How to Keep Your Vehicle Prepared for Winter Driving Conditions

3 min read · Thames Valley Snow, London, Ontario

Preparing your vehicle for winter is just as important as preparing your driveway, since a well-cleared driveway does not help much if your car is not actually ready for the road conditions London winters bring.

Winter tires are one of the most impactful upgrades for cold-weather driving, since they remain flexible and grip better in low temperatures compared to all-season tires, which stiffen up and lose traction below about seven degrees Celsius. Keeping an emergency kit in the trunk is worth doing before the first snowfall each year, ideally including a blanket, flashlight, small shovel, and some non-perishable snacks in case you are ever stuck or delayed. A consistently full or nearly full gas tank through winter is also a good habit, both to avoid running low during an unexpected delay and to help prevent fuel line freeze in extreme cold.

Before driving anywhere after a snowfall, clearing snow fully off your entire vehicle, not just the windshield, matters for both visibility and safety. Snow left on a roof can slide down and obscure the windshield while driving, or become a hazard to vehicles behind you on the highway. Checking wiper blades and topping up winter washer fluid before the season starts also helps maintain visibility during messy driving conditions.

None of these steps take much time, but together they meaningfully reduce your risk during the parts of the year when road conditions are least predictable.

A quick winter vehicle checklist

Before the first snowfall, check tire tread and pressure (cold air drops pressure), test your battery if it is more than a few years old, top up winter washer fluid, and replace streaky wiper blades. Put an ice scraper and snow brush in the car, along with a phone charger. These are small jobs, but they are the ones people most often wish they had done when a storm arrives.

Your driveway is part of winter driving

Many winter fender-benders and stuck cars happen before you even reach the street: backing out over a hard City plow ridge, spinning on packed snow in a sloped driveway, or sliding on ice at the bottom of the drive. A driveway cleared down to the pavement, with the ridge at the end removed, makes the first and last few metres of every trip safer.

If you leave early for work, the timing of your driveway clearing matters as much as the clearing itself. A cleared driveway at 9am does not help if you leave at 6:30.

Parking tips for snow days

On storm nights, move vehicles off the street where you can so City plows can clear the road. In the driveway, parking to one side (or in the garage) lets a crew clear more of the surface. Clear the whole car, including the roof and lights, before you drive.

Do I need winter tires in London, Ontario?

They are not legally required in Ontario, but they grip much better below about 7°C, and many insurers offer a discount for them.

Can my driveway be cleared before I leave for work?

Yes. Thames Valley Snow offers priority early-morning clearing as a $125 add-on, which puts your driveway in the first part of the route after overnight snow.

What's included with Thames Valley Snow, and what's extra

Every seasonal plan includes automatic service whenever 5 cm falls (you never need to call), driveway clearing edge to edge including the City plow ridge at the end, and a timestamped photo after every visit. A single driveway is $650 + HST for the season, a double is $815, and per-visit service starts at $70.

Optional add-ons (+ HST): seasonal salting including freezing rain and refreeze visits $175, walkway and up to 6 steps $175, City sidewalk frontage $90, pet-safe premium de-icer $120, priority early-morning clearing $125, and a season extension from November 1 to April 15 for $95. Seniors and front-line workers (nurses, firefighters, police, paramedics and teachers) save 5% on any seasonal contract.

Get a fixed price for your property: request a free quote or call or text (548) 888-8702. You can also see all snow removal prices or read about residential snow removal.