The two big claim seasons in the driving year are the stormy summer months and winter. You can prepare for both – not with big investments, but with small routines. This list gives you a tick-box routine for both season changes: worth pulling out in spring and in autumn.
In brief:
- Summer block: hail routine, pre-storm parking check, underground-car-park awareness during storms.
- Winter block: tyres, battery and fluids in good time, the full-de-icing habit, snow load and visibility.
- All year round: caution at dawn and dusk during wildlife season, key and locking discipline, an annual photo condition-update.
In Spring – Before Storm Season
- ☐ Hail cover (or thick blankets) in the boot – a low-cost item against a dent map worth thousands.
- ☐ Storm app / weather alerts set up – when a storm warning hits, park under cover or clear of trees: the natural perils article.
- ☐ A parking survey at home and at work: where's the nearest covered, protected spot?
- ☐ Flash-flood awareness: underground car parks and low-lying streets are a risk in a storm.
- ☐ Wiper blades and washer fluid topped up (summer insect season is a visibility issue too).
In Autumn – Before Winter
- ☐ Winter tyres fitted in good time (the 7°C rule), tread depth checked.
- ☐ Battery tested – a dead battery in winter is the top reason for assistance calls: the assistance article.
- ☐ Antifreeze washer fluid, ice scraper, de-icer and a small shovel kept ready.
- ☐ Wildlife-season routine: ease off the speed on wooded stretches at dawn and dusk – the wildlife-collision article.
- ☐ Rethink long-term parking under trees (falling branches, sap, dropping seeds/fruit).
- ☐ Lock in a morning habit: FULL de-icing before you set off – driving through a "peephole" in the ice is a source of both damage and fines.
All Year Round – Casco-Friendly Habits
- ☐ Locking discipline and key discipline – every single time.
- ☐ Valuables never left in plain sight: baggage-cover rules.
- ☐ A fresh photo series of the car every year (condition evidence) – alongside block 5 of the annual checklist.
- ☐ The claim checklist printed and kept in the glovebox.
The philosophy of prevention in one sentence: casco is there for the residual risk – routines take care of the rest: the loss-prevention article.
Would you like a seasonal list tailored to how you use your car? book a free 20-minute consultation →
This article is for information purposes only, contains general information and does not constitute an offer or insurance advice. The exact content of insurance contracts is defined by the insurers' terms and conditions in force.
