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How do you keep warm if your car breaks down?
My car is pretty old, and I am not confident it will get through the winter without breaking down. How should I keep warm if my car breaks down and I’m driving in the winter?
Will Baldwin · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
As colder months are approaching, it’s smart to consider a contingency plan if your car breaks down.
First, you should call roadside assistance immediately. It’s helpful if you can give roadside assistance as much information about your whereabouts as possible.
Then, keep any heat in your car. You’ll want to block any unused space in your car. Empty space is a draw for warm air, and you want to keep your heat as concentrated as possible. If you have extra blankets in your car, they are great to use to fill space. It’s also just a good idea to keep clothes and blankets in your car as extra layers.
Run your vehicle for 10 minutes every hour. It’s important to make sure your exhaust pipe is clear of snow or debris so poisonous gasses don’t circulate in your vehicle. In addition to running your car, you’ll want to make sure you move. Movement can help blood flow, which will keep you warm.
It’s also very important to keep an emergency safety kit if you are stranded for a long time. Your kit should include food, water, flashlights, tools, and chains, as well as blankets and clothes.
If you need a roadside assistance membership, sign up with
Jerry
. You may know Jerry as the insurance broker app that will help you save $879 per year on average on car insurance
, but Jerry also has roadside assistance! The best part? Jerry’s roadside assistance membership protects you with its nationwide network of 55,000+ service providers, so you never have to worry about being stranded.MORE: Winter tires vs. all-season tires: which is better?
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- Gregory R.
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Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.
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