To get your car ready for a Virginia winter, check the tires, have the battery tested, fit fresh wiper blades, fill up with winter washer fluid, check the coolant and lights, and pack an emergency kit. Do it before the first freeze, and well before the first snow, when everyone else remembers at once.
As early in the season as you can, because the cold arrives at different times across the region. On average, the first 32°F night comes around October 24 at Dulles and November 18 at Reagan National, and the first hard freeze (28°F) around November 4 and December 3 (NOAA's 1991–2020 normals for Dulles and Reagan National).
So the Dulles side (western Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William) gets cold weeks before Arlington and Alexandria. These are 50/50 averages, so in about half of years the cold comes sooner. If you haven't done these checks yet, this week is a good time.
| Check | What to look for | Do it yourself or book someone |
|---|---|---|
| Tires | Pressure, tread, cracks or bulges | Pressure yourself; worn or damaged tires at a tire shop |
| Battery | Age, slow starts, crusty terminals | Have it tested |
| Wiper blades | Streaks, chatter, torn rubber | Yourself, or book car maintenance |
| Washer fluid | A winter-rated fluid, reservoir full | Yourself |
| Coolant (antifreeze) | The level, and whether it's rated for the cold | Have it checked |
| Lights | Every bulb working, lenses clear | Yourself |
| Heater and defroster | Hot air, a windshield that clears quickly | Book if either is weak |
| Emergency kit | See the list below | Yourself |
Cold weather makes a battery work harder, and a weak one often gives up on the first cold morning. Watch for:
Check the date on the battery's label, too. If it's getting old or showing any of these signs, have it tested before the cold arrives, and replace it if the test says so.
Keep these in the car from now until spring:
Keep the gas tank fuller than you might in summer, too, so you're not running low if you get stuck in traffic in a storm.
The salt and brine used on winter roads cling to the paint and the underside of the car. Before the season, a thorough wash and a coat of wax or sealant give the paint some protection. Rubber floor mats catch the slush and salt you track in, which saves the carpet. Car washing and detailing can do both before the first storm.
If the checks turn up work, book car maintenance or minor car repair and roadside help with an independent local Pro now, before the first snow fills everyone's schedule.
Last updated September 2026.
Follow your owner's manual, which says how long, if at all, your car needs to idle in cold weather. Never run the engine in a closed garage, even with the door partly open, because exhaust contains carbon monoxide.
It's best not to. A sudden temperature change can crack cold glass, and the water can refreeze on the windshield or on the ground where you're standing. Start the defroster and use an ice scraper instead.
There's no set schedule. Washing after roads have been treated gets salt and brine off the paint and underbody before they sit there for weeks, so choose a wash with an underbody rinse. Pick a day warm enough that the doors and locks won't freeze shut afterward.
Jump-start it only the way your owner's manual describes, or call roadside assistance. A battery that has died once is worth testing before the next cold night, since it may be near the end of its life.