Car Stuck in Snow: How to Get Your Car Out of Snow in 10 Steps

Driving in winter is challenging with the slippery, snowy roads, and black icy spots. One of the more frustrating challenges is getting your car stuck in the snow. For new and seasoned drivers alike, it poses a risk of injuries and potential deaths. That’s why it’s important to follow the right steps to get yourself to safety. In this guide, we provide a 10-step guide on how to get your car unstuck in the snow.

If You’re Unable To Get Your Car Free Of Snow Or Ice, What Should You Do?

There are several methods to follow to get your car unstuck in snow. We’ve recommended the steps to take and techniques to employ to get back on the road as soon as possible, with an emphasis on safety and caution.

1. Understand Why It’s Stuck

The first step before trying to get out of snow is to diagnose the problem. In most cases, the ice and snow are preventing your car from gaining traction because the wheels are unable to make contact with the pavement. The solution is to help your car gain traction.

2. Leave the Car

Spinning your wheels is a bad idea when you’re stuck in ice or snow. It can damage your tires, get your car more stuck, and strain your transmission system. Instead, leave your car to assess the situation and stay safe.

3. Clear Your Exhaust Pipe

A blocked pipeline can be dangerous, as it can cause exhaust gases, including carbon monoxide. That’s why you should clear your exhaust tailpipe. You can do it manually, using an ice scraper or snow shovel. Then, you can insert a flexible tool, like a plastic rod or hose attachment, to dislodge any internal snow.

4. Clear Snow Around Your Tires

It’s almost impossible to gain traction when there’s snow around the tires. Grab a shovel and clear the snow from under the tires and around them. If there’s ice, try to break it with the shovel, so it can melt. If you manage to hit the pavement with your shovel, chances are you’re close to getting out of the snow.

5. Disengage Your Traction Control System

Your traction control system prevents the wheels from spinning, which is usually beneficial but can be limiting when your car is stuck. There’s usually a button on the dashboard that disengages the traction control system. Hit the button but be careful not to slam your foot on the accelerators, as this can cause the tires to spin, causing more trouble.

6. Try Using Snow Chains

If you have snow chains, add them to the tires. It’s a preventable measure first and foremost, but it can also help if your car gets stuck in the snow. It can enhance traction and help the wheel get additional grip on snowy and icy surfaces.

7. Try to Gain Traction Using Kitty Litter or Floor Mats

If shoveling snow doesn’t help, and snow chains aren’t within reach, there’s still hope. Put kitty litter or floor mats under the wheels to help them gain traction. You can also use sand, twigs, or small pebbles.

8. Use salt to Melt Ice

If ice is getting in the way, you can use rock salt to make it melt. Other solutions to melt the ice include table salt, windshield washer fluid, or antifreeze. Use antifreeze with caution, though, as it’s toxic and pets like to drink it.

9. Let Out Air from the Tires

Letting out air from your tires can also help add traction. That’s because lowering the pressure in your tires can make them sag, which puts more rubber in contact with the ground and gives it more grip. Don’t overdo it, though, especially if you don’t have a tire pump. A flat tire would just make the problem worse. In that case, you will need to call a flat tire service to help you change with a spare tire.

10. Use the Rocking Technique

This classic method can get you out if all else fails. It’s a bit tricky, so make sure you do it the right way. You shift the car quickly between forward and reverse gears, so the car can rock back and forth to give you momentum to get out.

Don’t try it more than two or three times, though, as the quick gear changes can damage your transmission system and potentially burn it out.

If your truck is stuck in the snow and it’s a rear-wheel drive, this is the best method to use, as rear-wheel drives are usually harder to get out of the snow because of the extra weight in the front.

Additional Tip

Get a Helping Hand

If you’re not alone, you can also get a helping hand pushing the car out of the snow. You could ask one or two people to help by rocking the car back and forward while you’re pulling away, which might help get it out of any ruts. Your wheels should point straight forward while you drive, moving back and forth, until you have enough grip to pull out of the snow. You could also try turning your front-wheel drive wheels in a different direction.

How to Use Car Mats to Get Out of Snow?

First, place the car’s floor mats with the rubber side facing down in front of the wheel in the direction you plan to drive. Then, enter your vehicle and start the engine, shifting into the appropriate gear. Afterward, apply gentle pressure accelerating to move the car over the mat. Be gentle and avoid forceful acceleration that could eject the mad or entrench the car further. This is an easy method that can get your vehicle moving.

What if You Get Stuck in Deep Snow with your Engine Running?

Being stuck in deep snow with your engine running has many risks you need to be aware of. Snow can block the exhaust pipe, causing carbon monoxide to accumulate inside the car, which is life-threatening. The first thing if you suspect the exhaust pipe is blocked, is to try to clear it.

If you think it’s too dangerous to attempt, turn off the engine immediately to prevent CO buildup. As long as your exhaust is blocked, keep the engine off. Use blankets and extra clothing for heating instead. In this case, it’s better not to DIY the process of getting out of snow. Instead, call roadside assistance and request a car towing service to pull your car out.

What Happens If Snow Gets in the Engine?

Snow getting the engine can cause a lot of problems for your car.

Water can get into electrical components inside the car, leading to short circuits or corrosion.
If snow accumulates, it can also obstruct the air intake system, restricting airflow, and to the engine, causing stalling or performance issues.
Packed snow can interfere with engine components like belts and pulleys, causing them to slip or malfunction.

To prevent this, we advise checking your engine after your drive in snowy weather, and parking in a sheltered area. You can also use engine covers to minimize snow ingress.

Should I Turn Off Traction Control when Your Car Stuck in the Snow?

You should only disengage your traction control when your vehicle is stuck in snow. If you have it on, flooring the brake pedal might not wield any power. But turning the traction control off would allow full power, regardless of the wheel spin. It could be the one factor that can get your car to finally move and get unstuck.

Who Do You Call When Your Car is Stuck in the Snow?

Getting out of the snow can be tricky. Not sure what to do? You need a good roadside assistance service in Canada to help. If you’re part of a roadside assistance program, give them a call. A tow truck can easily pull your car out and solve the issues in a matter of minutes. You can also request a flat tire service if you let too much air out and get a flat tire. And you can get a fuel delivery service if your car runs out of gas in the snow.

CDRA can offer all these services in one program at a discounted price. Call 1-866-519-4001 now and join our membership!

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