The clocks have gone back, the mornings are darker and the roads around Plumstead are getting wetter. Winter is when a car’s small niggles turn into big problems, so here are five checks you can do on your driveway in ten minutes.

1. Tyres. Look at the tread and the pressure. The legal minimum in the UK is 1.6mm, but grip in the wet drops off well before that, so many drivers change tyres at around 3mm. Check pressures when the tyres are cold, using the figures in your handbook or on the sticker inside the driver’s door.

2. Lights. Walk round the car with someone pressing the brakes and indicators. A blown bulb is an easy fix and an easy way to get stopped.

3. Wipers and washer fluid. Streaky wipers are a real problem when it’s dark and raining. Replace worn blades and top up the screenwash with a winter mix that won’t freeze.

4. Battery. Cold mornings are hard on batteries. If your car is slow to start, get it tested before it leaves you stranded. If you drive an electric or hybrid car, expect the range to drop a little in cold weather. That’s normal.

5. Fluids. Check the oil level and the coolant, and make sure there’s no warning light on the dash.

None of this replaces a proper service, but it catches the obvious problems early.

Not sure about something on your car, or thinking of changing it before the new year? Call in and see us at Cambridge Motors, 90 King’s Highway, Plumstead, SE18 2BG. We’re a family-run used car dealership serving South East London and North West Kent since 1959, open Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm.