Benefits of RAC
The UK's longest established motoring organisation.
Car breakdown cover from £29.99¹ - a small price to pay for a year of worry free motoring!
With over 100 years experience and highly trained friendly patrols, RAC breakdown service is available 24/7, 365 days a year. 

• Breakdown cover from only £29.99¹
• Our patrols fix 4 out of 5 cars at the roadside²
• More patrols per member than any other breakdown service³ - we aim to reach you in 40 minutes
• Priority rescue for those in a vunerable situation
• Last winter RAC saved someone from the cold every 12 seconds⁴
• RAC have been rated the No.1 UK brand for services⁵
  

Snow and ice can create many issues for drivers and their cars

RAC have tried to answer some of your most common questions about maintaining your car and driving in the winter:

Q. How can I keep my cars’ battery in good condition for the winter?
A It’s a good idea to purchase a good quality battery charger to keep it topped up – RAC have several suitable products that can be purchased easily from racshop.co.uk or local stockists and will keep your battery in good condition all year round.

Q. How can I prevent my washer bottle from freezing?
A Use a suitable screenwash additive and top it up regularly. Also, keeping the vehicle in a garage will normally prevent it from freezing. If the washer bottle has already frozen, try pouring warm water in to help defrost it.

Q If I use my wipers to clear snow and ice from the windscreen, will it damage them?
A It’s advisable not to use the wipers to clear heavy snow and ice, as it may cause the fuse to blow. This is because the wipers may not be able to cope with the weight of the snow, or may be frozen to the glass

Q. If my locks freeze, what should I do?
A Lock de-icers are available, but if you don’t have any available, use warm water poured over the lock barrel area. Also, it’s worth gently working the key in and out of the lock a few times to help free it off.

Q. My handbrake sticks on in the winter, what should I do?
A It’s possible that the handbrake has frozen on. Remove the rear wheel trims (if fitted) and carefully pour hot water all over the wheel nut area. This may take a few attempts, but should help free off the handbrake.

Q. What checks should I be doing on my vehicle for the winter?
A There are several easy checks you can carry out yourself such as:

• Tyre pressures (including the spare)
• Tyre tread depths
• Oil, washer fluid and anti freeze / coolant levels
• Lights are all working correctly.
• Check front and rear wiper blades for wear or splitting.

Q. What should I do to avoid skidding in the snow or ice?
A When you know the roads are icy or covered in snow, try to avoid any heavy braking and use the gears to slow down. Make sure you drive in the highest gear possible to help keep control of the vehicle.

Q. I know I can’t use boiling water to de-ice my windows, but what should I use?
A If no de-icer is available, use warm, tepid water and try and clear the screen quickly to prevent refreezing.

Q. When should I use my front & rear fog lights?
A Fog lights should only be used when visibility of the road ahead is less than 100 metres and switched off as soon as visibility improves.

Q. What should I be carrying in the car for a winter journey?
A A must-have list for your winter car kit should include: a torch, blankets, wellies, an ice scraper, de-icer, battery jump leads and a first aid kit. These are all worth keeping in the car all the time, but especially in the winter. For long journeys, it’s always worth having a flask of warm drink just in case the worst happens and you get stuck or break down. Make sure you have plenty of fuel before you start out, in case you get stuck in traffic. By carrying out a few basic checks motorists can potentially prevent a breakdown. RAC advises motorists to make the following checks:

• Check tyre pressure (spare tyre too!), tread depth, at least 3mm is advisable in winter conditions, and oil level
• Check all lights are working correctly and remember to keep them clean
• Check front and rear wiper blades for wear or splitting
• Screen wash additive should be added to prevent freezing
  
  

†† Non commercial vehicles only, excluding certain vehicle types.

1. £29.99 price is available on the purchase of Roadside on Vehicle Based cover only with payment on a continuous annual basis for the first year of membership. Offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer and may be withdrawn at any time. Excludes vehicles over 10 years old, please see full terms and conditions

2. RAC Measurement and Insight - Feb 2010. Excludes accidents and extreme failures.

3. Source: Source: Mintel UK Recovery Services, September 2010. Based on service providers using own dedicated patrol force.

4. RAC Measurement and Insight In August 2012, individual membership only. Excludes accidents and extreme failures.

5. Rated in the UK Customer Satisfaction Index, July 2010 by Institute of Customer Service.

Note: RAC Breakdown Cover is not available to R.O.I residents. All prices quoted are available to new customers only. The current offer excludes 'response' cover and is not available on small business memberships.