Winter’s Coming! Prepare Your Car

If you park outside on the street, frosty nights will give your car a hard time. Read the next article on handy tips to make things easier and sweeten your mornings with simpler preparations before you set off.

Do you park outside on cold winter nights? Try out a couple of tips from our video that will make those early mornings more pleasant:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxwjdpLo6CE

In the third article of our winter series, we offer recommendations for situations where you encounter snow and ice on the road. For example, you need to brake a little earlier, turn the wheel smoothly, and exercise caution when crossing bridges, as they often freeze.

Do not let snow and ice catch you off-guard! Let’s go over a few basic rules in the video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99XJm5u4NOc

Also take a look at our list of practical Simply Clever gadgets to help you survive the winter. What would you say to a heated windscreen and steering wheel? A handily stored ice scraper or snow shovel in the boot? If you go on holiday to enjoy all the pursuits that winter has to offer, you’re sure to put your skis on the roof rack or in a Ski Sack in the luggage compartment. ŠKODA also has a few more useful aces up its sleeve that you’re bound to appreciate in the winter.

Simply Clever gadgets! Take a look at some of our smart solutions to make you feel comfortable on the road:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EwkBnmr1_E

Finally, you can run a check to find out whether you and your car are truly well prepared for the winter:

HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN SOMETHING?

	TOW ROPE It takes up little space and weighs almost nothing, but it’s priceless when a need arises. It is a saviour whether it is you who is stuck and hoping for help or if you are rescuing someone else in a similarly unpleasant situation.
	PROPERLY OPERATING WIPERS AND LIGHTS See and be seen – that is the basic rule of safe driving, and the demanding winter conditions (frequent rain and snow, dirt and salt on the road, and last but not least early dusk) will put your wipers and lights to the test.
	CAR BATTERY IN PERFECT CONDITION The car battery takes a beating in winter. If it is not in good condition, one freezing night is enough to prevent you from starting in the morning.
	SNOW CHAINS In winter, these are frequently mandatory even for four-wheel-drive vehicles (mainly in the Alps), so make sure you have them. Putting them on is easy if you practice in advance. Snow chains must be approved for the given tyre diameter.
	ICE SCRAPER In winter, you will need this more frequently than you would wish to. Fortunately, ŠKODA drivers can find theirs inside the fuel tank lid.
	EUROPEAN ACCIDENT STATEMENT FORM The official European accident statement form is not a part of the mandatory equipment, but having one will substantially facilitate potential discussions with insurance companies in the event of an accident.
	“LAST RESORT PACK” It may sound a bit funny, carrying around in your car a folding shovel, blanket, thermos, chocolate bar, forehead lamp, winter work gloves, and even an extra pair of socks, but only until you really need them…
	WINTER WINDSCREEN WASHER MIXTURE The anti-freezing mixture only prevents potential freezing of the washer systems when it is used undiluted in the windscreen washer reservoir. It works down to −25°C.
	NEXT SERVICE INSPECTION Check the date and mileage remaining before your next regular service inspection so you won’t have to worry about it while travelling.