What to do if you’re stuck in snow?

When you’re stuck in the snow, suddenly the “most wonderful time of the year” turns into the worst.

To keep your holiday plans on track, let’s review some methods to get out of the snow quickly and safely this season.

Snow removal

Most of the time, you’ll get stuck after leaving your car parked overnight. When you return the next day, you may find it surrounded by a fortress of snow. Before you try to free your car, you’ve got to prepare accordingly.

If your car is already off, don’t turn it on. Ensure the tailpipe is completely clear before you do anything else. Turning on your engine before you do this can cause carbon monoxide to build up inside your vehicle.

If your car has traction control, turn it off on the dashboard if you can get inside the cabin. This will help you get the drive wheels moving.

Next, use a shovel to dig out your car. Start with the drive tires, digging the snow out from in front, underneath, and in the back. You’ll want enough room for the tires to move forward and backward a few feet, if possible. Also remove any snow that’s higher than your vehicle’s ground clearance.

If you can’t shovel, an ice scraper or snowbrush can at least help you break up ice that may have formed below the tires. You want to expose the tread of your winter tires so they’ll be able to grip the road.

If you get stuck in snow when you’re already in the middle of a journey, turn your vehicle off as you shovel yourself out.

Moving back and forth

After clearing away some snow, turn your engine on and put your vehicle into the lowest gear. Try to slowly move your car forward then backward. This can help flatten any loose snow and improve your traction to get out. If you hear your tires spinning at all, take your foot off the gas right away.

Flooring it won’t help in this situation. Once your car is stuck, you’ll need to be more strategic about getting it out than just slamming the gas.

Adding traction

If you still can’t get enough traction, try placing things like floor mats, snow chains, cardboard, sand, or cat litter under the tires to give them more grip.

A good push

If you’ve got anyone around to help, a few good pushes may get you out of the snow. Ask your volunteers to push on the count of three as you gently press the gas pedal.

Once your car breaks free, drive until you’re in a less snow-packed area. When the road looks clearer, turn the traction control back on.

If you’re unable to get your car out of the snow by yourself and/or it’s extremely cold outside, call for roadside assistance. It’s much better to call for help than to risk injuring yourself or damaging your car.

Preparing ahead

Lower your chances of getting stuck in the snow in the future with these tips:

• Put winter tires on when the temperature is consistently below 7 °C.
• Keep a snow shovel and snowbrush in your trunk (along with a winter emergency kit).
• Switch to winter windshield washer fluid.
• Check your tire pressure every two weeks.
• Follow these winter driving techniques.

Stay safe by planning before you hit the road this winter. If you need any help to get your car ready for winter, visit a NAPA AUTOPRO service centre.