5 Car Repairs You Need Before Winter To Save Money

With winter comes all manner of joys — cozy nights by the fireplace, holiday dinners and celebrations , winter breaks and vacations, and in the right climates, lovely snowscapes. Something that also comes with the cold weather season is all manner of hazards and danger to your car.

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Cold and frigid temperatures can take quite a toll on your ride, just as slick and icy roads can lead to serious damage in the form of collisions. Thankfully, there are a number of things you can do to your car in the form of preparation, inspections and repairs that will brace your vehicle against the bitter elements to come — and the costs of winter-related repairs.

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Tires Are Key to Winter Safety

Per the experts at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA, part of the U.S. Department of Transportation) “preparing yourself — and your vehicle — for winter weather is key” to keeping your car (and thus, yourself) safe during the winter. And they recommend you start with your tires.

Dropping winter temperatures will also drop the inflation pressure in your tires. Tires with low inflation can go flat or blow out more easily, which is all the more dangerous on slick and icy roads. The NTSA recommends routinely inspecting your tire pressure at least once monthly during the winter, as well as just before long road trips. Make sure to check them while they are cold, and haven’t been driven on for at least three hours. Preventing a flat tire also prevents tire damage, and saves you the trouble (and the cash) of having to buy a new one.

Make Sure To Test (and Perhaps Replace) Your Battery

The car experts at Autotrader are adamant about routinely testing your battery, noting that a car battery can struggle to function properly in cold weather versus warm weather. In fact, they note that “a battery that’s merely weak in the summer could turn into a dead battery in winter.”

They recommend having your battery voltage tested before winter sets in to make sure it’s in good working condition, as a weak battery could die in the cold, forcing upon you the expense of a brand new car battery.

Check Your Wiper Fluid

The NHTSA also suggests inspecting under the hood to ensure your windshield wiper reservoir is not just full, but full of winter de-icer before the freezing temperatures descend. A car goes through a high amount of wiper fluid during a winter storm, and without it (specifically de-icer fluid), your visibility could drop to nearly zero, potentially causing a very dangerous car accident in already dangerous conditions.

Brakes Should Be Inspected

The experts at the California Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) suggest having your entire brake system (including the pads and linings) inspected by a licensed expert before the cold weather kicks in. While such an inspection costs money, it won’t cost near as much as the detailed body work that would be required if your brakes didn’t function properly in icy conditions and struck another car.

Tire Chains May Be Necessary in Certain Climates

BAR also recommends that you invest in tire chains in case you plan on “driving in the mountains or foothills with the possibility of encountering snow.” Tire chains, when attached to your tires, increase their traction on ice and snow, and can prevent you from spinning out and getting stuck or, worse, getting into an uncontrolled collision.

Winter can be the loveliest of seasons, but it can also be the costliest when it comes to your car. By preparing your ride for the season, you’ll find yourself saving through the winter rather than spending through it.

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com : 5 Car Repairs You Need Before Winter To Save Money