The winter changeover works when it runs on a list, not on good intentions. This checklist gives the points for fleet-wide winter preparation – add an owner and a deadline to each, and it becomes a working plan. The background and the reasoning are in the winter preparation article.
- Timing: the whole list should be finished BEFORE the first frosts – plan it for autumn.
- The four blocks: technical checks, vehicle kit, the driver side, the claims scenario.
- One owner + one deadline + per-vehicle sign-off: that's what turns it into a plan, not just an intention.
- At the end of the season, a short review: what did the winter claims list show?
Technical checks (tick off per vehicle)
- ☐ Winter tyres fitted, tread depth checked – a borderline tyre isn't “still fine”, it's due for replacement
- ☐ Battery test run (a battery already struggling in the cold will fail in winter)
- ☐ Lights checked: every bulb, headlight alignment – for the early dark evenings
- ☐ Antifreeze washer fluid topped up, coolant checked
- ☐ Wiper blade condition – a smearing blade is a visibility issue in winter
- ☐ Locks and door seals checked (against freezing up)
Vehicle kit
- ☐ Ice scraper + de-icer in every vehicle
- ☐ Snow shovel and tow rope in vehicles that go off the beaten track or into rural areas
- ☐ Working torch, hi-vis vest (counts double in winter)
- ☐ Blanket, gloves in vehicles doing long journeys
- ☐ Glovebox kit (statement + claims cheat sheet) checked and present
Driver side and claims scenario
- ☐ Winter reminder sent out: following distance, braking distance, gentle steering, full de-icing before setting off
- ☐ The reminder documented as the winter annex to the driver policy
- ☐ Claims scenario updated: what to do if stuck in snow or ice, who has the chains/tow rope, assistance number saved in phones
- ☐ Parking and reversing routine refreshed (a slippery yard is the main setting for small winter claims)
Organisation and wrap-up
- ☐ Owner assigned, deadline set (for the weeks before the first frosts)
- ☐ Per-vehicle sign-off collected – the list is done once every row is ticked
- ☐ Changeover timing agreed with your service partner (less downtime)
- ☐ In spring, a 15-minute review: what the winter claims list showed, what to do differently next year – as part of the annual cycle of the claims prevention programme
The list's life during the season
The winter list doesn't close out with the first frosts: it's worth picking back up during the season too. Before heavy snowfall or a sustained cold snap, a short reminder to drivers (following distance, full de-icing before setting off) is worth more than trying to recall the autumn briefing. Among the vehicle-related points on the checklist, fluid levels and tyre condition can also deteriorate during the season – a quick check before longer trips is a good habit. And in spring, closing the loop: switching back to summer tyres with the same system (owner, deadline, sign-off), and a 15-minute review of the season's claims picture – the first entry on next year's list.
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