On a cold morning, the temptation is to scrape a small window in the windshield and go. But a car driven half-cleared is a hazard to you and to everyone behind you, and in some states it can earn you a ticket. The good news is that a few smart habits can cut the morning chore down to a few minutes.

Why a Full Clear Matters

Snow left on the roof slides forward onto the windshield the first time you brake. On the highway, sheets of ice can lift off and strike the car behind you. Snow-covered headlights and taillights make you harder to see, and a buried license plate can get you pulled over. Several states have laws requiring drivers to remove snow and ice from their vehicles, with fines for those who do not.

The Morning Routine

1. Start the car and turn on both defrosters. Warm air loosens ice from the inside while you work on the outside. Make sure the exhaust pipe is clear of snow first, and never warm up a car inside a closed garage.
2. Brush the roof first. Gravity is not on your side if you clean the glass and then push snow off the top.
3. Move down to the hood, trunk and windows. Clear the windshield, rear window and every side window completely, not just a peephole.
4. Get the mirrors, lights and plate. These are the easiest to forget and among the most important for being seen.
5. Free the wipers last. By now the defroster should have loosened them. Lift them gently rather than yanking.

Tools and Tricks That Help

Use the right brush

A household broom or garden shovel can scratch paint and glass. A snow brush with soft bristles and a built-in scraper is inexpensive and worth keeping in the car all winter. Extendable versions help with SUVs and trucks.

Try a deicer

A commercial deicing spray can speed things up on thick ice. Some drivers use a homemade mix of water and isopropyl alcohol in a spray bottle. Mist a thin coat on the glass, give it a minute, then scrape.

Be patient with wipers

Wipers frozen to the glass are easy to damage. Pulling on them can tear the rubber edge or bend the arm. Let the defroster and a scraper do the work.

Prep the Night Before

When snow or freezing rain is in the forecast, a few minutes in the evening can make the morning much easier.

• Cover the windshield with a purpose-made cover, an old towel or flattened cardboard, tucked into the doors or held under the wipers.
• Slip plastic bags over the side mirrors and secure them with rubber bands.
• Wipe a very light coat of cooking oil or a silicone protectant along the door’s rubber seals to help keep doors from freezing shut. Keep it off interior surfaces.
• If you park outside, face the windshield east so morning sun can start the melting for you.
• Lift wipers off the glass if freezing rain is expected, as long as your wiper design allows it.
• Top off windshield washer fluid with a winter-rated blend.

Give Yourself the Time

The biggest mistake is simply rushing. After a heavy snowfall or an ice storm, clearing a car properly can take 10 to 15 minutes or more. Set the alarm a little earlier on winter mornings so you are not tempted to cut corners. Driving with poor visibility on slick roads stacks two risks on top of each other.

Winter Coverage Worth Reviewing

Winter brings its own set of insurance questions. Collision coverage typically handles a slide into a ditch or guardrail. Comprehensive coverage generally applies to falling ice or snow damaging your parked car, and to tree limbs that come down in a storm. Roadside assistance can be a lifesaver when a battery dies on a frigid morning. If you are unsure what you carry, the team at Callicott Insurance Agency can walk through it with you.

This article is for general information only. Coverage varies by insurer, policy and state; review your own policy or talk with a licensed agent about your situation.