What to Do When Your Car Is Stuck in Snow

Love it or hate it, if you live in Canada, you can’t ignore the snow. Snowbanks, snowdrifts, and snowstorms can really make you question your need to drive this time of year. Despite the beauty of freshly fallen snow, dealing with a snowed-in vehicle is one winter task that nobody looks forward to.

Next time your car gets stuck in the snow, try some of these tips.

How to get your car out of the snow / comment sortir votre voiture de la neige

Getting Stuck at Home

One of winter’s greatest inconveniences is heading out to your car in the morning and finding it encased in ice or buried under several feet of snow. If you’re still in your own driveway, however, you’ll likely have access to a range of tools to get you on your way.

Clearing Snow

An electric snow shovel or snowblower can make quick work of snow clearing. If the snow is quite high, you may need to start by clearing some away using a regular shovel. After making some room, bring out the electric shovel to do the bulk of the work. Don’t forget your gloves!

Olympia Electric Snow Shovel

233.99 $ 92.99 $

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NAPA Winter Utility Gloves

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Adding Traction

Sometimes, snow removal isn’t enough. Your car’s wheels may lack traction if you’re stuck on ice, if your car doesn’t have winter tires yet, or if your tires are spinning. Placing some cat litter, floor mats, or plastic traction pads behind your tires can help.

Mallory GripTrax Traction Tool

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Melting Ice

If you still can’t get your car moving, you may need to melt some of the ice. Put some spreading salt or synthetic ice melter around each of your tires. After a few minutes, try moving the car again.

Windsor Safe-T-Salt

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Windsor Ice Melt Safer For Concrete

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Getting Stuck on the Road

If your car gets stuck in the snow while you’re away from home, you likely won’t have items like an electric shovel or cat litter with you. In that case, try some of these alternative methods. (You can still use these tips if you’re stuck at home.)

Clearing Snow and& Ice

Keeping a foldable shovel in your trunk can be really helpful you get stuck in the snow while driving. Use the shovel to clear the snow away from your tires.

If your tires are stuck, a regular snow brush won’t help much, though it’ll be useful for clearing the rest of your car of snow and ice. A snow brush with an ice scraper attachment, however, can help you remove ice around your tires. Alternatively, you can keep a portable ice scraper with you.

 

Having a portable lamp in your car can come in handy if you need some extra light when digging yourself out of snow in the dark.

Olympia Foldable Shovel

17.29 $

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Rca Rectractable Lamp

13.79 $ 8.89 $

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Rocking Your Car

If your car is still stuck in the snow, try rocking it back and forth. Turn your car on, put it in drive, and gently press on the gas. Next, put the car in reverse and push the gas pedal again. Repeat this a few times to free your vehicle. This solution should be done with caution, as rocking your vehicle for too long can damage the transmission.

Assessing Your Tires

A car with tires that lack traction is more likely to get stuck in the snow. If you’re frequently getting stranded on snowy roads, your tires may need replacing. Make sure you change over to winter tires before the start of the season (usually early November) and assess the condition of your tires.

If your tires are in good condition, check the air pressure. Lowering the pressure in your tires slightly will increase the contact patch between the tire and the ground, giving you more traction. If you’re stuck, release a small amount of air from each tire and then try moving your car again. Keep an electric pump with you to re-inflate your tires once you’re out of the snow.

Calling for Help

If you’re really stuck and can’t get out of the snow alone, don’t be afraid to call for help. Requesting roadside assistance is a common and recommended way to get out of a stubborn snow situation.

To avoid other winter mishaps, keep your car in good condition with regular maintenance. Topping up essential liquids like coolant and windshield washer fluid, for example, will help your car withstand the tough weather.

You can also keep certain items in your trunk as a precaution in case of roadside emergencies. For instance, if you need to get out of your vehicle in super snowy/icy conditions, a pair of ice cleats can help you keep your balance, and some foot warmers will keep your toes toasty. Check out this article for more useful items to keep in your car for winter emergencies.

If you have any questions about managing your vehicle in the snow, visit a NAPA Auto Parts store to speak with an expert.

NAPA Windshield Washer Fluid

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NAPA Cooling System Antifreeze

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