Car Accessories for Winter: What to Keep in Your Car This Season

Winter is hard on cars and on drivers. Batteries struggle in the cold, windshields ice over overnight and a minor breakdown becomes a much bigger deal when it’s below freezing. The right accessories make icy mornings quicker and give you a safety margin if something goes wrong. This guide covers what to keep in the car from late fall to early spring, plus a short checklist to get the car itself ready.

Beating the morning frost and snow

Windshield frost and snow covers

A windshield cover is one of the simplest winter time-savers. Put it on in the evening and peel it off in the morning, taking the frost or light snow with it. Magnetic covers attach to the metal around the windshield; others tuck into the doors. The Magnetic Windshield Snow/Frost Cover uses nine built-in magnets and side wings that tuck into the doors, and it fits windshields up to about 63 x 46 inches, so check your measurements first. Make sure the surface is clean before fitting a magnetic cover to avoid scratching the paint.

Ice scrapers and snow brushes

Even with a cover, you’ll need a good scraper for side windows, mirrors and heavy snow. A long-handled snow brush with a scraper on one end makes it easier to clear the roof of an SUV or truck. Clear the whole car, roof included, before driving: snow sliding off the roof onto the windshield or the car behind is a real hazard and illegal in some states.

De-icer and lock help

A spray de-icer speeds up thick ice. Never pour boiling water on a frozen windshield, because the sudden temperature change can crack the glass.

Your winter emergency kit

If you break down or get stuck in winter, you may wait longer for help, and the car gets cold fast without the engine running. Keep a kit in the trunk all season:

• Warmth: a blanket or sleeping bag, spare gloves, a hat and hand warmers.
• Light: a flashlight or rechargeable work light, with spare batteries if needed.
• Power: a portable jump starter or jumper cables, and a phone charger or power bank.
• Traction: a small folding shovel and a bag of sand or cat litter for grip under the tires.
• Visibility: reflective triangles or a high-visibility vest.
• Supplies: water, non-perishable snacks and a basic first aid kit.

If you’re stuck with the engine running for heat, clear snow from around the tailpipe first so exhaust fumes can’t build up inside the car, and crack a window slightly.

Jump starters and air pumps

Cold weather reduces battery performance, so a dead battery is one of the most common winter problems. A portable jump starter means you don’t need another car. Some also include an air pump, which is useful because tire pressure drops as temperatures fall. The Car Emergency Start Pump combines a 12V emergency start power source with an inflation pump in one storage bag. Whatever you choose, keep it charged; lithium packs lose charge over time, and faster in the cold.

Safety tools for the glovebox

Window breaker and seat-belt cutter

In a serious accident, or if a car goes into water, an escape tool kept within reach can matter. The Window Breaker & Seat-Belt Cutter is small enough for a keychain. Keep it where the driver can reach it while buckled in, not in the trunk. Note that many window breakers won’t work on laminated side glass, which some newer cars use, so check your car’s windows.

Tire pressure gauge

Tire pressure falls as the temperature drops. Check pressures at least monthly when the tires are cold, and inflate to the figure on the sticker inside the driver’s door, not the maximum printed on the tire.

Comfort accessories for cold mornings

Seat covers and cushions

Plush seat covers feel warmer than cold leather or vinyl and protect upholstery from wet coats and salt. Only use covers labeled airbag compatible on seats with built-in side airbags.

Steering wheel covers

A fabric or microfiber wheel cover is warmer to hold than a bare wheel on a frozen morning. Make sure it fits snugly and doesn’t slip.

Heated accessories

12V heated seat pads and blankets can help in cars without heated seats. Unplug them when you leave the car so they don’t drain the battery, and don’t leave them running unattended.

Keeping the inside clean and dry

Snow, salt and slush end up on the floor all winter, and damp carpets lead to fogged windows and musty smells.

• All-weather floor mats with raised edges trap melted snow and salt.
• A quick vacuum once a week stops salt grinding into the carpet. See our car vacuum buying guide.
• Microfiber towels in the door pocket help clear fogged glass.
• Dry out wet mats indoors when you can.

Our interior cleaning guide covers salt stains and odors.

Winter car prep checklist

Accessories help, but the car itself needs attention too. Before the first hard freeze:

1. Have the battery tested, especially if it’s more than a few years old.
2. Check the antifreeze/coolant level and condition.
3. Fill up with winter windshield washer fluid that won’t freeze.
4. Replace worn wiper blades, or fit winter blades.
5. Check tire tread and consider winter tires if you get regular snow and ice.
6. Make sure all lights work and are clean.
7. Keep at least half a tank of fuel so you have a reserve if you’re stuck.

FAQ

What should I keep in my car in winter?

At minimum: an ice scraper, a blanket, gloves, a flashlight, a phone charger, jumper cables or a jump starter, water, snacks and a small shovel.

Do windshield covers really work?

Yes. They stop frost and light snow from bonding to the glass, so clearing it takes seconds. They’re less effective in heavy snowfall, when you’ll still need a brush.

Is it bad to warm up a car by idling?

Most modern cars only need a short warm-up, typically under a minute, before you drive gently. Long idling wastes fuel, and you should never idle in an enclosed space such as a garage.

What winter accessories make good gifts?

A frost cover, a heated seat pad, a good snow brush or a full emergency kit. See our Christmas car gift guide for more.