Winter is drawing nearer and temperatures are dropping. Wet and cold conditions are a challenge not only for you as a driver, but also for your car. Make sure you’re prepared for the coming season before winter catches you off guard. We’ve put together some helpful tips here to help you carry out a winter check on your vehicle.
A list of things you should definitely check before winter
#1 winter tyres: In Germany, the use of winter tyres is subject to weather conditions; in other words, there is no specific date by which you must fit them. You must use winter tyres in wintry road conditions – that is, in the event of black ice, snow-covered roads, slush, icy roads or frost-covered roads. You can find a detailed article on winter tyres here.
#2 battery: In winter, the car battery is put under particular strain by the headlights, heating and other systems. The battery should be replaced after four years at the latest. Older batteries tend to fail quickly at the first sign of frost – so take precautions!
#3 Lighting: To ensure you can see clearly and be seen during the darker months of the year, it is advisable to check your lights regularly to make sure they are working properly.
#4 discs: In winter, you should add antifreeze to your windscreen washer fluid. This will ensure that the fluid does not freeze the pump and spray nozzles.
You should replace stiff windscreen wipers, as they leave streaks on the windscreen. Tip: You can place the windscreen wipers on a protective sheet overnight. This prevents them from freezing to the windscreen and getting damaged.
#5 radiator: The radiator should be filled with sufficient antifreeze in winter. If this is not the case, there is a risk that the coolant will freeze at low temperatures, which can result in costly damage.
Here are some other precautionary measures you can take
To get yourself and your car ready for winter, you shouldn’t just check the vehicle itself. There are other precautions you can take to help ensure you get through the winter safely in your car. Make sure you keep an ice scraper in your car. That way, you’ll have it to hand when you need it and won’t have to spend ages looking for it in the morning when the windows are frozen over. If your car ever breaks down or you get stuck in a traffic jam, it’s also always a good idea to keep a warm blanket in the car. A protective cover for the windscreen prevents it from freezing over on cold nights. This means you’ll have less scraping to do in the morning.
Things to bear in mind before setting off
Before setting off, it is important to clear all ice and snow from the car. On the one hand, this removes any obstructions to your view through your car’s windows. On the other hand, it prevents snow or ice from accumulating on large surfaces such as the roof and bonnet, which could then come loose when you brake and potentially hit other cars or people.
In winter, you want your car to warm up as quickly as possible. Many drivers use the time spent scraping ice off the windscreen to switch the heating on in advance. Please note that you should not let the engine warm up whilst stationary, as this has a significant environmental impact and is also prohibited.
Leaving the engine running whilst the vehicle is stationary is an administrative offence, which may result in a warning or a fine.
In winter in particular, it is not only snow and ice but also misted-up windows that obstruct your view. Do not set off until the windows are clear of mist. You can restore a clear view by using the heating, fan or air conditioning.
Here’s what you should do if you’re involved in an accident this winter
Even thorough preparation for winter cannot prevent an emergency. If you do happen to have an accident, it is important to keep calm.
You can find out exactly what to do in the event of an accident here.
Once you have documented and sorted everything out at the scene of the accident, it is time to settle the claim. Following an accident, you are entitled to reimbursement for various costs. As the injured party, for example, you are entitled to reimbursement of repair costs, survey costs and hire car costs.
If you’re not sure what entitlements you’re entitled to, then let us sort them out for you now check.
What you need to sort out after an accident
Are you wondering what you need to sort out after an accident? Find a garage? Arrange for an assessor? Find a car hire company?
NO, you don’t have to do that – we’re here to help!
We take care of everything to do with your claim settlement. We have a network of experts at our disposal, so you no longer have to worry about the paperwork. Together with our specialists, we assess your claims following an accident and liaise with all parties involved in the settlement process, such as garages, insurance companies, solicitors, loss adjusters, etc. This way, we minimise the hassle for you.
Clever and always up to date: With our CIS (Customer Information System), you can always see the very latest status of your case. The best thing about it is that you don’t need to install the CIS, as it simply runs via your web browser. You can view your important documents, such as reports or invoices, directly online. This means your files are readily available without having to spend ages searching for them.
It’s this easy to report your accident to us: Online or call us on our freephone number 0800 – 30 111 60 to tell us about your road traffic accident. It takes just 2 minutes. After that, an expert from our network will ring you to go through the next steps with you. All you need to do now is sit back and relax! Our experts will take care of everything else.
