Risk & Business Magazine Miller Insurance Magazine Winter 2018 | Page 27

GETTING READY FOR WINTER
flares, a flashlight, a blanket, batteries, and
a small tool kit. You’ll also want to keep
some durable snacks that won’t be affected
by freezing in the vehicle (like granola
bars), and make sure you have a bottle of
water with you on your way to and from
work. Make sure your phone is charged
when you leave the house so you can make
a call in the event of an emergency. Install
winter blades. Also store an ice scraper in
the car, and stock up on windshield washer
fluid rated to withstand temperatures of
-34°C (-29°F) or lower. Check your tires for
uneven wear, cupping, sidewall cracking
and other damage or deterioration. Also
measure tire tread. If your tires fail any of
these tests, replace them with all-season
tires or, in extreme winter environments
like Bruce and Grey County, with winter
snow tires.
Getting Your
VehicleReady For
Winter
S
unrises are later, sunsets are
earlier, and days are shorter. The
calendar keeps its slow march—
with winter closing in.
Take the time to get your vehicle
ready so that you and your car are safe for
the winter.
Get your vehicle inspected pre-winter, top
up all your fluids, and keep your fuel tank
full. Winter weather doesn’t just mean
more of a chance that you’ll get into an
accident. You also may be stuck somewhere
for a significant period of time. You should
have a safety kit on hand in your trunk
or back of your truck that includes road
CAREFUL
“WINTERIZATION”
OF YOUR VEHICLE
WILL GIVE YOU
PEACE OF MIND
And finally, make sure your insurance
information is up to date. Contact your
broker (hopefully it’s us at 519-396-3465!)
to make sure phone numbers, addresses,
and everything else are up to date on
your policy. Correcting this now could
speed things up in the event the wrong
information is on there when you file
a claim. You’ll also want to make sure
your insurer knows how you’re using the
vehicle, as this can also affect a claim. For
example, if you are using your spouse’s car
to get to work, they’ll need to know about
this change in use to make sure you’ve got
the right coverage for that vehicle. And all
companies now offer winter tire discounts,
so make sure your broker knows if you’ve
got them on your vehicle.
Careful “winterization” of your vehicle will
give you peace of mind while helping to
decrease the risk of having to make a claim
as a result of winter-related damage. +
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