Your Car Is Stuck in the Snow—What Do You Do?

SUV in snowPhoto by Alexandra Bakhareva from Pexels

It can happen to anyone.

You pull into a snow-filled driveway, and when you try to back out, your car won't move.

Or you turn down a side street, and there is a lot more snow than you thought there was. The next thing you know, your vehicle won't go any farther—you're stuck.

Now what?

The experts at AccuWeather can help you through this situation and get you back on your way.

First, make sure that your tailpipe is free of snow and ice so that your exhaust flows freely.

If your vehicle is in deep snow or a drift, the tailpipe could be blocked, which can cause dangerous fumes to back up into the cabin, resulting in carbon monoxide poisoning.

Next, use a shovel to clear the snow from around your wheels. Also, remove any snow and ice from under your vehicle that could interfere with your car being freed up.

If you don't have a shovel, look for an object in your vehicle that you can use as a makeshift shovel, like a pail or plastic storage box.

Be sure to make the area around your wheels flat. This will help you to gain some traction.

Remember, when you realize that you are stuck and you are trying to get moving again, don't spin your tires.

It's only natural to press on the gas and think that if you floor it, eventually, your vehicle will come bursting through the snow, and you will be back on your way. But that doesn't work.

In reality, the more you spin your tires, the more stuck you get.

According to the experts, an effective maneuver to get you unstuck is to "rock" your vehicle.

To rock your vehicle, start by straightening your wheels and putting your vehicle in low. Then, use low and reverse to rock your car back and forth in the snow and build momentum to get moving again.

If rocking your vehicle doesn't work, consider calling for help from friends, family, or a wrecker service.

Hopefully, you won't get stuck this winter.

But, if you do, stay calm, stay safe, and refer to this advice from the experts.

Until next time, stay safe and be careful out there.

What do you do when your vehicle gets stuck in the snow?