Tips for Driving a Rental Car in Winter

Every driver, regardless of the experience and skill of that person, knows very well that driving on slippery roads in the winter is difficult and requires better performance from the driver and the car. Therefore, there are tricks in this regard to help drivers drive more safely and confidently, especially when traveling to other countries such as Turkey, and not to face problems.

Driving a Rental Car in Winter

Driving in any season has its advantages and problems for drivers, and the higher their skills and the more important points they consider, the safer and easier driving they will have. Accordingly, one of the most challenging times to drive, especially with a rented car, is the winter when traveling to a country like Turkey due to the slippery roads and the effect of coldness on the performance of the car.

At the same time, the skill and familiarity of drivers with how to drive in such conditions can play an important role in this regard; for this reason, if you, for example, rent a car in Istanbul, we will explain the influencing factors in winter driving conditions, solutions and tips that will help you as follow.

Important Note: Considering that driving a rented car, especially in another country, has more sensitivities than driving a private car in your own city and country, you should pay more attention to your driving in the winter with a rented car.

Challenging Factors in Driving in Winter

When you decide to plan your own trip to Turkey instead of taking a tour, it is better to consider a few points. For this purpose, you should not only get the necessary information regarding the daily price of car rental in Turkey, but you should also be well-informed about the following factors relevant to the season you are traveling in (such as winter): driving conditions on various routes, having the necessary equipment, weather conditions in the destination city, and so on.

Accordingly, some of the most important environmental factors in this regard that every driver should pay attention to in winter, for example, when renting a car in Van, Turkey, are as follows:

 Fog

As you know, fog can limit the visibility of drivers on the road, and sometimes even completely see the route and obstacles in it, especially on suburban roads; therefore, unable to see vehicles approaching from the opposite direction or animals suddenly crossing the road, among other issues, are a very important issue in foggy conditions. The main solution that is recommended in such situations is driving at a low speed and using fog lights, especially in busy cities like Istanbul.

Snowfall

Usually, snowfall is one of the common factors that can make driving in winter difficult and somewhat risky on suburban routes. Because even a small amount of snow can cause the road to become slippery and blocked and be difficult to drive; so, if you rent a car in Ankara in this season, you should drive more slowly and carefully; in such situations, it is usually recommended to delay your traffic, or use equipment such as chains or ice-breaking tires.

Freezing of the Tracks

Driving on icy roads can be considered one of the most challenging winter driving conditions, especially in areas like Trabzon, where the proximity to the sea and humidity make ice formation on roads common during winter; in such conditions, if, for example, you have decided to rent a suite in Trabzon and now want to visit several places by either your own or a rental car, it is advisable to choose time slots before sunset to avoid encountering freezing of the tracks.

Snow, Rain, or Hail

As you know, due to the popularity of Turkey's natural attractions in winter, such as the Uludağ ski resort in Bursa, enthusiasts can easily go to such places by renting an equipped car (which has: ice-breaking tires, wheel chains, etc.); therefore, if your traffic in any of the routes inside or outside the city coincides with snow, rain or hail, you will not face any problem due to having the necessary equipment and observing safety precautions.

Increase in Cold Temperatures

Another challenge of driving in winter, especially in the eastern regions of Turkey, which are mostly cold and mountainous, is the cold air, especially at night on the road; because neglecting this issue can have consequences such as freezing of wiper fluid, oils, water in the radiator, and subsequently, malfunctioning of the car's heating system. This issue, which can lead to numbness of the driver's hands and feet, is recommended to make sure that the car's heating system is working properly before driving a rental car in a beautiful city like Bursa.

Negligence of Other Drivers

Unfortunately, sometimes, even though you follow all the necessary rules when driving a rental car, you face an accident due to the carelessness of other drivers; in such a situation, if you notice a careless driver while driving, a car that may endanger you and others in danger, try to keep a safe distance by slowing or speeding up. Therefore, by observing the important points in driving in Turkey, you can provide safe conditions for yourself and others.

Other Important Notes when Driving in Winter

In addition to what has been said so far, there are other tips that can make driving in Turkey, especially with a rental car, easier and safer for travelers; therefore, if you want to rent a car and drive from Istanbul to Konya, paying attention to the following points is very important and will increase the safety of the trip for you and your companions.

1.       Avoid sudden brakes! Because when the road is slippery, the possibility of accidents increases a lot.

2.       If the rear of the vehicle begins to skid when you press the brake pedal, release the brakes and steer in the direction that the rear of the vehicle is skidding.

3.       When driving in snowy weather and on steep roads, be sure to use heavy gear to prevent the car from sliding.

4.       If your car skids while driving uphill, try to slow down instead of accelerating. This issue is very important when driving on the roads leading to a city like "Kayseri," which is in a mountainous area.

5.       When driving on snowy roads, try to drive on parts of the road where the snow has remained intact because their slippage is less.

6.       Driving neutral gear on snowy, rainy, or icy roads is one of the common mistakes that causes the tires to lose friction on the road. Keep in mind, due to the high amount of traffic fines in Turkey, neglecting these things can increase the cost of your trip.

7.       On foggy roads or during heavy snow and rain, opening a bit more of the car windows can help you a lot; because, due to limited visibility, you can find out about the condition of the road by the sound of other cars. In addition, it will prevent the windshield from fogging up and limiting your visibility.

How to Properly Use a Car Heater in Winter

One of the important issues related to the right choice of cars is the proper function and use of the heating system in the winter when you travel to "Konya" for example; accordingly, if your car heater breaks down in the winter or you cannot use it properly, you may face very serious problems.

Therefore, note that one of the most important points regarding driving in Turkey in winter is to know how to choose the right car rental company and the vehicle you are considering; because the more the relevant company can provide travelers with better cars with proper support and quality, the better they will have a better driving experience in seasons like winter.

1.       In the winter, the car air conditioning system must work and circulate in certain periods; accordingly, it is necessary to run the ventilation system once a week for 10 minutes so that the different parts of the heater work properly.

2.       Car heater fins must be cleaned when the season changes, and if there are mud residues or any contamination, they must be completely cleaned; because the fins may be blocked and do not circulate the heat well.

3.       As you know, car windows fog up easily in winter, and for this reason, using a heater is a useful way to prevent windows from getting fogged.

Note: If you have booked a hotel in Turkey and they do not have a parking space, be sure to do the above before driving your car or a rental.

How to Warm Inside the Car in Cold Weather

It may seem like a simple matter, but knowing how to heat the inside of the car in cold weather can not only improve the performance of its heating system, but you should also not have any problems in this case; for this reason, if you travel to the wonderful city of Cappadocia in winter, for example, the following solutions for heating the interior of the car can be of great help to drivers, especially in relation to rental cars:

1.       In winter, there are other heating methods instead of car air conditioning, which include car radiators; in this method, the heat of hot water caused by the operation of the engine can be directed inside by opening the ventilation valve of the car.

2.       For the car engine to warm up quickly, the radiator valve must be closed; as a result, the hot air coming out of the radiator does not come into contact with the outside environment, and before cooling down, the hot water returns to the engine and helps the car to warm up quickly.