We explain how five simple checks could keep your car safe.

1. Charge the battery

Dead car batteries are common in winter – and most fail on a Monday morning, after being left standing over the weekend. Follow these steps to ensure your battery stays charged:

1. Switch off electronics including lights, wipers, radio and the heater before turning your engine off. This allows extra charge to run into the battery.

2. Use a car battery charger to check your battery's condition. These are available from garages.

3. Get it serviced – a quick check could identify a faulty alternator, leaking battery or a diesel car’s damaged glowplug. These determine how effective your battery charges.

View our step-by-step winter car check slide show:

2. De-ice your car

An unclear windscreen could net you a fine of up to £1,000 for driving with restricted vision.

1. Turn on the engine and switch the defroster to the highest setting
2. If you have air conditioning, turn it on (most cars will as you turn on the defroster)
3. Gently lift the windscreen wipers off the glass and replace to ensure they’re not stuck
4. Brush any thick lumps of snow off the windscreen, mirrors and windows
5. Spray de-icer onto the windscreen
6. Use an ice scraper to remove frost from your windscreen

Avoid pouring hot water onto mirrors, windows or the windscreen – this can shatter the glass or refreeze quickly, restricting your vision.

Stay near your car when de-icing. Keep your engine off, doors locked and handbrake on when de-icing. If you leave your car while it’s running you’ll leave it exposed to theft.

3. Check the anti-freeze

Check the water tank under your car’s bonnet once a week or before long journeys.

If the level is below the minimum and maximum marks on the coolant reservoir, it’s too low. Refill with a 50/50 mixture of water and antifreeze to help prevent freezing, which could crack your car’s engine block.

Use a rag to remove the cap if hot, and take care not to spill any coolant – it can damage your skin and your car’s paintwork.

Anti-freeze testers are cheap and a good way to tell how the car temperature can fall before the water will freeze.

4. Check your tyres

It’s important to check tyres regularly, as they determine your car’s grip on the road.

• Check the tread depth. The legal requirement is 1.6mm, but at least 3mm will provide better grip in snowy conditions – the more the better
• Make sure your tyres are inflated to the recommended pressure, as found in your vehicle handbook
• Check for any bumps, bulges, splits, cuts, cracks and objects stuck in the tyres

5. Get equipped

Carrying a few small items in your car could come in handy in the event of a breakdown. We’ve come up with ten essential items:

1. Scraper and de-icer
2. Warning triangle
3. First aid kit
4. Reflective clothing – jackets, armbands and stickers
5. Boots
6. Jump leads
7. Food and a warm flask of water
8. Mobile phone with breakdown firm contact details
9. Tow rope and shovel
10. Blanket

Snowed in? This family ran a fridge and TV on a Toyota Prius. Find out how on the Auto Trader Blog

View more winter driving tips:

Part two: Winter driving tips