As temperatures plunge and the weather becomes more unpredictable, the last thing you want is to end up stranded because your car’s broken down. The good news is that if breakdown and recovery are included as part of your car insurance deal, help will be at hand. That said, it’s always better to avoid mishaps and breakdowns in the first place. With advice on keeping your car safe and in top condition, here’s a comparison site, mustard.co.uk.
Carry out a winter check on your car
Garages up and down the country offer inexpensive or free winter car checks but you can also do a lot of this yourself at home. Here’s what to look at:
- Windscreen – check and fill chips or small cracks before they have the chance to get bigger. Depending on your car insurance package, you could even have this work done for free.
- Windscreen washer fluid – keep this topped up to ensure a clear and dirt-free windscreen.
- Windscreen wipers – the rubber part should be free from cuts or nicks and leave your windscreen smear free.
- Lights – headlights should be clean and bulbs in working order. Remember to check lights you don’t see like your brake lights.
- Brakes – if your brakes squeak or grind, ask a garage to take a look as your brake pads or discs might need changing.
- Tyres – tread depth on cars, small vans and trailers should be at least 1.6 mm all around, but experts recommend at least 3 mm in winter for maximum grip.
Do I need winter tyres in the UK?
Winter tyres are not something you need by law in the UK, so you won’t need to worry about forking out for a whole new set come December.
Although winter tyres do offer improved grip in snowy and icy conditions, for most of us, dealing with the odd snowy day, it’s not an essential piece of the car kit. It is, of course, different if you live somewhere remote or in an area that sees regular or heavy snowfall.
If you’re travelling to Europe over the winter period, don’t forget to check what the law is in the country you’re visiting. In many European countries, you must have winter tyres by law during certain months. If not, you could face hefty fines.
Pack an emergency kit
It’s always better to be prepared than not, so it’s a good idea to pack an emergency kit and leave it in the boot, just in case. Your kit should include:
- Warning triangle
- Hi-vis vest or jacket
- De-icer or ice scraper
- First aid kit
- Torch and spare batteries
- Jump leads
- Shovel
- Phone charger or battery pack
- Map
- Snacks and water
- Blankets or extra clothes to keep warm
Consider breakdown and recovery services
Sometimes, it doesn’t matter how well prepared you are, things do go wrong, and your car could break down for any number of unforeseen reasons.
If you’ve already got breakdown cover, then you at least have the peace of mind, knowing that you can get help when you need it most.
If you don’t have coverage, you’ll usually be able to add it to your policy for an additional fee. The type of service you get will depend on what you agree with your provider, but you can typically choose from:
- Roadside assistance – a mechanic will come to you and try to fix your car at the roadside. If it can’t be repaired, your car will be taken to the nearest garage.
- National recovery – if your car can’t be fixed there and then, it will be towed to a garage of your choice.
- Onward travel – your provider will arrange alternative transport so that you can continue your journey. This could be a hire car, taxi, or public transport. Some providers will also cover the cost of overnight accommodation if transport can’t be organised that day.
If you’re in two minds about adding breakdown and recovery to your car insurance, remember to factor in time and convenience too. Without breakdown cover, you’d have to arrange for a mechanic to come to you and pay any call-out charges. On top of that, you’ll need to sort out onward travel and if you’re not near home, you’ll also have to organise the collection of your car at a later date.
If your existing car insurance policy is still active, you can contact your provider and ask them what breakdown and recovery services they offer. Alternatively, if your current policy is due for renewal, you can compare car insurance including breakdown cover at sites like mustard.co.uk. Simply start a quote online or call 0330 022 8825.