The Fall is a great time to get your car maintained and ready for the winter. It’s best to get your vehicle serviced by a trusted certified mechanic, but there are several things that you can inspect yourself to make sure that your main mode of transport is running efficiently and safely.

It’s a good idea to check your tire pressure periodically especially between temperature changes. Tire pressure will drop as the weather gets colder, so be sure to check all four tires as well as your spare, consulting your vehicle’s user manual for the correct PSI, or the sticker that’s usually found on the driver’s door jamb.

Test all the lights on your car including headlights, taillights, brake lights, back-up lights, emergency flashers and turning signals. Replace any burnt out bulbs.

Wiper blades should ideally be replaced every 6 months. If they streak or squeak during use, that’s also a sign to replace them.

Fill the windshield washer fluid reservoir with the right type of cleaning fluid for the season. This may be a fluid that includes some antifreeze component to prevent the fluid from freezing in the cold.

Check the filter in your air-conditioning unit. If there’s a bad smell when you run your cooling or heating in the car, it’s probably time to replace the filter.

Lastly, put together an emergency kit that has a basic toolkit, snow shovel, ice scraper, jumper cables, flashlight, warning devices, first aid kit, blankets, drinking water and non-perishable snacks.