Winter-proof your car: Prepare for Central Texas freezing weather

Adelaide Bixby helps her daughters Eleanora and Elizabeth with their father Guy get into the car on Monday, Feb. 15, 2021. Snow covers the BlackHawk neighborhood in Pflugerville, Texas. Most homes in the area were without power for nearly 8 hours. Atmos Energy and other power companies were performing rotating outages to protect the electric grid.
Ricardo B. Brazziell / American-Statesman

In Central Texas, ice, sudden cold snaps and limited winter infrastructure can quickly lead to stalled cars and dangerous road conditions. And cold weather places added stress on batteries, tires and fluids, and even a short freeze can cause problems for vehicles not properly maintained.

Here are some common questions on how to winter-proof your car before the next freeze.

Cars are covered by snow, Monday, Jan. 28, 2019, in Wheeling, Ill. A winter storm brought more than 5 inches of snow to northern Illinois as the region braced itself for record-low subzero temperatures. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Austin American-Statesman

Why does cold weather affect cars so much?

Cold temperatures slow chemical reactions inside car batteries, thicken engine oil and reduce tire pressure, all of which can make vehicles harder to start and control. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, winter conditions also increase crash risk due to reduced traction and visibility.

What should I check first before freezing weather?

Start with the battery, which is one of the most common failure points in cold weather. AAA and NHTSA recommend having batteries tested if they’re more than three years old, as cold can significantly reduce their power.

Drivers should also inspect tires, checking both tread depth and air pressure. Tire pressure drops as temperatures fall, which can affect handling and braking.

Do I need to check fluids for winter driving?

Federal safety guidance from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration advises drivers to ensure cooling systems have sufficient coolant that meets manufacturer specs and to fill the windshield washer reservoir with a winter-rated fluid that resists freezing.

Automotive maintenance guides also recommend checking engine oil, brake fluid and other fluids before temperatures drop.

What about wipers, lights and visibility?

Visibility is critical during winter weather. Drivers should replace worn windshield wiper blades, ensure headlights and brake lights are working, and clear all ice or frost from windows, mirrors and lights before driving.

The National Weather Service warns that driving with partially obscured windows can be dangerous and illegal in some situations.

Should I keep an emergency kit in my car?

Federal and state safety agencies, including the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, AAA and the National Weather Service, recommend keeping a winter emergency kit in vehicles during freezing weather.

Maria Pineda warms up in her car outside her home on Garden Street in East Austin on Tuesday February 16, 2021, during a power outage caused by a winter storm. Pineda said her home has been without power since early Monday morning.
Jay Janner/American-Statesman

Those agencies advise stocking kits with blankets or warm clothing, a flashlight, jumper cables, a phone charger, water and non-perishable food. AAA and the National Weather Service also recommend carrying sand or kitty litter to help provide traction if a vehicle becomes stuck on ice.

Is it necessary to warm up my car in cold weather?

For most modern vehicles, experts say extended warm-ups are unnecessary, according to AAA. Fuel-injected cars typically only need 30 to 60 seconds before driving. However, officials recommend driving gently at first to allow the engine and fluids to warm up gradually.

What should drivers do once winter weather arrives?

Cars are stalled near The Children’s Park on Broadway Avenue as they try to drive up the hill in Tyler Tuesday. Winter weather turned travel treacherous across the South, shutting down interstates in Louisiana, causing highway crashes in Kentucky and closing airport runways in Texas as snow turned the red clay white and prompted schools to close across the region. CHELSEA PURGAHN / TYLER MORNING TELEGRAPH VIA AP
Austin American-Statesman

When ice or freezing rain is possible, the NHTSA and TxDOT advise slowing down, increasing following distance and avoiding sudden braking or sharp turns. Drivers should check road conditions before traveling and avoid unnecessary trips during severe weather.

Dec 15, 2025