If you’re planning to get auto transport during the colder months of the year, you’ll find the time frame isn’t always quite as ideal. The demand for auto transport is less in winter, and so there aren’t as many carriers available to transport your vehicle. Carriers that are available, however, often have to drive slowly to avoid accidents on the wet roads, meaning your car might be on the carrier for longer than you intended.

Because of this, it can be helpful to consider some things that will help keep your car in good shape throughout the long haul of cold weather vehicle shipping. An enclosed carrier is your best option for protection, no matter the time of year. Checking your battery is the next thing for winter shipping. A bad battery can cause loading or unloading issues amid transit and can cause delays, and possible fees.

How Cold Weather Damages Your Car

Cold weather can make you feel like sitting under a blanket and reading a book all day. But you’re not the only one affected by the cold! Much like you, your car won’t be in the mood to go anywhere while it’s cold. Some of the main ways cold weather can be harmful for your car include:

Battery problems

During winter, the car battery won’t function at its full capacity. If your battery is four years old (or even older) there’s a good chance you’ll have some problems this winter. To prevent battery problems, it’s best to have an old battery replaced. Keeping your car in a closed area, like a garage, also prevent the battery from dying.

Thickening fluids

Car fluids can thicken in the winter cold. This is because the cold has a freezing kind of effect on even the oil and other fluids in your car. To prevent thickened fluids from causing problems, it’s good to switch your car on and allow the engine to idle for at least 10 minutes before you start driving anywhere. This will allow your engine some time to heat up properly. Always use some antifreeze during winter.

Tire pressure issues

Cold temperatures can cause your tires to lose pressure, but once you’re driving, heat caused by friction between your tires and the road can cause the pressure to normalize again. To avoid tire problems during winter, it’s best to check your tire pressure often. Because winter weather can wreak havoc on your tire pressure, you’ll need to check for your tire pressure light – you wouldn’t want to damage your tires by driving when the pressure isn’t right.

Rusting undercarriage

During winter, road crew use salt solutions to help melt away snow on the roads. Unfortunately, salt is known to cause rust to form on cars, so be sure to wash your car often during winter, especially if you drive in areas with a lot of snow.

Brake failure

Brake failure isn’t unique to cold weather. Instead, it’s something to be concerned about if you’re planning to drive on roads that are slippery because they’re wet or icy. If you haven’t checked your brakes this winter, now might be a good time to do so.

Windshield wiper issues

If your windshield wipers were old before winter, there’s a good chance the cold weather will make them more brittle, causing them to crack. Because of this, it’s recommended that you change your windshield wipers as soon as you notice they leave marks after wiping. Don’t ever try to use your wipers to clear snow, ice or slush from your windshield, as this can easily cause them to break.

All and all, your car just isn’t built to perform its best in cold weather. Keeping your car in an enclosed area during winter is one of the best things you can do to protect it from the harsh weather outside. Even if temperatures inside an enclosed area are below freezing point, your car will still be protected from ice, snow and wind.

The Benefits of Enclosed Auto Transport

One of the best ways to protect your car from the harsh winter weather is by keeping it in the safety of your garage. The garage provides a clean and dry area for your car. The inside of your garage is also usually a tad warmer than the outside temperatures.

But just as keeping your car in the garage helps to protect it from bad weather and cold, enclosed auto shipping can ensure your car stays safe during transport. If you ship your car with open auto transport during winter, you never know what weather conditions your car might have to endure during transport.

To avoid the most common car problems associated with exposing your car to the cold, it’s always best to go with enclosed auto transport in bad weather conditions. But remember, even if you choose to ship your car on an enclosed auto carrier, you should still check that the battery is good before handing it in. As with any other car shipping, it’s also recommended that you keep a record of all bumps and scratches on your vehicle before handing it in.