Prepare Your Car for Winter Weather

None of us want, or ever expect, breakdowns on the side of the highway, dead batteries in driveways or blown tires in parking lots. It seems these things happen at the worst times, and at AAA we are proud to be able to make those times a little less frantic for our nearly 6 million members.

Last winter, between December and March, AAA Northeast serviced over 1 million vehicles for breakdown events. Approximately 25 percent of these events were battery-related, mostly due to the frigid temperatures. While we hope Mother Nature is kinder to us this winter, we know that the months ahead could be challenging for our cars.

That’s why AAA Northeast recognizes October as Car Care Month. Our goal is to highlight the importance of car care and preventative maintenance as the cold weather approaches.

As a AAA member, you can have your vehicle checked at a participating AAA Approved Auto Repair facility. There are hundreds of local AAA Approved Auto Repair facilities, and they must meet stringent standards for training, equipment, facility appearance and most importantly, customer service. These facilities will check your car’s battery, engine, windshield wiper blades, tires, oil, fluid levels and more – think of it as your car’s “annual physical” to help you stay safe on the road.

Batteries seem to be most susceptible to breakdowns when the weather turns cold. Your battery will rarely warn you before it fails, but having a simple battery test will. Through our mobile battery program, AAA offers its members battery and electrical system testing. Give AAA a call or visit an approved repair facility.

Proactively addressing any issues your car may have helps avoid breakdowns later. Whether the job involves routine maintenance or more involved repairs, AAA can provide you with an estimate of the cost. To get an estimate, simply go to AAA.com/AutoRepair to provide information about your vehicle and the desired service.

These few things can help every driver make sure their car is ready for the road in the months ahead.

For more information or to learn more about special offers for AAA members during October, visit AAA.com/CarCareMonth.