The car emergency kit for UK winters

Official advice first

Two official lists cover the car. They overlap, so here they are together.

Keep personal essentials with you on any long trip too: medicines, a charged phone, water, food and warm or waterproof clothes (Be Ready).

Before you set off in bad weather

• Ask whether the trip can wait. Be Ready says if disruption is expected, think about delaying until conditions improve. National Highways says the same if snow or ice is forecast.
• Check the car: tyres, oil, screen wash and fuel level (Be Ready).
• Clear all snow and ice from every window, and any snow that could fall into the path of other road users (Highway Code rule 229).
• Tell someone where you're going and when you expect to arrive (Be Ready).
• Plan your route and check service areas are open (National Highways).

For the house itself, see our winter home checklist.

On the road

• Stopping distances: at least double on wet roads (rule 227), and up to ten times longer on ice (rule 230).
• Leave up to ten times the normal gap, use a high gear, and avoid sudden braking (National Highways).
• Never drive through flood water. It can be deeper or faster than it looks (Be Ready). The Environment Agency has said 30cm of flowing water can float a car. Turn round and find another way.

If you're stuck or stranded

• Stay with the car. Be Ready says if you're delayed or stranded, it's usually safer to stay where you are and wait for help. If you break down, move to a safe place if you can.
• Put on warm layers and use your blankets before you get cold.
• Use your phone sparingly and keep it charged from the power bank.
• Call 999 if anyone is in danger.

Running the engine for warmth: the carbon monoxide risk

The NHS warns that running engines in enclosed spaces can cause a dangerous build-up of carbon monoxide (CO). If snow blocks your exhaust, fumes can get into the car.

We found no UK government guidance on running the engine while stuck in snow. Breakdown service Green Flag advises:

• make sure the exhaust pipe is clear of snow before running the engine, and keep checking it
• run the engine and heater in short bursts
• open a window on the side away from the wind for fresh air

If anyone gets a headache, feels dizzy or sick, turn off the engine and get fresh air.

Summer too

Be Ready says small closed spaces like parked cars get dangerously hot quickly. Never leave babies, children, older people or pets alone in a parked car, and take extra water in case of a breakdown or long delay.

Where the official advice stops

• No UK official source gives a fuel level to keep (for example "half a tank"). Be Ready only says check it before you set off.
• No UK official source covers running the engine while stranded. The steps above come from a breakdown provider, and we've said so.

For a full year-round list, including first aid contents and driving abroad, see our car emergency kit guide.

Related guides

• Car emergency kit UK: what to keep in your car (and a winter list)
• Travel disruption: what to carry and what to do if you're stranded
• Clearing snow and ice: your path, the pavement, and a snow day at home
• Extreme weather in the UK: heatwaves, storms, floods and wildfires

Free tools

• Storm tracker: live Met Office warnings

We're an independent UK site, not the government. We check guides against official sources and link to them. In an emergency call 999.

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