Winter is just around the corner. Naturally, you can rest assured that at Adrem Autoverhuur Limburg, we’ll get your rental car ready for winter. However, it’s good to be aware of a few things if you want to prevent and resolve breakdowns and other ‘wintery’ problems with your rental car.
Frozen doors and handbrake 
Who doesn't know the problem? It has frozen hard overnight and when you want to get into your car in the morning, the door is frozen shut. Instead of pulling on it, it's better to push the door briefly, to - literally - break the ice. In emergencies, window de-icer offers a solution.
Do not fully engage your handbrake in winter, so you can potentially tighten it a little more to break the ice. If that doesn't work, there's no option but to turn the heating up to the highest setting and wait for the handbrake to defrost. Prevention is, of course, better than cure; in winter, it's better to leave your car in park or in gear – either first or reverse – instead of using your handbrake.
Frozen locks
For frozen locks, you can use all sorts of everyday solutions. You can heat the tip of your car keys with a lighter or hold a freezer bag filled with warm water against your lock. A bag of warm water also helps with frozen windscreen washers. A hot-cold pack can also be a solution.
If you have a socket nearby, you can also use a hairdryer. Be careful with this, though; don't use the hairdryer on the highest setting, don't aim it at one spot for too long, and don't hold it too close. This is because you could damage your paintwork, and extreme temperature differences could cause your windows to crack.
The best thing is therefore to ‘just’ buy a bottle of lock de-icer. (Tip: don't store it in the car, naturally!)
Safe on the road in winter
To see well and be seen, it is important on dark winter mornings to clear all your windows and all your lights of snow and ice. Turn the heating up to the warmest and highest setting immediately, and direct the blower towards your windscreen. This will prevent it from steaming up while you’re driving, meaning you still won’t be able to see.
When there's heavy snowfall, you must clear all the snow off your car. The snow on your car can suddenly blow off while you're driving, causing danger to yourself and others. This could even result in a fine. You can also be fined if your number plate isn't legible.
Drive through the snow in second gear. This will give you more grip. Release the clutch gently and don't give too much gas. If the road is slippery due to snow or ice, you should of course adjust your driving accordingly. Adapt your speed – especially in bends – and keep a greater distance from the vehicle in front of you. This way, you can avoid having to brake abruptly and skidding.
Advanced driving course
If you drive a lot in winter conditions, for example because you go on ski holidays every year, it might be a good idea to take a grip and skidding course. Then you will learn how to prevent a skid and how to act if you do end up in a skid.
Als je een slipcursus bij de ANWB hebt gevolgd (en je kunt dit bij het afsluiten van je huurovereenkomst aantonen), krijg je van december tot en met januari 5% korting op het huurbedrag voor je auto!*
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