Service Check

The best way to avoid winter breakdowns is to ensure your car is in top shape with a seasonal service check — worn components can become more brittle in freezing temperatures.

Battery Test

Cold weather puts extra stress on your car battery. Get it checked to ensure it’s operating at full capacity and have it replaced if necessary.

Roadside Essentials

Pack jumper cables, a shovel and an ice scraper, plus a bag of sand or kitty litter to sprinkle around your tires for traction if they’re spinning on ice or hard-packed snow.

Winter Tires

The rubber in winter tires is designed to stay flexible in freezing temperatures for better grip and control on icy roads. Check your tire pressure frequently — tires lose about one psi (pound per square inch) for every drop in temperature of five degrees Celsius.

Emergency Supplies

In case of a breakdown, keep a safety kit in your trunk along with extra blankets, warm clothes (enough for each passenger), cold-weather windshield cleaner, engine antifreeze and flares. A first aid kit, drinking water and non-perishable snacks are also good to pack. The Safe to Go Emergency Kit, available at CAA Stores and at shopwithcaa.com, contains a flashlight, blanket, booster cables, hand warmers, candles and more.

CAA's Mobile Battery Service will test, replace and recycle your old car battery from your home. Visit caasco.com/battery to learn more.