TRUST ONE OF THE UK’S LARGEST GENERAL INSURERS. Find out more about Allianz Insurance plc.

Your cover:

Winter driving tips – day-to-day driving

Our winters bring a wide range of weather conditions, some of them making driving extremely hazardous. Yet life goes on, with most of us wrapping up warmly, scraping our windscreens and going about our business.

The tips which follow will help you ensure that each winter journey you make passes without incident, while our Winter driving tips – preparing for winter page will help you plan in advance to ensure a winter of trouble free driving.

Tucking up your car at night	If you are fortunate enough to have a garage, use it, even if it does take a few minutes longer at night and again in the morning. The time will be recouped on the first morning that you do not have to waste time in an icy driveway starting a car whose battery has run down. Clear out the garage around the time you put the garden to sleep for the winter, and make sure the door lock and counterbalance mechanism open freely. Being in the garage will keep the car at a warmer temperature overnight, as well as protecting it from the seeping moisture and condensation that cause electrics to falter. Remember, insurance companies may not pay out if you say you park your car in the garage when actually, on a number of occasions, you don’t.

Tucking up your car at night

/content/allianz_your_cover/en/products/car_insurance/hints_and_tips/driving_safely/winter_driving_tips/jcr:content/centre-parsys/contents_generic/file

If you are fortunate enough to have a garage, use it, even if it does take a few minutes longer at night and again in the morning. The time will be recouped on the first morning that you do not have to waste time in an icy driveway starting a car whose battery has run down.

Clear out the garage around the time you put the garden to sleep for the winter, and make sure the door lock and counterbalance mechanism open freely. Being in the garage will keep the car at a warmer temperature overnight, as well as protecting it from the seeping moisture and condensation that cause electrics to falter. Remember, insurance companies may not pay out if you say you park your car in the garage when actually, on a number of occasions, you don’t.

Planning your journeys	If the winter weather conditions are unfavourable, plan every journey you make with even more care than usual. If you are only driving locally and on familiar roads, think carefully about which roads to take. Try to stay on major roads which will be gritted first, and on which the weight of traffic is more likely to have dispersed light flurries of snow. Avoid narrow roads which may be snowy or icy. Avoid hills, where possible, which may be difficult to negotiate in icy conditions, and avoid wherever possible roads which you know are prone to flooding Adding a few more minutes to your journey by taking the longer way around could save you a lot more time if it means you avoid dealing with an accident or having to drive ever more slowly to bypass obstacles If you are making longer journeys, and using roads with which you are unfamiliar, plot your route carefully using route planners which are available online and keep to major roads wherever possible. Use local radio, or a live-traffic feed sat nav, throughout your journey to keep updated on road closures, accidents and tailbacks caused by snow or fog Allow additional time to travel. A journey which would take 30 minutes in normal conditions could take 45mins, an hour, or perhaps longer in winter conditions. Set off in good time for any event whose start time you cannot influence. Prepare yourself in advance for how you will deal with the possibility of being delayed. Call ahead to warn colleagues or friends in good time, so that you do not face increasing stress as the hour approaches and you are still stuck in your car

Planning your journeys

If the winter weather conditions are unfavourable, plan every journey you make with even more care than usual.

If you are only driving locally and on familiar roads, think carefully about which roads to take. Try to stay on major roads which will be gritted first, and on which the weight of traffic is more likely to have dispersed light flurries of snow. Avoid narrow roads which may be snowy or icy. Avoid hills, where possible, which may be difficult to negotiate in icy conditions, and avoid wherever possible roads which you know are prone to flooding
Adding a few more minutes to your journey by taking the longer way around could save you a lot more time if it means you avoid dealing with an accident or having to drive ever more slowly to bypass obstacles
If you are making longer journeys, and using roads with which you are unfamiliar, plot your route carefully using route planners which are available online and keep to major roads wherever possible. Use local radio, or a live-traffic feed sat nav, throughout your journey to keep updated on road closures, accidents and tailbacks caused by snow or fog
Allow additional time to travel. A journey which would take 30 minutes in normal conditions could take 45mins, an hour, or perhaps longer in winter conditions. Set off in good time for any event whose start time you cannot influence. Prepare yourself in advance for how you will deal with the possibility of being delayed. Call ahead to warn colleagues or friends in good time, so that you do not face increasing stress as the hour approaches and you are still stuck in your car

Starting your journey	Allow 10 minutes before you need to leave home to get your car ready. It’s time well spent. Keep a brush in your garage or porch with which to clear as much snow as possible from the car and ensure you clear snow off the roof as it can slide off and obscure the windscreen Use a key heated with a match to thaw your car door lock if it has frozen. Do not try to thaw locks using your breath, as the droplets will simply freeze and compound the problem Never defrost car windows using water. Hot water is extremely likely to crack your windscreen. Even if it does not, it will rapidly freeze onto the ice already there, worsening the problem Take an ice scraper, and a window de-icer spray, and clear as much of your windscreen, main lights, brake lights and indicators as possible. It is extremely dangerous to attempt to drive a car through a small window of vision cleared in ice or expect other drivers to react to your driving if they can’t see you or your signals properly Wipe over the inside of your windscreen with a kitchen cloth or sponge which you have soaked in undiluted washing up liquid and allowed to dry. Surprisingly, this prevents your breath condensing on your windscreen while you drive. If your windows do mist up, turning on your air conditioning for a few minutes will help clear them faster than using only your fan However tempting it may be, do not start your car so your windscreens can defrost and return to your house leaving the engine running. If you car is stolen in these circumstances, you will not be covered under the Your Cover policy

Starting your journey

Allow 10 minutes before you need to leave home to get your car ready. It’s time well spent.

Keep a brush in your garage or porch with which to clear as much snow as possible from the car and ensure you clear snow off the roof as it can slide off and obscure the windscreen
Use a key heated with a match to thaw your car door lock if it has frozen. Do not try to thaw locks using your breath, as the droplets will simply freeze and compound the problem
Never defrost car windows using water. Hot water is extremely likely to crack your windscreen. Even if it does not, it will rapidly freeze onto the ice already there, worsening the problem
Take an ice scraper, and a window de-icer spray, and clear as much of your windscreen, main lights, brake lights and indicators as possible. It is extremely dangerous to attempt to drive a car through a small window of vision cleared in ice or expect other drivers to react to your driving if they can’t see you or your signals properly
Wipe over the inside of your windscreen with a kitchen cloth or sponge which you have soaked in undiluted washing up liquid and allowed to dry. Surprisingly, this prevents your breath condensing on your windscreen while you drive. If your windows do mist up, turning on your air conditioning for a few minutes will help clear them faster than using only your fan
However tempting it may be, do not start your car so your windscreens can defrost and return to your house leaving the engine running. If you car is stolen in these circumstances, you will not be covered under the Your Cover policy

Keeping your car warm and comfortable	On ordinary journeys in winter keep the temperature inside your car at a pleasant level, and make sure that you and your passengers are dressed appropriately for the weather outside. Always assume when setting off that it is possible that you could have to walk! Do not run heaters unnecessarily once your car is at a reasonable temperature, as these draw heavily on your battery. It is a good idea to carry a blanket and/or a coat or fleece in your car as, they can come in handy during the winter months.

Keeping your car warm and comfortable

On ordinary journeys in winter keep the temperature inside your car at a pleasant level, and make sure that you and your passengers are dressed appropriately for the weather outside. Always assume when setting off that it is possible that you could have to walk!

Do not run heaters unnecessarily once your car is at a reasonable temperature, as these draw heavily on your battery.

It is a good idea to carry a blanket and/or a coat or fleece in your car as, they can come in handy during the winter months.

Driving in winter conditions	The golden rule of winter driving is that if you do not have to make the journey, you should stay at home. The more conditions worsen, the more rigorously you should ask yourself whether you really do ‘have to’ travel. Even when conditions improve, melting snow, slush or rain over the top of ice can create very hazardous driving conditions so take notice of travel warnings in your area and adjust your driving to suit the weather conditions. If you cannot avoid driving, set off with the utmost care. Keep dry comfortable shoes in the car and switch into them to drive. It’s dangerous to drive in wet, muddy or snow-laden boots or wellingtons. Pull off in second. Coming gently off the clutch will reduce the risk of your wheels going into a spin Avoid oversteering. Make cautious progress, manoeuvring your car with care Remember that on snow and ice, you require a ten times greater distance in which to stop than in dry conditions Give yourself good time to brake, - this means keeping a sensible distance from the car in front and when you brake, do so gently. If you go into a skid, come off the brake, and de-clutch Travel at as constant a speed as possible. Choose a suitable gear (generally second or third) when going up inclines in icy conditions, and avoid changing gear as you climb. If you drive an automatic, it will normally be safe to allow the ‘drive’ mode to select the gear for you, though if you wish to override this to avoid spin, move into second. Drive in third or fourth when descending hills in icy conditions, as this will help prevent you skidding If your wheels become stuck in snowy or icy weather, straighten up the steering wheel and brush or scrape as much ice or snow as you can from the tyres. Create something to grip by placing pieces of carpet or old sacks in front of the wheels receiving the drive

Driving in winter conditions

The golden rule of winter driving is that if you do not have to make the journey, you should stay at home. The more conditions worsen, the more rigorously you should ask yourself whether you really do ‘have to’ travel. Even when conditions improve, melting snow, slush or rain over the top of ice can create very hazardous driving conditions so take notice of travel warnings in your area and adjust your driving to suit the weather conditions.

If you cannot avoid driving, set off with the utmost care. Keep dry comfortable shoes in the car and switch into them to drive. It’s dangerous to drive in wet, muddy or snow-laden boots or wellingtons.

Pull off in second. Coming gently off the clutch will reduce the risk of your wheels going into a spin
Avoid oversteering. Make cautious progress, manoeuvring your car with care
Remember that on snow and ice, you require a ten times greater distance in which to stop than in dry conditions
Give yourself good time to brake, - this means keeping a sensible distance from the car in front and when you brake, do so gently. If you go into a skid, come off the brake, and de-clutch
Travel at as constant a speed as possible. Choose a suitable gear (generally second or third) when going up inclines in icy conditions, and avoid changing gear as you climb. If you drive an automatic, it will normally be safe to allow the ‘drive’ mode to select the gear for you, though if you wish to override this to avoid spin, move into second. Drive in third or fourth when descending hills in icy conditions, as this will help prevent you skidding
If your wheels become stuck in snowy or icy weather, straighten up the steering wheel and brush or scrape as much ice or snow as you can from the tyres. Create something to grip by placing pieces of carpet or old sacks in front of the wheels receiving the drive

Floods	Avoid driving through deep puddles and pools wherever possible. Your air intake may well draw in water and this will cause serious engine damage. Diesels and turbo-boosted cars are especially at risk. Whenever you have to drive through water, do so slowly, with a firm grip on the steering wheel. If you feel your wheels aquaplaning (spinning freely having lost contact with the road), grip the steering lightly, come off the accelerator, and wait until you feel the wheels regain road contact. Once you are through the water, test your brakes repeatedly. Never attempt to drive across fast-flowing water. Cars are no match for the power of a river or even stream that has burst its banks.

Floods

Avoid driving through deep puddles and pools wherever possible. Your air intake may well draw in water and this will cause serious engine damage. Diesels and turbo-boosted cars are especially at risk. Whenever you have to drive through water, do so slowly, with a firm grip on the steering wheel. If you feel your wheels aquaplaning (spinning freely having lost contact with the road), grip the steering lightly, come off the accelerator, and wait until you feel the wheels regain road contact. Once you are through the water, test your brakes repeatedly. Never attempt to drive across fast-flowing water. Cars are no match for the power of a river or even stream that has burst its banks.

Other drivers’ behaviour	Even if your own winter driving is faultless, and no misfortunes overtake you, winter roads may not treat the car coming towards you so kindly. Keep increased distances between you and the vehicle in front in fog, and on wet or icy roads. When driving in freezing conditions keep in mind that other drivers may lose control of their steering without notice. Always try to allow more passing room in icy conditions to allow for this, and keep your speed down. If you are unfortunate enough to find yourself in a bump caused by icy conditions, Your Cover’s No claims discount protection option could save you sacrificing a valuable premium discount for the sake of an unavoidable claim. The Personal accident insurance option from Your Cover could also be of value if you or a passenger were to suffer injury requiring treatment or physiotherapy in such an incident.

Other drivers’ behaviour

Even if your own winter driving is faultless, and no misfortunes overtake you, winter roads may not treat the car coming towards you so kindly. Keep increased distances between you and the vehicle in front in fog, and on wet or icy roads. When driving in freezing conditions keep in mind that other drivers may lose control of their steering without notice. Always try to allow more passing room in icy conditions to allow for this, and keep your speed down.

If you are unfortunate enough to find yourself in a bump caused by icy conditions, Your Cover’s No claims discount protection option could save you sacrificing a valuable premium discount for the sake of an unavoidable claim. The Personal accident insurance option from Your Cover could also be of value if you or a passenger were to suffer injury requiring treatment or physiotherapy in such an incident.

Breaking down	No one knows better than you which options of cover make up the ideal Your Cover policy for your lifestyle and circumstances. Having said that, Your Cover’s Breakdown cover option is one area of cover which many drivers would consider indispensible. In winter especially, conditions are uncomfortable and place your vehicle under many unfamiliar strains. A breakdown can leave you stranded by the roadside or on a motorway hard shoulder in rain, fog or snow, and the cost of roadside repair or recovery is likely to be significant.

Breaking down

No one knows better than you which options of cover make up the ideal Your Cover policy for your lifestyle and circumstances. Having said that, Your Cover’s Breakdown cover option is one area of cover which many drivers would consider indispensible.

In winter especially, conditions are uncomfortable and place your vehicle under many unfamiliar strains. A breakdown can leave you stranded by the roadside or on a motorway hard shoulder in rain, fog or snow, and the cost of roadside repair or recovery is likely to be significant.

If you break down on regular roads	Watch out for intermittent or continuous display of warning signals. If they come on, or if the car begins to behave strangely, pull off the road and find a safe place to stop. Put your hazard warning lights on. If you have a mobile phone with you, remain in the car with doors locked and call for assistance If you have Your Cover’s Breakdown cover included in your policy, you should dial 0208 603 9659 and our Agents will arrange to get help to you swiftly. Once you speak to us, you can be confident that we will take responsibility in line with the cover you have in place, for getting you safely on your way again, or for making alternative arrangements for you If you do not have a phone with you, providing conditions are tolerable you should leave your car and set off to find a pay phone or other place from which you can make a call. Try to memorise any landmarks you pass, so that you can find your way back. This can be particularly difficult at night or in snow If you experience a sudden failure of your engine or any other core system, making the car come to a halt in the road, switch on your hazard lights and place your warning triangle, if you have one with you, 50 metres back along the road, ahead of your car. You should then follow the same procedure as above.

If you break down on regular roads

Watch out for intermittent or continuous display of warning signals. If they come on, or if the car begins to behave strangely, pull off the road and find a safe place to stop. Put your hazard warning lights on.

If you have a mobile phone with you, remain in the car with doors locked and call for assistance
If you have Your Cover’s Breakdown cover included in your policy, you should dial 0208 603 9659 and our Agents will arrange to get help to you swiftly. Once you speak to us, you can be confident that we will take responsibility in line with the cover you have in place, for getting you safely on your way again, or for making alternative arrangements for you
If you do not have a phone with you, providing conditions are tolerable you should leave your car and set off to find a pay phone or other place from which you can make a call. Try to memorise any landmarks you pass, so that you can find your way back. This can be particularly difficult at night or in snow

If you experience a sudden failure of your engine or any other core system, making the car come to a halt in the road, switch on your hazard lights and place your warning triangle, if you have one with you, 50 metres back along the road, ahead of your car. You should then follow the same procedure as above.

If you break down on the motorway	If you break down on the motorway, you should pull onto the hard shoulder, and get as far away from the traffic as possible. Get yourself and all passengers out of the car using only passenger-side doors. Take extreme care, especially if you have children with you. If you do have children with you, never leave them alone. If you are the only adult, it is preferable to walk them carefully along the embankment with you than to leave them while you go off to arrange help Find the nearest roadside marker. These are positioned at 100 metre gaps along the hard shoulder and carry a unique reference number which pinpoints you on the motorway. They also show the direction to the nearest emergency phone You should find the nearest emergency phone. This will connect you immediately to a motorway police operator. He or she will ask for your name, your car’s make and colour, the nature of the problem and whether you belong to a breakdown service. If you carry Your Cover Breakdown cover, you will tell the operator this, and the police will contact us for you. We will then make arrangements to get assistance to you as swiftly as possible, and to arrange repair or recovery for you in line with Your Cover After you have reported your situation, return to your car, but do not re-enter it, or permit your passengers to re-enter it unless you judge that the winter weather conditions make it dangerous to remain out of the vehicle. If this is the case, then sit in the vehicle with hazard lights on. If you have coats and blankets, keep yourself and your passengers as warm as possible and switch off headlights to conserve your battery but remember to leave your hazard lights on

If you break down on the motorway

If you break down on the motorway, you should pull onto the hard shoulder, and get as far away from the traffic as possible.

Get yourself and all passengers out of the car using only passenger-side doors. Take extreme care, especially if you have children with you. If you do have children with you, never leave them alone. If you are the only adult, it is preferable to walk them carefully along the embankment with you than to leave them while you go off to arrange help
Find the nearest roadside marker. These are positioned at 100 metre gaps along the hard shoulder and carry a unique reference number which pinpoints you on the motorway. They also show the direction to the nearest emergency phone
You should find the nearest emergency phone. This will connect you immediately to a motorway police operator. He or she will ask for your name, your car’s make and colour, the nature of the problem and whether you belong to a breakdown service. If you carry Your Cover Breakdown cover, you will tell the operator this, and the police will contact us for you. We will then make arrangements to get assistance to you as swiftly as possible, and to arrange repair or recovery for you in line with Your Cover
After you have reported your situation, return to your car, but do not re-enter it, or permit your passengers to re-enter it unless you judge that the winter weather conditions make it dangerous to remain out of the vehicle. If this is the case, then sit in the vehicle with hazard lights on. If you have coats and blankets, keep yourself and your passengers as warm as possible and switch off headlights to conserve your battery but remember to leave your hazard lights on

Tips on preparing your car for driving in winter	Our Winter driving tips – preparing for winter page will help you plan in advance to ensure a winter of trouble free driving. Your Cover’s Windscreen, Breakdown, No claims discount protection and Personal accident insurance options all offer protection which may prove particularly valuable over the winter months.

Terms and conditions contained in the policy documentation apply. Download the policy documentation here.

Obtain an instant quote for a Your Cover Car insurance policy online now.

If you need help at any stage whilst you are building your Car insurance cover, our knowledgeable UK customer centre staff are available to assist you on 0800 975 3247.

Your Cover is a product from Allianz Insurance plc, registered in England no 84638 at 57 Ladymead, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 1DB, United Kingdom. Allianz Insurance is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority, registration number 121849 and this can be checked by visiting the FSA website at www.fsa.gov.uk or by contacting the FSA on 0845 606 1234.

Things to take in your car in winter

Ice scraper
De-icer spray
Blankets
Torch
Sensible shoes/boots
Drinking water
Shovel
Mobile phone

You are here:

Your cover:

Winter driving tips – day-to-day driving

To forward this page to a friend, please enter the following details.

Things to take in your car in winter