Winter driving tips

Read our top tips on driving safely and avoiding breakdowns this winter.

Lloyds Bank car insurance – cover whatever the weather

Winter driving conditions can be more challenging, with it being darker for longer in the morning and earlier at night. And obviously there’s potential for chilly temperatures, ice and snow.

If you have to brave the seasonal weather, having the right level of car insurance can offer you greater peace of mind. We offer 3 levels of cover, plus optional extras for added assurance – including RAC Breakdown Cover.

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Basic car maintenance checks

There are a few things you can do to make sure your car is roadworthy in winter:

Your car battery

You’ll place greater demand on your car battery in winter, running heating, windscreen wipers and lights. Batteries typically last 3-5 years, so is it time for a replacement?  

Lights

It’s always important to make sure your lights are functional, replacing any bulbs which stop working. As well as helping you to see, lights help to ensure you’re visible to other drivers.

Oil

Check your engine oil levels regularly to keep things running smoothly.

Antifreeze

Adding a 50/50 mixture of water and antifreeze to your car’s cooling system will lower the freezing point, helping to protect your engine during the coldest months.

Screen wash

Salt from icy roads can build up on your windscreen over time. You can buy screen wash containing anti-freeze, helping to keep your water jets flowing and windscreen clear.

Tyres

Tread is especially important to maintain traction on icy roads, so replace any worn tyres. It may be worth swapping to winter tyres during the colder months.

Keep up with car servicing

To keep your car running safely, it’s important to have it serviced in line with the manufacturer’s advice. This is usually every 12,000 miles, or annually – whichever comes first.

A service will usually include a survey of your car’s engine, oil filter, lights, tyres, bodywork, exhaust, brakes, steering, coolant levels, suspension and battery. Basically, all of the important stuff.

By servicing your car, you’ll:

  • maintain the performance of your car, extending its lifespan
  • reduce the risk of your car breaking down
  • enhance fuel economy.

Check your car’s logbook if you need a reminder of when your car was last serviced. If you’re overdue, your local dealership or garage should be able to help.

Pack a car survival kit

There are a few essentials which should help to make driving in winter easier and safer:

  • A fully charged mobile phone and charger/power pack
  • Sunglasses, helping you to manage day-time glare
  • An ice scraper and de-icing spray
  • A torch and spare batteries
  • Sat-nav or a road atlas
  • An empty fuel can
  • A first aid kit.

If you had a breakdown, it could be helpful to have some of the following things, just while you wait for assistance to arrive:

  • A high-vis fluorescent jacket/vest
  • Sensible shoes with grippy soles
  • A shovel for digging away snow
  • Warm and waterproof clothing
  • A sleeping bag or foil blankets
  • Reflective warning triangles
  • Snacks and drinks
  • Jump start leads.

Things to consider when travelling in winter

When driving conditions are cold, the main thing is to take things slow:

  • Allow extra time for each journey.
  • Make sure you have enough fuel for your journey, accounting for any unexpected delays.
  • If your car has an automatic gearbox, you should have a recommended winter mode. Check your vehicle handbook for details.
  • If your car has a manual gearbox, ease your foot off the clutch gently to avoid wheel-spin.
  • Don’t set off until you’ve demisted the inside of your windows. Heat and air conditioning can help with this, reducing condensation.
  • If visibility is poor, remember to use your fog lights. Just make sure you turn them off when conditions improve so you don’t dazzle oncoming traffic.

When you park up and before you leave your car, make sure you switch your windscreen wipers off and don’t leave them on ‘auto’. If the blades freeze to the screen, the wiper motor and blades could be damaged when you next turn the car on.

Driving in snowy or icy conditions

  • Keep your distance from other cars – stopping distances could be 10x longer in icy conditions.
  • Stick to main roads where you can – these are more likely to be gritted and clear of ice or snow.
  • Allow time for de-icing your car thoroughly before you set off. Police can issue a fine and points on your licence if your visibility is impaired.
  • Driving in a higher gear should help you to maintain control in icy conditions.
  • If you hit a patch of black ice, keep both hands on the wheel and try to manage your instinct to slam on the brakes. Instead, stay calm and slowly try to steer into the skid.

Insurance and breakdown cover

In the event of an accident or breakdown, it’ll afford you peace of mind to have suitable cover in place. You can purchase breakdown cover independently, or even as part of your insurance policy.

Browse car insurance Browse Lloyds Bank car insurance.

Why choose Lloyds Bank Car Insurance?

Our standard cover has the following benefits:​

Comprehensive cover also provides:

Enhance your cover with optional extras:

Our standard cover has the following benefits:​

  • A 24-hour emergency claims helpline
  • Access to My Account to manage your policy online
  • 60 Days of European Union cover at the level you have at home.

Third party and third party, fire and theft offers a basic level of cover.

Comprehensive cover also provides:

  • vandalism cover
  • a 24-hour emergency windscreen helpline
  • approved claim repairs guaranteed for 3 years
  • new car replacement within 12 months of purchasing a new vehicle
  • a courtesy car while your vehicle is being repaired. Subject to availability/eligibility.

Enhance your cover with optional extras:

Terms, conditions and exclusions apply to all car insurance benefits. In the event of a claim normal excess applies and your no claims discount may also be affected.

For more information please refer to the relevant insurance information document:

Third Party (PDF, 210KB)
Third Party Fire and Theft (PDF, 209KB)
Comprehensive (PDF, 210KB)

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