaining control on a slippery road.
Colder weather can cause pressure to reduce, creating a dangerous situation in tires that already have low pressure.
Periodically check inflation and keep tires at the manufacturer's recommended pressure for colder weather.
4. Wipers and Defroster
Visibility problems are near the top of the list of issues that auto insurance companies find contributing to costly car accidents.
Avoid them and keep the windshield clear by installing fresh wiper blades on your car’s wiper arms, filling up the washer fluid tank, and making sure front and back defrosters work.
Have repairs done if they do not work because doing otherwise puts you and everyone else on the road in danger if your view is obstructed by a foggy or icy windshield.
5. Mechanical Fitness
Overall, a safe vehicle is one that is in great shape mechanically.
Most auto insurance services know that mechanical failures are responsible for a large number of crashes.
When those mechanical failures are combined with bad weather and dangerous roads, the chance of a crash increases exponentially.
Keep up with general vehicle maintenance and make any necessary repairs when they are needed to reduce the chances of being in an accident.
6. Brakes
In addition to tires, lights, and overall mechanical fitness, the condition and functioning of car brakes are critical to driving safety and preventing accidents.
Have brakes checked in the fall to ensure the rotors and brake pads are in acceptable condition and the calipers are working properly,
Brake failures alone account for a high number of mechanical failures that lead to a dangerous accident.
7. Winterizing
Another way to prevent accidents and claims to your car insurance in cold weather and on slick roads is to winterize your car every late fall so it is ready for the colder temperatures.
Along with new windshield wiper blades and filling the reservoir with non-freezing washer fluid, flush and refill the cooling system with antifreeze and change the oil to a lower viscosity to make cold starts easier.
Use tires that can handle wet, snowy, and icy roads best and be sure they are in great shape.
Be Ready For A Texas Blue Northern!
We may not see a lot of bad winter weather in Texas, but what we do see can be extreme.
Plan ahead to avoid situations that could result in an accident and claim to your auto insurance by preparing your car for the colder weather before it gets here.
Auto insurance agencies agree that it is always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to driving when those Blue Northers strike!
