Get your car serviced in the weeks before winter is about to start. You want your car to be in good working condition and your brakes to be working as best as possible when the snow hits. The roads are the most slippery after the first rainfall and are prone to being extremely dangerous when the snow hits.
Get snow tires fitted onto your vehicle in the weeks before winter as well, if you are going to be driving in an area you know will receive significant amounts of snow.
Refill your windshield wiper fluid and test your windshield wipers to ensure they do not smear. You want them to be in superb condition and do not want to be caught in a bad situation in this regard when the rain and snow hits for the first time. You can also opt to install new windshield wipers or even special "winter" windshield wipers.
Keep a shovel, a small broom or brush and de-icing spray in your house or in your car. If you park your car outside or in a place that is not temperature-controlled, your car is likely to be covered in ice or even buried in snow overnight. You may have to shovel or brush the snow away from your vehicle and the area around it to be able to pull out, assuming your driveway or street has been plowed. A few spritzes of de-icing spray will make it easier to melt the ice from your windows. Do not try to crack the ice, as you will likely break the glass.
Keep an emergency supplies kit inside your car if you become stuck in a storm. You may opt to stock it with blankets, dry snacks such as cereal or crackers, medicines and most importantly, bottled water.
