How to drive in snow: pulling away, braking and getting unstuck

Car Tips/Hacks11/13/2026

How to drive in snow: a step-by-step UK guide | Rooster

Most UK drivers only meet proper snow a few days a year, which is exactly why it catches so many of us out. The car feels different, stopping takes far longer, and habits that work on a dry road suddenly work against you.

The good news is that driving in snow is mostly about doing everything more slowly and more gently: pulling away, steering, braking and changing speed. This guide covers whether to travel at all, how to get moving, how to stop, how to deal with hills and what to do if you get stuck.

Last updated 9 November 2026. Rules come from the Highway Code on GOV.UK (rules 228 to 231).

Key takeaways

The Highway Code says stopping distances can be up to ten times longer on icy roads than on dry ones (Rule 126).
Before you set off you must clear all snow and ice from your windows, lights, mirrors and number plates (Rule 229).
Pull away in second gear with gentle revs to stop the wheels spinning.
Brake, steer and accelerate as smoothly as you can. Sudden movements cause skids.
On hills, keep a steady speed going up and use a low gear coming down.
If you get stuck, straighten the wheels, clear the snow around them and use second gear to rock the car free.

Should you drive in snow at all?

The Highway Code is clear: in snow and ice, do not drive unless your journey is essential (Rule 228). If the Met Office has issued an amber or red warning for snow, or police are advising people to stay off the roads, take that seriously.

If you do need to go, plan for it:

Check the forecast and traffic news before you leave, and allow plenty of extra time.
Stick to main roads where you can. They are more likely to have been gritted.
Tell someone where you are going and when you expect to arrive.
Pack a winter emergency kit: a charged phone, warm clothes, a blanket, a torch, food and water, a shovel and an ice scraper.
Make sure you have at least a quarter of a tank of fuel, or enough charge for delays.

Prepare your car before you set off

Clearing your car properly is a legal requirement, not just good manners. Rule 229 says you must be able to see, so all snow and ice has to come off every window. Your lights must be clean and your number plates readable. You should also remove snow from the roof that could slide onto your windscreen or blow onto the car behind.

Give yourself ten minutes. Start the engine, set the heater to the windscreen with air conditioning on, and clear the car with a scraper and a brush while it warms up. Stay with the car while the engine is running.

Check your tyres too. The legal minimum tread is 1.6mm, but motoring organisations recommend at least 3mm for winter, because tread is what clears slush away from the contact patch.

How to pull away in snow

Wheelspin is the most common problem when setting off in snow. The trick is to send as little power to the wheels as possible.

Make sure your front wheels are pointing straight ahead.
In a manual, select second gear rather than first. It gives less torque, so the wheels are less likely to spin.
Lift the clutch slowly and use very little throttle.
If the wheels start to spin, ease off and try again more gently. Spinning harder just polishes the snow into ice.
In an automatic, check the handbook for a winter or snow mode. Some cars let you select second manually.

If you have traction control, leave it switched on in most cases. The exception is when you are stuck and need a little wheelspin to rock free (see below).

How to brake and steer on snow

Think of the pedals and steering as if there were an egg under each one. Every input should be slow and progressive.

Leave a huge gap. Stopping distances can be up to ten times longer in icy conditions. A gap of at least ten seconds to the car in front is sensible.
Slow down early. Ease off the accelerator well before junctions, bends and roundabouts so you need very little braking.
Use the gears. Changing down early lets engine braking slow the car gently, which reduces the risk of locking the wheels.
Brake in a straight line. Do your slowing down before a bend, not in it.
Steer smoothly. Turn the wheel gradually and avoid sharp changes of direction.

If your car has ABS and you have to brake hard, press firmly and keep pressing. The pedal may judder; that is the system working. Steer around the hazard if you can.

Driving up and down hills in snow

Hills are where most snow problems happen.

Going uphill: wait at the bottom until the road ahead is clear, so you do not have to stop halfway up. Leave a long gap to the car in front, pick a gear that lets you keep a steady speed (second or third), and avoid changing gear on the slope if you can.

Going downhill: slow right down before you start the descent. Use a low gear and let the engine do most of the work, touching the brakes gently only when you need to. Leave even more room than usual, because stopping on a downhill slope takes longer.

What to do if you skid

If the car starts to slide, the instinct is to stamp on the brake. Try not to.

Take your foot off the accelerator.
If the rear of the car slides out, steer gently in the direction of the skid. If the back goes left, steer left.
If the front wheels lose grip and the car carries straight on, ease off the accelerator and reduce your steering slightly until the tyres grip again.
Only brake gently, and only once you have some grip back.

Our black ice guide goes into skids in more detail.

How to get unstuck from snow

If the wheels just spin, stop. More power digs you deeper.

Straighten the front wheels.
Clear the snow from around the driven wheels and in front of the tyres with a shovel.
Put grit, cat litter, sand or the car’s floor mats in front of the driven wheels for grip.
Use second gear and very gentle throttle.
If that fails, try rocking the car: move forward gently, then reverse gently, building a little momentum each time. It can help to switch off traction control while you do this. Switch it back on afterwards.

If you are completely stuck and conditions are bad, stay with your car, keep the exhaust clear of snow if you run the engine for warmth, and call your breakdown provider. If you are stranded in snow, it is usually safer to wait in the car than to walk off.

Frequently asked questions

Is it better to drive in snow in a higher gear?

Yes, generally. Pulling away in second and driving in a higher gear than usual at low speed gives the wheels less torque, so they are less likely to spin. Just do not let the engine labour.

Are 4x4s safe in snow?

Four-wheel drive helps you get moving and keep going, but it does not help you stop or steer. A 4×4 on normal tyres takes just as long to brake as any other car. Tyres matter more than drive type.

Do I need winter tyres in the UK?

They are not a legal requirement in the UK, but they grip much better below about 7C and in snow. Read our guide to winter tyres, all-season tyres and snow socks to see what makes sense for you.

Does driving in snow affect my insurance?

Your cover does not stop because it is snowing, but you are still expected to drive with care. If you crash because you were driving too fast for the conditions, it will normally be treated as your fault. See our guide on who is at fault in a car accident.