As the leaves begin to change, staying aware of colder, autumnal weather helps keep your car in top condition for longer. Whether it’s checking that your car is running efficiently or taking more precautions once you’ve set off, adjusting your autumn driving can help you stay safe on and off the road.
If you’re looking to upgrade your car kit before the autumn season is in full swing, stock up with our car accessories.
Check Your Headlights
As the mornings and evenings get darker, you’re likely to rely on your headlights more often. Before you set off, turn your engine on and walk round your car to check all your car lights are working properly. Regularly cleaning the glass can also help to keep your headlights in good condition, so they aren’t dimmed by any dirt build-up.
Repair Windscreen Chips
If your windscreen has had a chip for a while, now is the perfect time to get it repaired. The cold weather can cause chips to freeze and crack further, making sun-glare worse, and leaving you with a windscreen you can’t drive with. If your car is iced over, don’t fall into the trap of using warm water to defrost your windscreen, either – changes in temperature can cause the chip to spread further.
Depending on the size of the chip, a professional will be able to repair the crack, or recommend a new windscreen altogether.
Stock Up on In-Car Essentials
Especially when driving in unpredictable autumn weather, it’s important to keep your car stocked with essentials in case of an emergency. Blankets, an emergency triangle and a torch will help you stay safe if you get stranded on the road, while keeping de-icer and ice scrapers on hand will help you get going more quickly on frosty mornings.
Keep Your Tyres Inflated
Due to fallen leaves and sudden storms, the roads can be more slippery than usual in autumn. Regularly checking your tyres can help you avoid slips and skids: correctly inflated tyres last longer, and help your car grip the road properly. You can do this with an at-home inflator or at most petrol stations.
Legally, your tyre tread depth must be at least 1.6mm, so make sure to get them replaced by a professional before they reach that point. The higher your tread depth, the better your tyres will perform.
Replace Your Wipers
The rain, fog and mud that comes with the autumn months means drivers rely on their windscreen wipers more regularly. Ahead of the change in season, make sure to check that your wipers are working properly – typically, they’ll need replacing once a year.
Worn-down wipers could limit your visibility, and even damage your windscreen. When they’re coming to the end of the lifespan, they tend to smear rainwater, leaves and dirt across your windscreen rather than leaving it clear.
Check Your Air Conditioning
When the temperature drops, you’ll notice more mist on your windscreen when driving. One of the fastest ways you can clear this mist is by setting your air-conditioning to match the car temperature to the weather outside, so it’s important that it’s running properly. You’ll know of any issues with the air-con unit if the airstream is low, there are any bad smells or unusual sounds coming from the vents, or your windscreen is taking longer to clear than usual.
Top Up Your Car Fluids
Your car requires a number of different fluids in order to run safely, including engine oil, engine coolant and screen wash. While engine oil and coolant are always essential to the running of your vehicle, keeping screen wash in your car helps you stay prepared for long journeys in adverse weather. It’s best to keep these topped up at all times, but a quick once-over as the new season starts is a good way to keep your vehicle in check.
Give Your Car a Clean
Your car will get dirtier more quickly in autumn as the ground gets muddier, and the leaves begin to fall. Giving your car a wash regularly helps your paintwork look its best, but also makes sure your windscreen and headlights have maximum visibility for you and other drivers.
Staying Safe in Autumn Weather
While crisp autumn days are ones to look forward to, the autumn sun can impact your visibility. Reducing your speed and using your visor are important to keep a steady path whilst driving in low sun, particularly when you’re navigating winding country roads.
Pay close attention to the drivers around, reduce your speed, leave a greater stopping distance and make use of your fog lights or headlights if the weather takes a turn for the worse. Our guide to driving in the rain gives you more advice on navigating sudden showers.