Snow, Sleet, Ice, Oh My! 5 Surprising Checks So You Can Drive Safely This Winter

Based on insights from more than 1,400+ certified, pre-screened repair shops, the RepairPal.com Extreme Weather Car Prep Priority List identifies the top 5 important winter preps steps recommended by the nation's certified auto repair shops:

*** REPAIRPAL.COM EXTREME WEATHER CAR PREP PRIORITY LIST ***

PRIORITY #1: CONSIDER YOUR CHARGE
Freezing weather drains battery life much quicker than normal temperatures. At 0 degrees, a car battery may retain only 40 percent of its charge. Play it safe and get your battery checked by a certified shop that offers a warranty.

PRIORITY #2: MANAGE YOUR PRESSURE
Did you know your tire pressure drops 1-2 psi for every 10 degree decrease in temperature? As a tire loses pressure, it starts to overheat -- you could be driving on under-inflated tires and experience a blowout.

PRIORITY #3: AVOID THE FREEZE WITH ANTI-FREEZE
Make sure your car has the proper level of freeze-protection for your region's weather. In addition to protecting your cooling system from corrosion, freezing and overheating, coolant prevents the engine block from cracking at extreme temperatures.

PRIORITY #4: SIZE DOES MATTER
Windshield wipers are a vital piece for staying safe this winter. Make sure your wiper blades are the appropriate size for your car -- installing the wrong wiper blade can cause them to malfunction and leave you in white-out conditions.

PRIORITY #5: CHECK FOR "SILENT" PROBLEMS
Your car may start, and run ok, but there could be problems under the hood—caused by worn belts, leaky hoses, or brakes about to wear out. Avoid a major repair by getting your vehicle inspected before the season is in full force, by a certified repair shop.

In addition to this priority list, RepairPal [www.repairpal.com] also recommends packing emergency supplies, tire chains, gloves, and a snow shovel.