How to Keep Your Car Warm in Winter

Car driving in snow

Cold weather will negatively impact your car’s battery. As such, it’s sensible to keep your car warm in winter, so that you can avoid the chaos that comes when your car’s ignition just won’t start. Here’s how…

How to keep your car warm in winter

Cover it up

Use a windshield cover, waterproof or outdoor car cover, or blanket to cover your car up whenever you’re not driving it. The cover will help to reduce the amount of heat lost from the car, keeping the battery a little warmer.

Park in a garage

If you have access to a garage, it’s sensible to park your car there during the winter – especially if you’re leaving the vehicle for long stretches of time. Even if the garage isn’t heated, it’ll nonetheless keep the car warmer than it would be outside.

If you don’t have garage access, try parking your vehicle so that it’s out of the worst of the wind. Alternatively, choose a sunny spot, as the extra rays can help to boost the vehicle’s temperature.

Use a block heater

Warming the engine up before driving it can help to reduce risk of damage from starting it cold. A block heater will do this for you. It can also help to prevent the engine coolant from gelling, which then delivers heat more effectively to the radiator.

You could also invest in a battery pad heater or battery thermal wrap, both of which are designed to guard against the worst impact of the cold.

Finance a car to keep you going through winter

If it’s time to upgrade your drive, determine your car finance eligibility with My Car Credit. We can help you get behind the wheel of a vehicle with modern technologies, keeping you safe through the cold months.

Rates from 9.9% APR. Representative APR 10.9%

Evolution Funding Ltd T/A My Car Credit

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How Often Should You Replace a Car Battery?

Car battery being replaced by mechanic
Car batteries are the silent powerhouse of your vehicle. It’s easy to forget how important they are to the proper functioning of a car, and, as such, batteries are often left unattended for years, resulting in their diminished lifespan.

It’s worth establishing whether or not your battery is in a good state prior to hitting the road, particularly if you have a longer journey planned. Flat batteries are a common reason for roadside assistance being called out, because it’s often not obvious that they’re beginning to fail until it’s too late. No one wants to find themselves stranded on the hard shoulder of a motorway, so always check your battery before you leave!

So, how often should you replace a car battery? This article aims to address the question of how often to replace car batteries in cars powered by petrol or diesel – that is, non-electric and non-hybrid vehicles. The rules for either electric or hybrid batteries will vary.

How often should you replace a car battery?

Provided that you take proper care of your battery and send your car in for a regular service, it should last for anywhere up to five years, with four as an average. After four years, it’s wise to keep an eye out for signs that your battery may need replacing.

Batteries can start to fail in as little as three years. It really depends on how you’re caring for them and for the car more broadly, as well as how much use the car is being subjected to overall.

Factors like temperature changes, the length and frequency of car journeys, vibrations caused by rough travel over complex terrain, and use of accessories like smartphones and sophisticated on-board computers can all impact the life of a car battery. You should also avoid mistakes like leaving the car’s lights or air conditioner on while the vehicle is switched off.

How to tell if your car battery needs replacing

You can typically tell that your car battery may need replacing by the following signs:

  • Dimmed or dimming headlights
  • Dashboard warning signals
  • Frequent loss of power to electrics (windows, heaters, etc.)
  • Difficulty starting the car, with more revving required

The best time to gauge whether or not your battery is fit to work is just after turning the vehicle on. Otherwise, your engine will provide enough charge for your battery to function – even if it’s defective and worn out.

You can purchase electronic battery testers at auto parts stores like Halfords. These will provide you with a reading of your car’s battery life, and you should aim to perform this prior to taking any long journey, so that you can be sure your battery is in working order before setting off. Alternatively, request that your garage check your battery’s state when you send your car in for a service.

Discover affordable car financing with My Car Credit

An old car battery is easily replaceable, but if your car is generally past its prime and you plan on trading it for a new one, you may want to find yourself a car loan quote. My Car Credit can help – just contact us on enquiries@mycarcredit.co.uk.

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Good

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£

X monthly repayments of
£X

Typical rate

Loan amount

Total payable

X% APR*

£X

£X

*for illustration purposes only

No impact on your credit score*

Representative Example

Borrowing £7,500 at a representative APR of 10.9%, annual interest rate (fixed) 10.87%, 47 monthly payments of £191.50 followed by 1 payment of £201.50 (incl. estimated £10 option to purchase fee), a deposit of £0.00, total cost of credit is £1,702, total amount payable £9,202.

Evolution Funding Limited, trading as My Car Credit, is a credit broker and not a lender.

Please ensure you can afford the repayments for the duration of the loan before entering into a credit agreement.

*Initial application is a soft search. Should you progress, some lenders may perform a hard search on your credit file.
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Require more help?

Got a question you can’t find the answer to, or need some advice and guidance around taking out car finance? Our Car Credit Specialists are friendly, experienced, and here to help so get in touch today!

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or call 01246 458 810