Fall Car Maintenance: How To Prepare Your Vehicle for Wet and Snowy Conditions

Fall car maintenance is essential to reduce the risk of a costly accident during autumn and winter. Months of summer heat can wear down a car’s components, making them more vulnerable to cold fall temperatures and increasing the risk of mechanical damage and collisions, so regular inspections and maintenance are essential.

Fall car maintenance includes tasks to ensure your car functions properly in colder temperatures, including checking tire pressure, topping off fluid levels and replacing dim headlight bulbs.

All drivers, especially those who face cold fall and winter weather, should read on to learn more about the importance of fall car maintenance, including what signs of car issues to watch for and which maintenance tasks they can do themselves.

On This Page

• 

  Why Is Car Maintenance Important Before the Fall Season?

• 

  10 Tips To Prepare Your Car for Fall

• 

  DIY vs. Professional Fall Car Maintenance

• 

  How Fall Car Maintenance Can Help Prevent Insurance Claims

• 

  Signs Your Vehicle Needs Attention Before Fall and Winter Seasons

• 

  Fall Car Maintenance at a Glance

• 

  How To Review Your Car Insurance Policy for Fall Season

• 

  Frequently Asked Questions

Why Is Car Maintenance Important Before the Fall Season?

Car maintenance before the fall season is essential to prepare for changing temperatures, which can strain many car systems. For example, cold weather can cause your tire pressure to drop rapidly overnight, leaving you with less traction than you’d expect during your morning commute on roads with slick wet leaves. Hot summers can also strain various car systems, making fall an essential time to check and repair or replace damaged components before they lead to more costly issues or accidents in autumn or winter.^[1][2]

Can Skipping Fall Car Maintenance Increase Accident Risk?

Don’t put off getting critical fall car maintenance done, as it could lead to an increased risk of getting into an accident. Your car’s components will naturally degrade over time, and failing to repair or replace them before harsher fall and winter weather can make driving more dangerous. For example:^[3][4]

• Worn-down tires may be more likely to skid, particularly on wet leaves or rain-slicked roads, resulting in a collision with another car or tree.
• Deteriorated brake pads could reduce your stopping power, leading to an accident if you face sudden traffic or wildlife on the road.
• Cold weather can cause your coolant to freeze, which may lead to engine overheating and failure while on the road, causing a loss of power or control.
• Old windshield wipers may struggle to clear snow and rain effectively, making it harder to see.
• A failing heating system may make it harder to keep your windshield clear of frost, lowering your visibility.
• Cold temperatures can cause brittle hoses and belts to break, which could lead to a loss of vehicle control or engine failure.

10 Tips To Prepare Your Car for Fall

Below, we’ll cover several tips on the car components you should maintain before and during fall.

Tires

Inspect your tires to ensure you have enough tread depth. The minimum legal tread depth is 2/32 inches, at which point you must replace your tires, but you may want to replace them when they reach 4/32 inches to perform well on wet fall roads and prevent hydroplaning.^[5] Getting your tires rotated can also help ensure even tread wear, meaning you’re less likely to need to replace one tire before the others.

If you’re considering getting new tires before winter weather, it may be worth choosing something that can handle your local climate instead of standard tires. While all-season tires can help in light or moderate snow, it may be worth switching to winter tires for better traction on heavily snowy, slushy or icy roads.^[2]

Tire pressure can fluctuate during cold temperatures, which can increase the risk of an accident during the fall. Regularly check your tires to make sure the PSI matches your manufacturer’s recommendations in the owner's manual, and watch the tire pressure light on the dashboard.^[2]

Battery

Fall’s colder months can make it harder for a battery to start, requiring more power and putting more strain on the component. This can be especially taxing if your car battery is already weak going into the autumn season. To check whether you need a new battery:^[2]

• Test your battery before harsh winter weather sets in to ensure it holds a charge, especially if it’s been three years or more since you replaced it.
• Inspect your battery for any signs of corrosion on its terminals.
• Look for any indication of swelling or cracks on the battery.
• If your battery starts slowly or has a low voltage, replace it.
• Consider visiting a professional to test the charging system for cold weather conditions.

Brakes

In cold weather, braking distances can increase due to slippery conditions. This means already failing brake pads may leave you skidding much further than you’d anticipate during fall temperatures or cause you to lose control of your vehicle completely.^[6]

Get your brakes checked, including your pads and rotors, if you hear unusual noises or notice a pressure difference in your brake pedal, but it's also a good idea to have them inspected at least every 10,000 to 12,000 miles.^[2][7] You should also have your brake fluid levels checked, as low levels can affect braking effectiveness.^[3]

Windshield Wipers

There will likely be more rain and falling leaves in fall, so you’ll want to ensure your windshield wipers are working properly to avoid losing visibility. If you notice any streaking or skipping when using the wiper blades, it’s probably time to replace them. Top off your windshield washer fluid to help remove dirt and debris, but consider using fluid with a de-icing agent as temperatures drop.^[6]

Lights

Fall features shorter days with less sunlight, making working headlights essential for safety.^[8] Regularly check your vehicle lights, including high beams, brake lights, fog lights and turn signals and clean your headlights of dirt and condensation. If you notice any dim or nonfunctioning lights, ensure you replace them immediately.

Engine Oil

Change your engine oil and filter at least every six months or every 5,000 to 7,000 miles, but it may be a good idea to change it before colder temperatures set in.^[9] Old or dirty engine oil can thicken as the weather cools, which can reduce how well it protects your engine. Oil has different viscosities based on your local climate, so make sure you choose the right engine oil for your area.^[2]

Coolant

The cooling system helps prevent overheating, reduces wear and protects your engine from freezing temperatures. Inspect your coolant levels once a month or roughly every 3,000 miles, and before long road trips, such as visiting family for Labor Day or Thanksgiving.^[10] Your coolant levels should generally be a 50/50 mix of water and antifreeze, although a 70/30 ratio may be preferable in colder areas.^[11]

Heating and AC Systems

Verify that your car’s heating and air conditioning systems are working properly, as unsafe temperatures inside your car can be dangerous if the weather drops too low and you’re forced to drive. Replace your cabin filter at least once a year, or every 15,000 to 30,000 miles, to ensure your AC is working.^[2] Also verify your defroster is working properly, as a fogged-up window could reduce visibility and increase the risk of an accident.^[12]

Belts and Hoses

Inspect your car’s belts and hoses for cracks, leaks or signs of splitting or fraying. Summer heat can damage your belts and hoses, which may not fully deteriorate until fall. If you spot anything that looks out of the ordinary, ensure you take your car to a mechanic for further inspection and repair.^[12]

Emergency Kit

Packing an emergency kit can help you stay safe if you end up stranded on the side of the road and are waiting for roadside assistance. Items to consider including in your kit include:

• First-aid supplies
• A flashlight
• A blanket
• Food
• Water
• Jumper cables
• A portable battery pack
• An ice scraper
• A collapsible or small shovel
• Basic repair tools

DIY vs. Professional Fall Car Maintenance

You can do several fall car maintenance tasks at home to help lower costs. Below, we’ll cover some car maintenance options you can do yourself alongside tasks you should leave for professionals.^[13]

How Fall Car Maintenance Can Help Prevent Insurance Claims

Fall car maintenance can help prevent insurance claims by reducing the risk of an accident caused by mechanical failures and breakdowns, which may be more likely in colder temperatures or after withstanding months of summer heat. While taking your car to a mechanic for regular maintenance may feel like an unnecessary expense, it can help you avoid costly premium increases and out-of-pocket deductible costs from an otherwise avoidable claim.

Signs Your Vehicle Needs Attention Before Fall and Winter Seasons

Keep your eyes on the lookout for a few telltale signs you may need to give your vehicle an inspection or bring it to a professional for a diagnostic:

• Your engine is slow to start.
• Your headlights appear dim.
• Your battery is several years old or shows signs of corrosion.
• Your tire has low tread depth or regularly loses tire pressure.
• Your brakes make a strange noise or apply strange pressure when you use them.
• Your fluids are depleting faster than normal or are below standard levels.
• Your windshield wipers “bounce” or leave streaks.
• Your heater or defroster doesn’t seem to be functioning properly.

Fall Car Maintenance at a Glance

Below is the essential information you should know about fall car maintenance:

• Fall car maintenance is essential to recover from the stress of summer heat and to prepare for colder fall and winter weather.
• Skipping car maintenance can cost you money in the long run if it leads to an otherwise avoidable accident.
• Check your tire pressure and tread depth regularly to ensure you don’t lose traction on the road.
• If you notice strange noises from your car or odd behaviors, it may be best to take it to a mechanic.
• You can do certain aspects of car maintenance yourself in your garage, but more extensive tasks, such as repairing your engine or rotating your tires, should generally be done by a professional.

How To Review Your Car Insurance Policy for Fall Season

To ensure your car insurance is prepared for the fall season, consider the following tasks:

1. Review your insurance policies and decide whether you need to drop or add any coverages, such as roadside assistance or physical damage insurance.
2. Verify your coverage limits and deductibles meet your needs.
3. Shop around with different car insurance companies and compare rates to find the most affordable option.
4. Determine whether you qualify for any insurance discounts, such as bundling home and auto insurance.