How to drive in snow and ice.
Our top tips for winter driving.
Get our top tips for driving safely in winter. And learn about Breakdown Cover with Tesco Car Insurance.
Published: 20 January 2026
What’s different about winter driving?
Winter driving is about adjusting how you drive, and prepping your car, for cold, dark and slippery conditions. Grip and visibility on the road can change quickly in winter. And that makes driving more difficult - and more dangerous.
At Tesco Car Insurance, we saw a 37% increase in snow and ice claims last winter*. Incidents on the road are more likely at this time of year. So, wherever you’re headed, it’s important to plan ahead.
Here’s our practical guide to staying safe on the road. And how a little prep can go a long way.
How to prepare your car for winter
Carrying out some basic checks could help to avoid a breakdown in bad weather. But it could also help to prevent an accident and mean you won’t need to make a car insurance claim
Find out how to get your car winter-ready with our handy guides:
Tips for driving in snow safely
It might seem obvious, but smooth and steady is the way forward when driving in snow.
Be gentle on the pedals. Leave bigger gaps. And always plan ahead.
Clear snow from the roof before you go
If snow slides off the roof when you’re driving, it can block your view of the road or cause flying debris for you and other drivers. It’s also an offence to drive when you can’t see clearly.
Set off in second gear, if you can
Starting in a higher gear helps to reduce wheelspin. You should also turn on snow or winter mode if your car has it, to help with grip.
Keep your speed low with gentle revs in higher gears
Keeping your speed low gives you more time to react and helps to reduce the chances of understeer or oversteer on snow.
Leave a much bigger gap
It takes longer for your car to stop in snow. Slowing down and leaving more room between you and the car in front can help to prevent accidents.
Brake early and gently
Avoid harsh stops and sudden steering so your tyres maintain their best grip on the road.
Understand your car’s ABS behaviour
Let your car’s Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) work as intended. You’ll feel pulsing through the pedal. Keep pressing and steer where you want to go - don’t pump the pedal.
On snow, ABS might buzz and make stopping distances longer, as it works to prevent lock up.
Use your car’s traction controls
Turn on your car’s traction and stability control. Don’t fight the systems - steer where you want to go.
Take bends slowly and steer smoothly
You need the most grip when turning. Going more slowly into bends and steering steadily avoids sudden shifts in weight that can affect your car’s traction.
Plan for driving uphill and downhill in snow
- Uphill - build gentle momentum early, keep a steady speed and avoid stopping. This’ll help to prevent wheelspin or getting bogged down.Uphill - build gentle momentum early, keep a steady speed and avoid stopping. This’ll help to prevent wheelspin or getting bogged down.
- Downhill - slow before the slope, use a low gear, brake lightly and stay straight. This’ll help your tyres to maintain the best grip.Downhill - slow before the slope, use a low gear, brake lightly and stay straight. This’ll help your tyres to maintain the best grip.
Avoid using cruise control
You’ll need full control of your car’s speed and traction when driving in snowy or icy conditions.
Cruise control can add throttle at the wrong time, causing your wheels to spin on slippery patches on the road.
Know what to do if you get stuck
The following can help if your car gets stuck in the snow:
- make sure your wheels are straightmake sure your wheels are straight
- clear snow from around your car, especially your tyresclear snow from around your car, especially your tyres
- put something grippy under your tyres to help your car regain traction, like a rubber mat or some gritput something grippy under your tyres to help your car regain traction, like a rubber mat or some grit
Gentle rocking can also help you to avoid your wheels spinning and your car digging into the snow.
Driving on icy roads
Ice is the lowest grip surface you’ll meet on the road. So icy roads need extra care when you’re driving - even more than snow.
Drive as smoothly as possible. Allow plenty of space. And be patient.
Spot signs of ice on the road
Slow down before you reach the trouble spots, because your tyres’ll have less grip on the road.
- Silent tyres, no spray from cars ahead, and your steering feels light - assume there’s iceSilent tyres, no spray from cars ahead, and your steering feels light - assume there’s ice
- Shiny, wet looking patches in freezing temperatures - a good chance of iceShiny, wet looking patches in freezing temperatures - a good chance of ice
- Shaded areas, bridges and rural roads - often freeze firstShaded areas, bridges and rural roads - often freeze first
Slow down and leave a bigger gap
Stopping distances can be up to 10 times longer on ice, according to The Highway Code. Slowing down and leaving a much bigger gap between you and the car in front can help to prevent accidents.
Use your lights correctly
It’s important to use your lights at the right time, to help you see and be seen on the road. Especially in low light or bad conditions.
- Use your dipped headlights when it’s dark or there’s poor visibility.Use your dipped headlights when it’s dark or there’s poor visibility.
- Turn on your full beam where there’s no streetlighting, nothing in front of you and no oncoming cars. Dip them as soon as you see another car on the road in front of you.Turn on your full beam where there’s no streetlighting, nothing in front of you and no oncoming cars. Dip them as soon as you see another car on the road in front of you.
- Use your fog lights only when visibility is seriously low - generally less than 100 metres in front or behind you. Turn them off when visibility gets better.Use your fog lights only when visibility is seriously low - generally less than 100 metres in front or behind you. Turn them off when visibility gets better.
Choose treated lanes and smoother lines
Pick heavily used or gritted parts of the road, which often have slightly more grip. And drive in smooth, steady lines to help avoid sudden or unnecessary steering.
Avoid overtakes and sharp lane changes
Sudden changes of direction need more grip than ice can give you. Try to hold a steady line when you’re driving, as it’s much safer.
Brake and steer separately
Getting your tyres to brake and turn at the same time can call for more grip than they’re capable of on ice. Do one thing at a time to stay in control.
Slown down in a low gear
Let your car slow down in a low gear. It'll keep the weight of the car stable and save the small amount of grip your tyres have for steering. If you brake to slow down, your tyres will need more grip.
What to do if you skid
- If the rear slides (oversteer) - steer gently into the skid and ease off the accelerator to let the rear tyres get a grip.If the rear slides (oversteer) - steer gently into the skid and ease off the accelerator to let the rear tyres get a grip.
- If the front slides (understeer) - come off the accelerator and keep steering gently until grip returns.If the front slides (understeer) - come off the accelerator and keep steering gently until grip returns.
Safety tips for winter driving
Here’s our final bit of advice to help you prepare - and stay safe - when driving in winter.
Plan ahead
- Check the weather and traffic. Allow extra time. Think about delaying your journey if the weather’s really bad.Check the weather and traffic. Allow extra time. Think about delaying your journey if the weather’s really bad.
- Have an alternative route and a safe place to stop if you need to.Have an alternative route and a safe place to stop if you need to.
Before you go
- Clear all windows, mirrors, lights and the roof.Clear all windows, mirrors, lights and the roof.
- Demist inside your car using air con, if you have it.Demist inside your car using air con, if you have it.
If you get stuck
- Clear snow from around your wheels. Gently rock the car to free it from the snow.Clear snow from around your wheels. Gently rock the car to free it from the snow.
- Place mats or grit under your tyres to get traction, if it’s safe to do so.Place mats or grit under your tyres to get traction, if it’s safe to do so.
- Stay with your car if it’s safe and help’s on the way. Wear a high-viz jacket if you have one and keep back from traffic if you need to leave the car.Stay with your car if it’s safe and help’s on the way. Wear a high-viz jacket if you have one and keep back from traffic if you need to leave the car.
If you break down
- Stop in a safe place. On motorways, use the hard shoulder or an emergency area if possible.Stop in a safe place. On motorways, use the hard shoulder or an emergency area if possible.
- Don’t use a warning triangle on motorways. On other roads, place it well back from the car, if it’s safe to do so.Don’t use a warning triangle on motorways. On other roads, place it well back from the car, if it’s safe to do so.
- Call for help if you can’t fix the problem easily or safely. Or report your breakdown to your provider if you have breakdown cover.Call for help if you can’t fix the problem easily or safely. Or report your breakdown to your provider if you have breakdown cover.
- Wear a high-viz if you have one and stand well back from the car.Wear a high-viz if you have one and stand well back from the car.
Know when to stop
- If driving conditions worsen while you’re out on the road, or you feel unsafe, find a safe place to pull in, reassess your journey, or turn back.If driving conditions worsen while you’re out on the road, or you feel unsafe, find a safe place to pull in, reassess your journey, or turn back.
Summary: the road to safe winter driving
Plan, prepare, and take it steady. And only drive if you have to.
Keep moving with Breakdown Cover from the RAC
It’s important to be prepared when you go out on the road in winter. But if the unexpected does happen, our Breakdown Cover could help, so you’re not left stranded in the snow.
Depending on the level of cover you choose, our Breakdown Cover can include:
- 24/7 UK roadside assistance from the RAC24/7 UK roadside assistance from the RAC
- Home StartHome Start
- Vehicle recoveryVehicle recovery
- Travel supportTravel support
You can add Breakdown Cover as an optional extra when you buy Tesco Car Insurance.
Help for Car Insurance customers
If you’re a Tesco Car Insurance customer, find out how to manage your policy, get in touch or make a claim.
Important information
Tesco Car Insurance is arranged and administered by Tesco Insurance and is underwritten by Tesco Underwriting Ltd.
Tesco Insurance Breakdown Cover is provided, administered and underwritten by RAC Insurance Ltd.
You’ll find complete details of the cover, monetary limits, exclusions, excesses and terms in our policy documents.
About our data
*Tesco Car Insurance claims data - Nov 2024-Feb 2025 vs Nov 2023-Feb 2024.
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