So, you’re stuck in a snow drift. Don’t stress. It’s a Canadian automotive rite of passage in winter driving.
We’ll assume you’re reading this from the side of the road in winter weather and could use a few tips. Let’s skip the pleasantries and get right to it.
How to Get a Car Unstuck from Snow
- Step 1: What to Pack for Winter Driving in Canada
- Step 2: Turn Off the Traction Control
- Step 3: Start to Dig Your Car Out
- Step 4: Try Rolling Forward and Backward
- Step 5: Hit the Brakes
- Step 6: Call in the Army
- Step 7: Break out the Snow Chains
- Step 8: Let Some Air Out of Your Tires
- Step 9: Call a Tow Truck
- Be Ready When Your Vehicle Starts to Move
- Once You Get Unstuck from the Snow
Step 1: What to Pack for Winter Driving in Canada
If you’re already in a snowbank, this won’t help you. But if you’re looking for tips or if you want to be prepared for next time, your number one defence against getting stuck in deep snow is to prepare a rescue kit for your vehicle and carry it with you during the winter months. A foldable snow shovel, blankets, candles, snacks and bottled water, jumper cables, and a first aid kit should all be in your vehicle if you expect to be far from help in the colder months. Some people carry sand, kitty litter, and/or snow chains to help in icy situations as well.
Also, make sure your winter tires are road-worthy before you have them mounted. Experts recommend that winter tires have at least 6/32” of tread depth left on them for safe winter operation, which is double the recommendation for all-season tires being used in warmer months. How can you quickly check this? Grab a quarter and stick it into the tire tread with the caribou facing downward. If you can see its entire nose, that means your tread depths are below 6/32” and you should start shopping for a new set of winter tires soon.
Step 2: Turn Off the Traction Control
This goes for any low-traction situation, whether it’s snow, sand, mud, or otherwise. A car’s traction control system will send more torque to the wheel or wheels with the least grip. That’s great when you’re carving up pavement, but it’s the opposite of what you want when you’re stuck.
In some cars, pressing and holding the traction control button for a few seconds will fully disengage the system. Others may only partially disengage using this method, or your car may not have a traction control button at all. In these cases, you may need to cycle through menus on the instrument cluster or infotainment system to fully shut traction control off. If your vehicle has all-wheel drive (AWD) and a lock mode for it, engage that as well so that four wheels are working for you at all times. You may want to quickly refer to the owner’s manual if you’re not sure which of these systems is equipped on your vehicle.
Step 3: Start to Dig Your Car Out
This is where that shovel from step 1 comes in handy. With this—or with whatever you have, whether it be a hand tool, an ice scraper, or your gloved hands—dig out a long and level trench in front of, behind, and around the drive tires. In a front-wheel-drive (FWD) car, do this to the front wheels; do it to the back wheels in a rear-wheel-drive (RWD), all-wheel-drive (AWD), or four-wheel-drive (4WD) vehicle.
Also, clear any snow that piles up higher than the vehicle’s ground clearance on any side so that you’re not dragging on it and losing momentum.
If you’re stuck on sheer ice, lay down some sand or litter around the drive wheels. If you don’t have those on hand, consider laying loose cardboard or your vehicle floor mats under the wheels in the direction you first need to roll to gain enough traction to get rolling in the right direction. Don’t try to melt ice with antifreeze as it’s harmful to pets and wildlife.
One last safety tip: be sure your tailpipe is clear of snow before you start the car so that gasses doesn’t back up into the passenger compartment and fill it with dangerous carbon monoxide.
Step 4: Try Rolling Forward and Backward
Start the vehicle, then straighten the steering wheel so that your wheels are rolling straight as well. Put the vehicle into gear—lock it into the lowest gear if your car gives you that much control, and put it into 4-low gear in an off-road vehicle if possible—then gently hit the accelerator to let the vehicle roll forward slightly. (Gentle is key here: hard acceleration will hurt more than it helps.) Let go of the pedal and allow the vehicle to roll backward without shifting into reverse and without touching the gas pedal. Then decisively but lightly apply the accelerator to roll forward again. Doing this once or twice may compact the snow enough to give you the traction you need to break loose.
Listen and feel during this process. If you detect tire spin, stop right away and try a different method. All a spinning wheel does is fling snow around and dig you into a deeper hole.
You can try to level this up by flipping back and forth between drive and reverse as you roll, which may put just enough added torque into the mix to allow you to roll away. Be cautious not to overload your car’s transmission, though. If a handful of attempts doesn’t give you any traction, move on to the next steps.
Step 5: Hit the Brakes
If you’re not moving or you have a wheel spinning, try holding the brake while you work the accelerator. This may transfer just enough power to the spinning wheel to get it to bite and break you free. Don’t try this for too long, though, or your brakes may overheat and fade, and you’ll be stuck waiting for them to cool down.
Step 6: Call in the Army
No, not like former Toronto Maylor Mel Lastman did in January 1999. But if you just need a little more brute force to break free and there are fellow Canadians nearby, it’s their civic duty to give you a push. (They could well need it just as much someday!). Just be sure you’re putting your car into the gear that’s going to work with them and not against them. A collective count of three to coordinate pushing and accelerating has loosened many a snow-bound vehicle.
Step 7: Break out the Snow Chains
If none of these things have worked, it’s time to bust out the snow chains if you have them.
Step 8: Let Some Air Out of Your Tires
This is an expert-level fix that demands you know what you’re doing. But if you’re not far from a service station, letting just a little air out of your tires puts more of the rubber in contact with the ground and could give you enough added grip to get you out of a sticky situation. It’s unsafe and bad for your tires to drive on them underinflated for long, so be sure you can reinflate them shortly after freeing yourself from your ordeal before attempting this.
Step 9: Call a Tow Truck
Sometimes, you’re better off just calling for roadside assistance, especially if you’re at risk of doing more damage to your vehicle than the tow would cost.
Be Ready When Your Vehicle Starts to Move
You’ll need to find the right balance between getting all the way out of your low-grip situation and not surging straight into another obstacle. Pay close attention so that you can make quick decisions as the situation unfolds.
Once You Get Unstuck from the Snow
Be sure to reengage your traction control system and put your transmission back into its usual setting. Get out of the vehicle to check for damage, ensure there’s no snow build-up in your wheels that may cause an unwanted vibration, and make sure there’s no snow compacted in the exhaust, grille, or any important vents that may affect air flow.
Here’s hoping you never need to refer to this advice again!