You may live in sunny California, but what if you go to a colder climate, do you know how to pack, or if your vehicle has any special needs for those areas? Let’s dig in!

For colder areas, you need to make sure you are checking your tire pressure. Heat makes air expand, so cold does the opposite. You may drive to your snowy destination from a hot one and wake up the next morning with a low-pressure sensor warning or tires that just look low in general. Make sure you keep them properly inflated for safety reasons and to keep the life of your tires from cutting short!

Speaking of tires, depending on where you are heading to, you may want to switch them out for winter driving ones, or even all-seasons. Your summer driving, low profile tread may not hold up well at all on snow-covered roads!

If you are heading out anywhere cold, make sure to pack a warm bag in your vehicle. Just in case you get stuck. Blankets, ice melt, hand warmers, gloves, hats, and don’t forget a windshield ice scraper!

Antifreeze – your car should already be good on antifreeze, but in the past, I have known some people to run only water in their vehicles. Water freezes. So make sure you are topped off on antifreeze and it is a proper amount and not too much water mixed in!

Remember you can always rent a car ahead of your trip that may be better suited than your daily driver to handle any snowy terrain! This option may save you money, in the long run, depending on how much you would need to winterize your personal vehicle, plus save on wear and tear on your ride!