Prepare for snowy roads with our winter driving checklist
Published 7 January 2026
Last updated 7 January 2026
Winter is here and the snow is starting to settle. If the change in road conditions has you wondering if you should be taking your vehicle out, check out our winter driving checklist to see how you can prepare for the roads.
In this blog, we’ll reveal our winter driving checklist so you can be ready for the roads – whatever the weather.
Whether you had a white Christmas or are now seeing snowflakes fall, it’s important to know what to expect. Being prepared can help you stay safe on your driving journey.
Step 1: Start by planning your journey
The first thing to think about is whether travel is absolutely necessary. If the weather is really bad, it might be best to postpone your trip or use public transport. Always try to avoid driving in thick fog or icy conditions as the risk of a road traffic incident is far higher.
If you have to go out, then planning your journey is a must. Check the weather and your route so you know what to expect. If your journey involves motorways and main roads, National Highways' travel alerts is a good place to get the latest information. Remember that local/national radio is also a useful source of traffic, travel, and weather news. Local social media pages may also have information about which roads are affected by the weather.
Step 2: Get your car packed and ready for winter roads
The next step is to make sure your car is ready for the road.
Remove all snow and ice from the windows, lights, mirrors and number plates. You should also remove snow from the bonnet and roof of your car. This is really important: snow flying off when you drive could be hazardous for other road users! Never use hot water to melt the snow and ice on your car as the sudden increase in heat can cause the glass to crack or lead to refreezing. An inexpensive ice scraper and a can of de-icer should be sufficient to do the job.
Make sure you check all fluid levels including the engine oil, coolant, brake fluid and washer fluid. Keeping an eye on these and topping up as necessary will help keep everything in good order, leaving you to concentrate on driving safely.
Your tyres are the only contact between the road and your vehicle. It’s always important to keep them in good condition and correctly inflated but even more so when the roads are slippery. Make sure you check them before beginning your journey. The legal minimum tread depth is 1.6mm but the more tread you have the better your tyres will grip.
It's also important to pack an emergency kit. This should include
- an ice scraper and de-icer
- sunglasses to combat dazzle from the low winter sun
- food and drink (hot drinks are a great idea)
- blankets and warm clothes for you and your passengers
- high-visibility clothing and a warning triangle
- a shovel and boots
- jump leads or jump pack
- a first aid kit
- a road atlas
- a mobile phone and in-car charger or a portable power bank
- a torch and spare batteries.
One final tip is to always let someone know where you’re going and when you expect to arrive. If you do not let them know that you’ve arrived, and they cannot get in touch with you, they can raise the alarm and send help.
Know what to expect with winter driving
Do you know how to drive in snow and ice?
Whether you have some knowledge, but you’d like to learn more, have yet to drive in winter or you have many years of driving behind you, our blog on winter driving has loads of helpful advice. If you want to take things a stage further, The Official DVSA Guide to Winter Driving is a micro e-learning course packed full of tips, advice and guidance. It explores important topics such as journey planning and vehicle maintenance, with expert advice taken from official DVSA publications. There’s also a whole section on all-weather driving in The Official DVSA Guide to Driving – the essential skills! Learn what to do when your car windows mist up and get expert advice on how to drive and brake on snow and ice.
Hopefully you found these tips helpful and are feeling prepared for winter driving. See you next time!
