Top tips to keep your car running smoothly as temperatures across UK plummet

Drivers should prepare their cars for the winter months by checking the lights, tyre pressure and fluid levels as the UK suffers from more stormy weather, according to insurance experts

As the UK braces for more chilly and stormy weather, insurance gurus have revealed the five best things to keep your motor running smoothly.

Cars are most at danger in the colder months of the year – which are getting ever closer.

But experts at A-plan insurance have now revealed their top tips to keeping your motor in tip-top shape.

Make sure you’re in the loop with all the latest car news and driving rules here

Know how to read a dashboard

First off, it’s crucial to know how to read your dashboard. All cars come with lights and symbols to flag up any issues, but these aren’t the same across all brands and models.

While around 52% of drivers can correctly identify what these warning lights mean, it’s vital that drivers familiarise themselves with the 12 most common symbols using their car manual.

If any red lights pop up, that’s an immediate signal to get your car to a garage pronto. If a yellow light appears, it might not be as urgent, but you should still get your vehicle checked out as soon as you can.

Being prepared is key in winter, as breaking down in the darker months with less visibility can be riskier.

Check tyre pressure and tread depth

Next up, make sure to check your tyre pressure and tread depth. Often, drivers overlook their tyres. By law, the minimum tread depth is 1.6mm, but it’s suggested that tyres should be swapped out at 3mm.

Tread depth refers to the grooves in tyres that help grip the road surface. In wet conditions, a shallow tread depth ups the chance of aquaplaning and losing control of your vehicle.

A simple trick is to use a 20p coin and slot it into the tyre grooves. If you can see the outer band of the coin, it’s time for a tyre change. It’s also wise to check your tyres before any long trips.

Tyre pressure usually ranges between 20 and 30 psi in most vehicles. To check this without a gauge, press down on the tyre with your palm. If it feels soft, it might be underinflated.

Check the battery

The top reason for vehicle breakdowns, especially in cold or wet weather, is a flat battery. The chilly temperatures slow down the processes inside the battery, reducing its ability to hold a charge.

Cold weather can also lead to condensation as the freezing air meets the warm air around the battery and engine. This moisture can cause corrosion, damaging the parts.

If your car struggles to start or the red warning light flickers, it’s time to replace the battery.

This is even more crucial for electric cars as the charging speed and efficiency of the battery can be affected, resulting in a less efficient vehicle.

Don’t let the car idle for too long

Older cars, those made before the 1980s, needed to be left idling to warm up. But for modern vehicles, this does more harm than good, damaging spark plugs and producing nearly double the emissions of a moving car.

In a modern car, simply scraping ice off the windscreen gives enough time for the engine to warm up, but that isn’t enough to keep a car roadworthy.

To keep the engine in top shape, a short drive of around 15-20 minutes is needed. This doesn’t need to be every day, but regularly running a vehicle for this period keeps the battery and engine healthy and ensures that the oil is at a workable consistency to start the vehicle. A slow, gentle pace will allow the engine to warm up safely and ensure that all parts are working correctly.

Check the lights work and fluid levels are correct

As the nights and early mornings get darker, commuters should check their headlights, brake lights, and indicators are all working properly. Ask a friend to stand outside and check the lights to identify any bulbs that might need changing.

While performing these checks, inspecting the fluid levels in your car can also help to reduce the risk of damage. Checking the anti-freeze and oil levels can help to keep the engine running, and these are simple to top up without visiting a garage.

A spokesperson for A-plan Insurance said: “Driving in icy conditions or extensive rain can be difficult for most drivers. The most important thing is to take it slow and be mindful of other road users.

“It can be tempting to not drive at all in bad weather, but this can cause more damage to the vehicle and cost a lot in repairs come springtime.

“Freezing rain can build up on the moving parts over time so running the car at least three times a week will help to prevent unnecessary damage.”

* This article was crafted with the help of an AI tool, which speeds up Daily Star’s editorial research. An editor reviewed this content before it was published. You can report any errors to starletters@dailystar.co.uk