What should you do if you're stranded in your car in a snowstorm? Stay with the vehicle, make it easy to see, and run the engine for heat only about 10 minutes each hour, with the exhaust pipe clear of snow and a window cracked open. Keep moving a little, drink fluids, and don't wear yourself out shoveling or pushing. The rest of the job happens before you leave: a winter kit in the car, a quick vehicle check, and a route someone else knows about. This guide covers all three, using guidance from the National Weather Service, the American Red Cross, NHTSA and Ready.gov.
This article is general safety information, not medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.
Step 1: Stay With the Car
When your car gets stuck in a storm, the National Weather Service puts it plainly: stay in the vehicle. If you leave, "you will become disoriented quickly in wind-driven snow and cold" (NWS: Caught in a Winter Storm). Ready.gov gives the same advice: if you're trapped in your car, stay inside (Ready.gov: Winter Weather).
The American Red Cross adds a clear line to measure against: don't leave the vehicle to search for help unless help is visible within 100 yards (American Red Cross: Winter Storm Safety).
Step 2: Make Yourself Easy to See
The NWS calls this being visible to rescuers. It and the Red Cross both recommend three simple signals:
- A bright cloth, preferably red, tied to the antenna or a door.
- The dome light on while the engine is running. The NWS specifies at night; the Red Cross says to leave the overhead light on whenever the engine runs so you can be seen.
- The hood raised after the snow stops falling, to show you need help.
NHTSA's version is similar: put bright markers on the antenna or windows and keep the interior dome light on (NHTSA: Winter Weather Driving Tips).
Step 3: Run the Engine in Short Bursts, and Keep the Exhaust Clear
The engine is your heater, but it's also a source of carbon monoxide. The NWS recommends running the motor about 10 minutes each hour for heat. While it runs:
- Clear snow from the exhaust pipe to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.
- Open a window a little for fresh air. The Red Cross says to crack a downwind window.
- Use the heater while the engine is running.
NHTSA's guidance points the same way: run the car only sporadically, just long enough to stay warm, and don't run it for long periods with the windows up or in an enclosed space.
Step 4: Stay Warm, Hydrated and Calm
Waiting is most of the work. The Red Cross recommends a few habits that help:
- Move a little. Do light exercises, clap your hands, and move your arms and legs now and then to keep up circulation.
- Share heat. If more than one person is in the car, huddle together for warmth and take turns sleeping.
- Add insulation. Wrap up in blankets, and in a pinch newspapers, maps or even the removable floor mats to trap more body heat.
- Drink fluids. Dehydration can make you more susceptible to the ill effects of cold and to heart attacks.
- Don't overexert yourself. Shoveling snow or pushing a vehicle can bring on a heart attack or make other medical conditions worse.
Watch everyone in the car for signs of cold injury. The Red Cross lists shivering as one of the first signs of hypothermia, with confusion, drowsiness and slurred speech as other signs, and notes that older adults, babies, children and people with certain health conditions are more at risk. If you see signs of hypothermia, the Red Cross says to seek emergency medical care right away. Our guide to cold-weather hypothermia goes deeper.
Step 5: Winterize the Car Kit
Everything above is easier with the right supplies already in the car. For the year-round basics, see our emergency car kit essentials. For winter, here is what the NHTSA and Ready.gov lists and the NWS Winter Storm Survival Kit cover between them:
| Job | What to pack |
| Dig out and clear off | Snow shovel, brush and ice scraper |
| Get traction | Sand or cat litter, in case you get stuck |
| Get moving again | Jumper cables, tool kit, tow rope |
| Be seen and reached | Flashlight with extra batteries, flares or a reflective triangle, phone and car charger, road maps |
| Wait it out | Blankets or sleeping bags, extra warm clothing, water, high-calorie food that doesn't spoil, first aid kit, any needed medicine |
NHTSA's list specifies a first aid kit that includes a tourniquet. The NWS also says not to depend on mobile devices with limited battery life, which is why a paper map still earns its space. For a home-and-car checklist, see our complete winter emergency kit guide.
Step 6: Keep the Tank Full or Near Full
Ready.gov says to keep your gas tank full, and notes that a full tank also keeps the fuel line from freezing (Ready.gov: Car Safety). The NWS says to keep it near full to avoid ice in the tank and fuel lines, and NHTSA says close to full whenever possible.
Driving electric? NHTSA says to keep the battery charged, and notes that plugging in at night during the winter helps keep the battery in its best temperature range.
Step 7: Give the Car a Pre-Trip Check
Before a holiday drive, NHTSA recommends a once-over:
- Tires. Inflate to the pressure on the label on the driver's side door frame, not the number on the tire itself, which is the maximum the tire can hold. Check them cold, meaning not driven on for at least three hours. Tread should be at least 2/32 of an inch on all tires, with no cuts, bulges or cracks. Inspect them at least once a month and before long road trips.
- Battery. In cold weather, gasoline and diesel engines take more battery power to start. Have a mechanic check the battery, charging system and belts.
- Fluids. Make sure you have enough coolant that meets the manufacturer's specifications, and fill the reservoir with winter washer fluid that has de-icer.
- Wipers and lights. Make sure defrosters and wipers work, replace worn blades, and check headlights, brake lights, turn signals, emergency flashers and interior lights.
- Recalls. Enter your VIN in NHTSA's free recall lookup to see if your vehicle has a critical safety issue that hasn't been repaired.
Ready.gov also recommends good winter tires with enough tread, or any chains or studs required where you live.
Step 8: Plan the Drive
NHTSA suggests checking local weather and traffic before you head out, and considering postponing non-essential travel if roads aren't in good shape. If a storm is forecast during a long trip, consider leaving early or changing your departure to avoid the worst of it. The NWS adds that you can call 511 for road conditions and restrictions before you leave.
Then tell someone your plan. Let others know your route and when you expect to arrive. As the NWS puts it, if something happens, "this person will know where to start a search." Before you pull out, clear the whole vehicle of ice and snow, and don't leave without a fully charged phone and a car charger.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should I run my engine if I'm stuck in snow?
The National Weather Service and the Red Cross both say about 10 minutes each hour. Keep the exhaust pipe clear of snow and open a window slightly while the engine runs to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.
Should I walk for help if my car is stuck in a snowstorm?
Usually no. The Red Cross says not to leave the vehicle unless help is visible within 100 yards, and the NWS warns you can become disoriented quickly in wind-driven snow.
How full should I keep my gas tank in winter?
Full or near full. Ready.gov says a full tank keeps the fuel line from freezing, and NHTSA recommends keeping it close to full whenever possible.
What should I keep in my car in winter?
Add a snow shovel, a brush and ice scraper, sand or cat litter, blankets or sleeping bags, extra warm clothing and high-calorie food to the usual car kit of jumper cables, a flashlight, warning devices, a first aid kit, water and a phone charger.
Build Your Winter Car Kit
A flashlight, blankets, a first aid kit and food that keeps will carry you through most of the wait. Browse our camping and survival gear, lights, first aid kits and emergency food, and read Pillar 1: Shelter, because in a winter storm, your car is your shelter.
