5 Vital Things to Check to Make Sure Your Van is Winter Ready

Winter Checklist for your Van The days are getting shorter, the evenings are suddenly darker, and the nights are much colder as we slowly progress into the winter season. The winter season can be a testing time for van drivers, or any drivers for that matter! The cold and rainy weather can make driving conditions far more difficult as the hours spent on the road in the darkness have increased and the roads are more slippery and icy as the temperatures drop. That is why the team at Insure My Van decided to put a checklist together for van drivers to use to make sure they are prepared for the winter months.

Check your van battery

Low temperatures can often put an added strain on the battery of your van. This is why Insuremyvan.ie recommend checking the battery of your van more regularly during the winter months. It’s a good idea to check how old the battery of your van is before it reaches its life expectancy as this will save you the inconvenience of finding out when your van decides not to start one day. None of us want to experience that moment when you twist the key in the ignition, and you’re left with a deafening silence as the battery light appears on your dashboard. However, it’s good to be prepared for the worst-case scenario, hence why Insuremyvan.ie also recommend keeping a jump start pack in the boot of your van.

Check your coolant

Liquid coolant is very important for keeping your van’s cooling system in working condition. To avoid the issue of your engine overheating, Insuremyvan.ie recommend checking the coolant levels in your van on a frequent basis. During the winter months, it’s beneficial to top your coolant up with antifreeze, which is available to buy at most fuel stations. It’s important to make sure that you use the indicated amount of antifreeze that your van manufacturer recommends.

Check your tyre pressure

It’s crucial to be aware of the correct tyre pressure levels for your van and to check your tyres are in line with these levels every two weeks. The cold weather during the winter months can often cause tyre pressure levels to drop. You can check your tyre pressure using a gauge or airline, which can be found in most garages or fuel stations. If you notice that your van is drifting slightly more to one side of the road than the other when driving, this could be a sign that your tyre pressure is low, and you should stop at the nearest fuel station to check the levels. If you find yourself topping up one tyre more frequently than the others, you might have a slow puncture. Don’t forget to check the pressure of the spare tyre too as it may come in handy if you experience a puncture.

Prevent van door seals from freezing

Whilst the cold weather is amongst us, it’s not unusual for the door seals of your van to freeze overnight. Rather than wasting time waiting for the kettle to boil to de-freeze your doors, Insuremyvan.ie recommend applying a thin coat of polish or Vaseline to the door seals of your van, which will prevent the door seals from freezing shut.

Keep your van lights in working order

As we are now spending more hours driving on the roads in the darkness during the winter, it has never been more important to make sure that not only is your van visible to other drivers on the road, but also that your visibility as the driver is clear. Insuremyvan.ie recommend checking that the lights on your van are working correctly - this includes your indicators, brake lights and fog lights too! Once you are happy all the lights are working efficiently, it is important to keep them clean too, otherwise, they will not provide sufficient visibility in the dark. Looking for cheap van insurance, fleet insurance or public liability insurance? Why not get in contact with our Insurance Specialists who can provide you a cheap quote? If you're interested in finding out more ways to prepare your vehicle for winter, head over to MissQuote for their tips on how to get your car winter ready!