Money Smarts Blog

If you live in the Midwest, you know winter has a funny way of showing up whenever it feels like it. One day you're scraping a little frost off your windshield, and the next you're wondering why your car has suddenly become an ice sculpture.

Before the snow, ice, and freezing temperatures arrive, fall is the perfect time to get your car and your insurance ready for winter.

A little preparation now can help you avoid some very cold surprises later.

Start with your car. Let's begin with the obvious: your car needs to be ready for winter too.

Check Your Tires

Your tires are your connection to the road, which becomes especially important when that road is covered in snow, ice, or slush.

Check your tire pressure, tread depth, and overall condition. Cold temperatures can cause tire pressure to drop, so don't forget to check it throughout the winter.

Not sure what the pressure should be? Check the chart on your driver-side door jamb. It shows the recommended cold tire pressure for your vehicle, and it’s a good reminder that tires warm up as you drive, which can make the pressure reading higher.

If your tires look more "slick" than "safe," it may be time to replace them.

Check Your Battery

Cold weather is tough on car batteries, especially if yours is already on its last legs.

Have your battery tested before winter and make sure your connections are clean and secure. Finding out your battery is dead in your driveway is annoying. Finding out it's dead in a grocery store parking lot during a snowstorm? That's a whole different level of character building.

Top Off Your Winter Essentials

Before the first big storm, make sure you have:

• Windshield washer fluid rated for freezing temperatures
• Working windshield wipers
• An ice scraper and snow brush
• Jumper cables or a portable jump starter
• A blanket
• Flashlight
• Basic emergency supplies
• A full tank of gas or a well-charged EV

And please, clean the snow and ice completely off your vehicle before driving. A tiny peek through the windshield isn't enough, and snow blowing off your roof can create a hazard for the driver behind you.

Now Let's Talk Insurance

As an insurance agent, I know most people don't exactly wake up thinking, "I wonder if my auto policy is ready for winter."

But fall is actually a great time to review your coverage.

Winter can bring an increase in accidents, weather-related damage, and unexpected situations, so it's worth knowing what your policy does and doesn't cover before you need it.

What Happens If You Slide Into a Ditch?

If your vehicle slides off an icy road and is damaged, the coverage that may apply depends on the circumstances and the coverage you carry.

This is why it's important to understand whether you have collision coverage and what your deductible is.

And if you think, “I'll just skip that coverage because I'm a really good winter driver,” remember that you can be the best driver in the Midwest and still have absolutely no control over what the person coming toward you is doing on an icy road.

What About Hail, Falling Branches, or Other Winter Damage?

Winter weather can create plenty of opportunities for your vehicle to get banged up without you even being behind the wheel.

Comprehensive coverage generally helps protect against things such as hail, falling objects, theft, and other damage not caused by a collision.

Your policy and situation determine what is covered, so it's important to review your specific coverage with your insurance agent.

Don't Forget Your House

Your car isn't the only thing that needs a winter checkup.

Before temperatures drop, take a walk around your home and look for potential trouble spots.

Check your roof and clean your gutters, protect exposed pipes, make sure your furnace is ready to go, and check your doors and windows for drafts.

And here's one of the least exciting but most important things you can do:

Know where your water shut-off valve is.

If a pipe bursts while you're away, knowing how to shut off your home's water quickly can potentially help limit damage.

Give Your Homeowners Insurance a Look, Too

Fall is a good time to make sure your homeowners coverage still reflects your life.

Did you make any major purchases this year? Finish a basement? Remodel a room? Add a new appliance or piece of equipment?

Make sure your insurance agent knows about significant changes to your home or belongings so you can make sure you have appropriate coverage.

It's also worth reviewing your deductible and understanding what types of winter-related damage your policy covers.

A Few Minutes Now Can Save a Lot of Headaches Later

Winterizing isn't exactly the most exciting item on your fall bucket list.

But spending an afternoon checking your tires, testing your battery, preparing your home, and reviewing your insurance can make a big difference when the temperature drops.

And if you're not sure what your auto or homeowners policy actually covers, ask us!

That's what we're here for. Our team of agents can help you review your coverage, answer questions, and make sure you understand what you're paying for before you need to use it.

Because winter already brings enough surprises. Your insurance policy shouldn't be one of them.