What to Do if Your Car is Stuck in Snow

If you’re stuck in the middle of a big pile of snow or on a stretch of ice, you could depend upon the kindness of strangers to free you. Or you can take charge yourself. Here are some things you can do if your car is stuck in snow:

Carry some weight:

Packing a couple of sandbags in the trunk of your car can do more than help provide traction when you’re stuck. If you have a rear-wheel drive vehicle, they can help you avoid getting stuck in the first place. That’s because they add weight to the back, which enhances tire grip.

Gain traction:

Add a shovel to the sandbags, and you’ll be able to pile sand under your tires to increase grip if you find your tires slipping on snow or ice. Of course, you should shovel as much snow or ice as possible from the path of your tires before you throw down the sand. Salt, dirt or even kitty litter will also do the trick.

Rock your ride:

Once your tire paths are cleared and the sand is on the ground, your driving skill must take over as you rock your way free of the snow. “You go into drive, then reverse, then repeat,” says Mark Osborne, who oversees Michigan Technological University’s Winter Driving School. “But you have to be careful not to wreck your transmission. I put my foot on the brake at the peak of each ‘rock,’ so the car is motionless when I change gears. It’s also helpful to shift to neutral for a second before making the transition.”

Don’t floor it:

You’ll always be tempted to floor it if you’re stuck. But don’t. Go easy on the pedal to give the vehicle just a little gas for a moment, then let off. Repeat to enhance the needed “rocking” motion. It’s momentum that sets you free, not power.

Keep a cool head:

Hitting a stretch of slick, icy stuff will often trigger panic. But you need to
stay calm. Don’t do anything abrupt, like slamming the brakes. “If you do that, you’ll transfer your vehicle’s weight to your front wheels,” Osborne says. “That lightens up the rear, making it likely that your rear end will spin.” Instead, Osborne says, gradually let off the gas and hold the steering steady until you’ve cleared the ice. If all else fails, an emergency roadside assistance service can give your car a tow. 

​Your car getting stuck isn’t the only concern when winter comes along. Snowy and icy pavement can lead to accidents.