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The guide to preparing your vehicle for winter

23rd Sep 2025
Checklists

Prepare your car for the Autumn season. The Car Co’s guide to preparing your vehicle for the season ahead.

 

As much as we hate to admit it, summer’s officially over so here’s 5 things to check off your checklist to prepare your vehicle for the season ahead.

 

1. Check your car battery

In the colder months, car batteries slow down and don’t hold a charge as long as they should which makes vehicles harder to start in autumn and winter time.

Car batteries also don’t do well while idle, batteries need 30 minutes of journey each day (or weekly equivalent) to last longer.

Both of these make an important reason to check your car battery during the colder months ahead.

If your car’s struggling to start or you notice any leaks or clear damage to the battery itself, then we’d suggest contacting us to book in with our service department. Our expert technicians will check your battery’s key health indicators (such as its charging capabilities) and if a replacement’s required, they’ll be able to offer advice on that.

 

2. Check your car lights

The last thing you want to happen in the cold harsh winter months is not have a working light or multiple non-working lights,  not only is this a safety hazard it’s also illegal, so before we can let it get to that, check your lights!

If a bulb has gone out make sure to replace the bulbs in pairs, (as the other usually tends to deteriorate soon after one has gone out).

 

3. Check your oil levels

Remembering to check your oil levels can be difficult, that’s why we’re here to remind you!

Checking your oil levels ensures your car is running smoothly, the oil cleans, cools and safeguards your cars engine making it an important task at all times.

 

4. Check your wheels

Like the rest of the car checks, checking your wheels is important at all times but it can be particularly dangerous if your wheels are worn/damaged on wet and icy roads.

You can learn how to change your wheels in emergencies from our guide but it’s essential to get your wheels checked by a garage if you see any damage, The Car Co offer full wheel repair and replacement, book yourself in to make sure your wheels are safe for the road and the season ahead.

 

5.      Check your wiper blades

The UK is famously a wet country with a lot of rainfall, particularly in autumn and winter. That’s why it’s essential that your wiper blades are up to the task of keeping your windscreen clear.

Signs that your blades might need replacing include if they leave smears or make a noise while moving, or if they’re not clearing the whole of your windscreen. You should also be on the lookout for any splits in the blade or missing pieces of rubber as that’s another indication that it’s time for a change.

 

Now that you’ve read this checklist can you say that you’re ready for the season ahead? Is there anything we’ve missed? Let us know on our Instagram @thecarco1.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

 

 

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