PSA: Winterize Checklist for High Mileage Cars

The holiday travel season is upon us, and so too is winter driving season. Is your car winterized? This is especially important if you are hitting the road with a high mileage vehicle. Just this week, AAA* projected that 43.6 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, of which ninety percent will drive to Thanksgiving destinations and 7% will fly. Furthermore, according to a recent AutoMD.com survey,** there is an aging fleet of cars on the streets, with the primary vehicle for 60% of respondents having over 100,000 miles. This all adds up to a lot of older metal on the road this holiday season.

Fortunately, most cars on the roads today, even the high-mileage ones, have been built to last longer and withstand the test of time – and weather – with the proper care, of course. AutoMD.com encourages all drivers to take some time to put their rides through their ten point winter travel vehicle checklist before making those Holiday road trips, so they don't end up stranded on a chilly roadside.

   1. Check the antifreeze (coolant)
   2. Change the engine oil
   3. Check the tires
   4. Check the battery
   5. Check the belts and hoses
   6. Check the wipers and wiper fluid
   7. Check the emergency kit
   8. Check 4WD operation if equipped
   9. Change your driving habits
   10. Wash and wax your car

Get more details, including how-to guides, here.

* AAA projections as reported at USA Today 11/13/2012: http://www.usatoday.com/story/ travel/2012/11/13/ thanksgiving-travel-forecast/ 1702459/
** 2012 AutoMD.com Survey: http://www.automd.com/about- automd/press/07-23-2012/