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12 October 2026
Is Your Car Ready for Winter? Essential Checks for October 2026
Clocks go back and temperatures drop fast this time of year. Here's what to check on your car now, before the cold, dark mornings catch you out.
Is Your Car Ready for Winter? Essential Checks for October 2026
As the clocks go back and mornings turn colder and darker, this is the time of year your car starts working harder, and when small issues that went unnoticed all summer tend to show up. A bit of preparation now can save you a breakdown, a flat battery, or an unexpected repair bill once the cold properly sets in. Here's what's worth checking before winter arrives.
1. Battery
Cold weather is the number one cause of flat batteries. A battery that just about coped through summer can struggle once temperatures drop, especially on short journeys where it never gets the chance to fully recharge. If your car has felt slower to start recently, or the lights seem dimmer than usual, it's worth getting the battery tested now rather than waiting for it to fail on a freezing morning.
2. Tyres
Tyres lose grip in the cold and wet, so tread depth matters even more in winter. Check all four tyres are above the legal minimum of 1.6mm, and look for any cuts, bulges or uneven wear while you're at it. Tyre pressure also drops as the temperature falls, so it's worth checking pressures more often over the next few months.
3. Antifreeze and Coolant
Antifreeze stops your coolant from freezing in cold weather and protects the engine from damage. If it hasn't been checked in a while, or you're not sure of the last time it was topped up or changed, now is a good time to get it looked at.
4. Lights
With darker mornings and evenings, your lights are doing a lot more work. Check every bulb, headlights, brake lights, indicators and fog lights, and make sure headlights are properly aligned so you're not dazzling other drivers or leaving gaps in your own visibility.
5. Wipers and Washer Fluid
Wiper blades that were fine in summer can start smearing once the weather turns wet. If you're getting streaks or juddering across the windscreen, it's time for new blades. Top up your washer fluid with a proper winter mix too, so it doesn't freeze in the reservoir on cold nights.
6. Brakes
Wet and icy roads mean your brakes need to work harder and more reliably. Any squealing, grinding, or pulling to one side is worth getting checked before winter, not after.
7. Oil and Fluid Levels
Cold starts put extra strain on the engine, so it's worth confirming your oil is at the right level and due for a change if it's getting close to the next service interval.
Book a Winter Check at Marieston Service Centre
If you'd rather have someone else run through all of this for you, book a service or battery check with us and we'll check the areas that matter most going into winter, battery, tyres, lights, brakes and fluid levels, and let you know clearly if anything needs attention. If your MOT is due around now too, you can book it alongside your service and save £14.85 off the standard price.
We're based at 235 Yeading Lane, Hayes UB4, and serve drivers across Hayes, Southall, Uxbridge, Slough, Hounslow and Ealing. Book online in under a minute, or call or WhatsApp us to get a slot before winter sets in.
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