Cold weather finds the weak spots in a car: a tired battery, soft tires, worn wipers, a recall nobody fixed. This is the check the US road safety regulator, NHTSA, recommends before winter, in the order it is quickest to do.
1. Check for open recalls first
It takes two minutes and the repair is free. Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall look-up (US) or in our VIN check, which also looks at the Canadian, UK and other registers. A recall that affects heating, defrosting, wipers, lights or brakes matters more in winter than at any other time. Curious how many recalls your model has had? Make its recall card.
2. Battery, charging system and belts
NHTSA says cold weather reduces battery power, and petrol and diesel engines need more of it to start in the cold. Have a mechanic check the battery, the charging system and the belts, and replace what is worn before the first freeze.
3. Coolant
Check the cooling system for leaks, test the coolant, and drain or replace old coolant. Use the coolant your manufacturer specifies in the owner's manual.
4. Tire pressure and tread
- Tire pressure drops as the outside temperature drops, so check it more often in winter: NHTSA says at least once a month, including the spare.
- Measure when the tires are cold, meaning not driven for at least three hours.
- Inflate to the pressure on the label inside the driver's door frame or in the owner's manual, not the figure moulded on the tire, which is the tire's maximum.
- Tread should be at least 2/32 of an inch deep. NHTSA's penny test: put a penny head-first into the tread; if you can see the top of Lincoln's head, replace the tire.
- A tire pressure warning light means at least one tire is, in NHTSA's words, "significantly underinflated". It is not a substitute for checking.
- If you drive in snow regularly, consider snow tires.
- Tires are recalled separately from the car: read the DOT code and check yours.
5. Wipers, washer fluid and defroster
Fill the washer reservoir with winter fluid that contains de-icer, test the defroster, and replace worn wiper blades. Heavy-duty winter blades help where snow and ice are common.
6. Lights
Check headlights, brake lights, turn signals, hazard lights and interior lights, and the trailer lights if you tow.
7. Floor mats
Thick rubber mats help with slush, but they must be the right size for the car and fixed with the retention clips, so they cannot slide under the pedals.
8. Electric and hybrid cars
Range drops in the cold, because the battery stores and delivers less energy and the car uses battery power to heat itself. NHTSA's advice: keep the battery charged, keep the car as warm as you can (a garage helps), and plug in overnight so the battery stays in its best temperature range.
9. Pack the emergency kit
Snow brush, scraper and shovel, sand or cat litter for grip, jumper cables, a torch, flares or warning markers, a first aid kit, blankets, water, food, and a phone charger. The full list, and what to do if you are stranded, is in the winter emergency kit guide.
10. Keep the tank close to full
NHTSA advises keeping the fuel tank close to full in winter. Before a long trip, check the weather and the roads, and tell someone your route and when you expect to arrive.
Quick answers
What should I check on my car before winter?
Check for open recalls by VIN, then the battery and charging system, coolant, tire pressure and tread, wipers, washer fluid and defroster, and all lights, and pack an emergency kit. This is the list NHTSA, the US road safety regulator, recommends.
Does tire pressure drop in cold weather?
Yes. NHTSA says tire pressure drops as the outside temperature drops. Check it at least once a month when the tires are cold, and inflate to the pressure on the driver's door label, not the maximum printed on the tire.
Why do electric cars lose range in winter?
Their batteries store and deliver less energy in the cold, and the car uses battery power to heat itself. Keeping the car warm and plugging it in overnight helps.
More winter safety
- Winter car emergency kit: what to carry, and what to do if you are stranded
- Winter coats and car seats: why the puffy coat comes off
- Carbon monoxide in cars: warming up, garages and snow-blocked exhausts
Sources
Published 7 November 2026 by A.I.T. Multiverse Consulting Ltd, Nicosia, Cyprus. CarsMultiverse is an independent site, not an authority: the advice above is the named official bodies' own, reworded, and their pages are the ones to rely on.