Winter Driving Essentials: A Winter Road Trip Checklist

Frozen windscreen wipers and corroded interiors from all that road salt; driving in winter requires a different level of patience. When you aren't slipping and sliding, you're dethawing or wondering how to better prepare for next year.

In this guide, we'll teach you the winter driving essentials. There are steps you can take to make driving in this season slightly less stressful. Get ready for tips on items to keep in your car for winter, a winter road trip checklist, and more.

The Impact of Winter on Vehicles

Winter is a specific time to operate your vehicle. Regardless of whether or not you have a garage, vehicle accessories often suffer and get more wear in winter. Prolonged parking in freezing temperatures, aggressive abrasives, sand, salt, or chemicals that mix with snow can all wreak havoc on your old velour carpets. Aside from chemicals that corrode the car's interior, one of the car's serious enemies is moisture. If your mats contribute to the leakage of melted snow or rainwater, this can eventually lead to rotting of the underside of your car.

Many people fall into the faulty belief that if they don't live in extreme cold conditions and don't require things like snow tires, they don't need to take action. The truth is that even the slightest temperature drop, wetter weather, and road salt can cause havoc.

In short, winter is hard on your precious vehicle. If you don't take the necessary protective steps, you increase your risk of injury or vehicle damage. Play it safe and stock up on your cold-weather car essentials.

5 Essential Winter Car Accessories

There's plenty to memorize — like always leaving your car off the road in case of an emergency — and gear to fit, like snow tires. But what about the smaller bits and pieces that make a difference? If you've not done so already, it's time to accessorize your vehicle.

These are just some of the winter accessories you can keep in your car.

1. Ice Scraper

An ice scraper is absolutely essential; you do not want to be using a makeshift scraper on compacted ice. Pick up a couple and keep them in your glove box or door pockets. These are the most useful car essentials for snow.

If you want to take it one step further, also pack a de-icer and a shovel in case you need to clear a section for your vehicle. Sometimes it's more than a little bit of ice you need to shift.

2. Portable Charger

This one speaks for itself. Don't get stranded with a dead phone — it's a recipe for disaster. Carrying a charged portable charger is non-negotiable and one of the must-have winter car accessories. It’s part of the gear you need for a winter car.

3. An Emergency Wardrobe

You've got all the snow-driving essentials, from snow tires to a stash of liquids in your boot. But the question remains, what about you? If you break down or get stranded, you'll need to stay warm until help reaches you. So bring an extra supply of winter clothes, warm blankets, and even hand warmers.

4. Powerful Lights

Powerful lights are one of the most important things to carry in your car during winter — these are winter car essentials for all the darker nights and mornings. They prevent others from crashing into you, especially when braking distances are reduced with icy or wet road surfaces. Visibility can be life-saving.

Ideally, bring both strong reflective lights (red triangles are perfect) and battery-powered flashlights with extra batteries on hand. However, ensure you’ve put on powerful headlights in case of an emergency too.

5. Snow Chains

If you haven't bought winter tires, consider snow chains. These chains fit over standard tires and allow you to retain more traction on slippery surfaces. Chains are winter necessities for car drivers in case of heavy snow storms. It’s a great winter car accessory.

What to Carry in Case of an Emergency

Always carry an emergency survival kit when driving in winter. If temperatures drop and you break down, you could be waiting hours for roadside assistance. There have been instances of fatalities after drivers have been stranded for hours or days in snowstorms. Winter essentials for car owners can make the difference between life and death.

Because of this, a winter emergency kit is one of the most vital winter car travel essentials. It should contain items like:

• A warm blanket.

• Hand warmers.

• Non-perishable food and water.

• Torches and red triangles.

• A first aid kit.

In addition to these emergency supplies, you should also carry a winter car breakdown kit, including winter car necessities such as:

• Spare tires and a trusty jack.

• Ice scrapers.

• A small tool kit.

• Jump leads.

• Torches (with extra batteries).

• A portable charger for mobile devices.

• Any vital document information.

The items above form a great car winter pack that can keep you safe as temperatures drop this year. Keeping a handy collection of items in your vehicle could make the difference between life and death.

A Winter Road Trip Checklist

A winter car travel checklist can make all the difference when planning. It helps to have a reference list to tick things off along the way.

We'd love to say there are just 7 items to keep in your car for winter; the truth is there are hundreds. But we've whittled it down to just the top 10. Here’s what every guy and girl should have in their cars this winter:

1. A first aid kit.

2. A breakdown survival kit.

3. Spare tires and tire-changing equipment (like a jack).

4. Snow chains.

5. A shovel and/or a small bag of salted grit.

6. De-icer and an ice scraper.

7. Portable charger and extra batteries for flashlights.

8. Jump leads.

9. Spare liquids.

10. Contact details and important documents.

How EVA mats solve your winter problems

You probably remember the dangers around floor mats in winter. One of the top winter driving essentials is custom-fit floor mats. These mats perfectly fit your vehicle's dimensions, greatly reducing the risk of liquids seeping underneath gaps. As part of your new winter car essentials kit, an EVA mat also makes for easy cleaning.

The key secret is the indentations in the mats, which lock the water inside. And if you want to remove a mat full of water, not a single drop will spill into the cabin. To do this, follow the simple instructions:

• First, gently unfasten the Velcro strips on the back of the mat.

• Carefully remove the mat.

• Knock the moisture out with a few strokes with your hand or knock the mat against a nearby fence or fence.

EVA mats are very easy to knock out. Unlike rubber mats, EVA mats repel water more strongly and dry faster. This simple maintenance and better protective qualities combine to make EVA one of the best essentials for cars winter.