Walking out after a big storm to find your car buried can be overwhelming. The good news is that digging out goes faster and easier when you follow a simple order. Working top to bottom and inside out saves time, protects your car and keeps you from shoveling the same snow twice.
Before you head outside
- Dress in layers, wear waterproof gloves and boots with good tread.
- Bring a snow brush with a soft head, a plastic scraper and a sturdy shovel. Avoid metal tools on paint and glass.
- Check whether a snow emergency is still in effect, so you know whether you need to move the car or should wait.
- If you have any heart or back concerns, take shoveling seriously. Pace yourself, and talk to a doctor if you are unsure whether heavy shoveling is safe for you.
Step one: clear the exhaust and start warming
Before running the engine, make sure the tailpipe and the area around it are completely free of snow. A blocked exhaust can send carbon monoxide into the cabin. Once it is clear, you can start the car to warm the defroster while you work, as long as you stay with it and keep the exhaust clear.
Step two: work from the top down
Push snow off the roof first. Many places expect drivers to clear the roof, because sheets of snow and ice can fly off at speed and hit other cars. Then clear the hood, trunk, windows, mirrors, headlights, taillights and any sensors or cameras. Brush, do not chip, wherever you can, and let the defroster loosen stubborn ice.
Step three: free the wheels and the path out
Now shovel around each tire, focusing on the drive wheels. Clear a path at least a car length in the direction you plan to leave. The plow ridge at the edge of the street is often the hardest part, packed and heavy. Break it into chunks rather than trying to lift it all at once.
Throw snow onto your yard or the sidewalk edge rather than back into the street, which many cities discourage and some prohibit.
Step four: pull out gently
Straighten the wheels, ease onto the gas and let the car roll rather than spin. If the tires start spinning, stop. Spinning polishes the snow into ice and digs you in deeper. Try clearing a bit more, adding traction material under the drive wheels, or rocking gently if your owner’s manual allows it.
Step five: a quick check before driving away.
- Are all lights visible and windows fully clear?
- Are the wipers free and not frozen to the glass?
- Is any packed snow left in the wheel wells that could rub on the tires?
- Do the brakes feel normal after the first few feet?
When you come back, you may find your shoveled spot taken, or a space saver in it. Rules on saving spots differ by city, so check your local guidance rather than relying on custom. And if street parking after storms keeps wearing you down, looking into a garage space or a rented driveway for the rest of the season can be well worth it.
Common Mistakes When Digging Out
Even experienced drivers fall into a few habits that make digging out slower, harder on the body or harder on the car. Watching for these can save you a sore back and a repair bill.
- Lifting heavy, wet snow with a full shovel. Push snow when you can and lift smaller loads when you must. Bend at the knees, keep the load close and turn your whole body rather than twisting at the waist.
- Using the shovel on the car. A metal or hard plastic shovel blade can scratch paint and crack lights. Keep the shovel for the ground and the brush for the car.
- Pouring hot water on the glass. Sudden temperature changes can crack a windshield. Let the defroster and a plastic scraper loosen the ice.
- Yanking frozen wipers or door handles. Gentle pressure, patience and the warmth of the running defroster work better than force.
- Leaving the car running unattended. Besides the exhaust risk, an idling, unlocked car is an easy target. Stay close while it warms.
- Skipping the far side. It is tempting to clear only the side you can reach easily. Walk all the way around before you call it done.
Planning the Dig-Out Before the Storm
The easiest dig-out starts the night before. When the forecast calls for heavy snow, a few minutes of preparation can cut your work in half.
- Bring your tools inside. A brush and shovel locked in a buried trunk are not much help. Keep them by the door.
- Note where the car is facing. Knowing which way you will pull out tells you which side to clear first.
- Consider a windshield cover. A cover held in place by the doors can keep ice off the glass, so you only need to brush away the snow on top.
- Fill the tank and washer fluid. A fuller tank gives you a margin if you need to idle while waiting out a storm, and you will use plenty of washer fluid on salty roads afterward.
- Charge your phone. If you get stuck, you will want it to call for help or check updates from the city.
Digging out in stages
During a long storm, some people prefer to clear the car once midway through rather than waiting until the end. Lighter snow is easier to move, and you avoid a single heavy session. Just be sure you are not interfering with plows or working in the street while crews are active.
Questions Readers Ask
Do I really have to clear the roof?
Many places expect it, and some have rules about it. Even where there is no rule, snow sliding off the roof can blind you when you brake, or hit the driver behind you. It is worth the extra minute.
What if I cannot get my car out at all?
Stop before you dig yourself in deeper. Call a friend for a push, contact roadside assistance if you have it, or wait for conditions to improve. If a snow emergency requires the car to be moved, check your city’s official guidance for what to do when a vehicle cannot be moved in time.
Is it okay to shovel snow into the street if everyone else does?
Not where it is prohibited, and it is discouraged in many places even where it is not. Snow pushed back into the road creates ridges and icy patches for everyone. Pile it on your side of the curb, away from hydrants and crosswalks.
