What Should You Do If Your Car Gets Stuck In Snow

By Victor Ivan Coll

Car Stuck in Snow

Updated April 23rd, 2023

Looking out my window I see that the forecast was finally correct. Snow is falling and the winter storm is here. Sure, the view might make a pretty picture for a postcard. But all that white powder does not make for a pretty drive. Fortunately, I do not have to venture out and brave the elements today. But maybe you do.

Driving in the snow can be a challenge. Besides the blinding light reflecting off all of that white stuff, your windows icing over, and slippery street conditions, there are always other drivers to look for as they slip and slide around the road. It can be tough staying in your lane and stopping on time, let alone keeping your car from getting stuck in a snow bank.

So, how can you prepare for driving in the snow? And what should you do if your car gets stuck?

Prepare

While most of us have gotten stuck in the snow at one time or another, it is not a requirement of winter driving. You don’t have to get stuck. But if it does happen sometimes, so make sure you are prepared in advance to stay safe, to get help, and to get out.

No matter what kind of vehicle you drive, there are steps you can take to be prepared for hazardous winter travel. One good idea is to carry supplies on board to help you deal safely with an emergency situation. Keep a shovelhandy to dig out of the snow (an ice scraper might do in a pinch, but it is not as effective). You might consider salt, ice melter, or even kitty litter to use to melt the snow and improve traction if your tires are spinning. Assemble a winter emergency kit to keep in the trunk that includes:

• Hat, gloves, and extra clothing
• Blanket
• Emergency flares or reflectors
• First aid kit
• Washer solvent
• Flashlight
• Jumper cables
• Tow strap or chain
• Cell phone charger
• Tool kit
• Water and snacks

Sunglasses are handy for avoiding the bright glare from the snow.

Keep your fuel tank at least half full so that you do not compound an emergency. You want to be able to keep your heater running if you are stuck. And you probably don’t want to run out of gas if you have to wait for very long.

Your tires are one of the most important safety features in the snow. Low-profile, performance tires are not a great option. You can prepare for snowy driving by installing a set of all-weather tires or even snow tires before the weather gets bad (or after it already has…). Some drivers opt for tire chainsto provide extra traction. If you use tire chains, make sure you know how to install them properly.

Another way you can prepare for driving safely in the snow is to carry some form of roadside assistance insurance so that you can call for professional help should you find yourself stuck.

Avoid

Now, once you prepare to head out into the great white, it is still important to take steps to avoid getting stuck. Preparedness is not enough. It’s just a start. There are several things you can do to keep from getting into trouble, including getting your car stuck in the snow.

• Drive with your headlights on to keep your car visible to other drivers.
• Keep your speed down. Just because you can get your car up to seventy miles per hour doesn’t mean you can get it to stop. Especially in a large truck or SUV. All that mass wants to keep sliding long after you hit the brakes.
• Leave plenty of room between you and the car in front of you.
• Allow your anti-lock brakes (ABS) to engage when you are stopping suddenly. ABS will not necessarily help you stop sooner, but it will help you to maintain control (steering) as you stop.
• Avoid spinning your wheels.
• If you encounter slippery pavement or deep snow, don’t stop unless you have to, especially when going uphill. Your momentum will help you to keep from getting stuck in the snow and slush.
• Do not use your cruise control in icy conditions. Cruise control spins out of control when you hit the ice.
• When you park your car in the snow, take a minute and pull forward and backward in the parking spot to pack the snow down beneath your tires, especially if the snow will continue to accumulate. This will help when it is time to leave.
• Remember, even a vehicle that has decent performance in the snow (i.e. 4WD truck with aggressive tires) can get stuck. If you are driving fast, any vehicle can careen off the road if you lose control and get stuck in the snow.

Get Out

Of course, even with all the best preparation and most careful driving habits, sometimes things just happen and you could end up stranded in the snow. If you do, here are three ways to get out:

1. Call for professional assistance. This is where roadside emergency insurance can pay off. But even if you don’t have it, call a tow truck to help you get out of your mess. This is really your best option if you are in deep or off the road. It may take a while for a tow truck to get to you when the weather is bad, so remember to be prepared with fuel, food, water, and clothing (and the rest of the items mentioned above).
2. Look for any assistance. If professional help is not likely to be an option, or if you are not stuck too badly, you can enlist someone nearby to help. A firm push may be all you need to get you out of a rut. When someone is pushing you by hand, pay attention to where everyone is standing — be safe! Also, avoid spinning the tires too much. Instead, allow the car to rock forward and back in time with your pushers. Of course, a Good Samaritan with a tow strap and a big truck might work..
3. Get yourself unstuck. Sometimes your only option is you. Sometimes you are all that you need. Follow these tips to get yourself out of your stuck situation.

• Turn on four-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive if you have it.
• Dig your way out with a shovel. Clear away snow from around your tires before you try to drive out. That will help you to avoid getting into a deeper rut.
• Apply ice melter or kitty litter around the tires to improve traction. Even a floor mat under a drive wheel might do the trick. Just make sure you are treating the drive wheels (i.e. the front tires on a front-wheel drive car).
• Disengage your traction control. While you do not usually want the wheels to spin out of control when you are stuck, traction control will keep you from being able to get out of the snow. Turn it off.
• Keep the wheels straight.
• Prevent the wheels from spinning by applying gentle pressure to the accelerator pedal. Instead of spinning the tires, try rocking forward and back. Let the car heave rather than plow forward.
• If you are really stuck, try an alternate version of the rocking idea. Pull your car as far forward as you can and step on the brakes to keep it there. Shift into reverse, release the brake pedal, and (simultaneously) press on the gas. Once the car has gone as far back as possible, hit the brakes again, even if it is only a few inches. If you repeat this process over and over again, it is often possible to inch your way further and further each time until you are able to gain momentum and get out.

You are certainly not required to get your car stuck in the snow. Good preparation and safe driving habits will go a long way toward keeping you on the road. But sometimes all the preparation and care in the world do not keep someone else from running you off the road. And sometimes we all make mistakes that get us in trouble. If you are stuck in the snow and are unable to get unstuck by yourself, go back to numbers one and two above. Call for help. And maybe even enjoy the winter view through your own window while you wait.

Victor Ivan Coll | Victor Coll | Author: Victor Ivan Coll | Copyright 2023

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