How to Free a Car Stuck on Ice or Snow

Drivers living in snowy regions quickly become pros at maneuvering cars through deep snow. The rest of us may need a little help freeing a car that gets stuck in snow. Try these maneuvers, one at a time.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Sand, Salt, Dirt, Cat Litter or a Piece of Carpet
• Shovel
• Several People to Help Push

1. Put the transmission into four-wheel drive (if your car has it).

2. Shift into the lowest gear available.

3. If the car won't go forward, put it into reverse and try backing up.

4. Turn the steering wheel slightly and try driving in a different direction.

5. Grab your shovel and remove as much snow as you can from in front of all the wheels.

6. Determine which wheel(s) are slipping by having a friend look at the wheels while you step on the accelerator. Place sand, salt, dirt, cat litter or a piece of old carpet in front of the slipping wheel(s).

7. Ask friends or passersby to push while you slowly depress the gas pedal. Make sure nobody is standing in front of the car. Be careful--accelerating too much makes the tires spin and heats up the snow underneath, turning it into ice.

8. Be prepared to steer and brake after your wheels gain traction.

Tips & Warnings

• Establish clear signals between the people pushing the car and the driver to avoid dangerous misunderstandings. You don't want to accidently hit someone.

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[mrharvey]

on 2/6/2009 This can be very frustrating, so thank you for the tips!

[psychonurse]

on 2/3/2009 Rock it-forward and back, moving the steering wheel. It'll go.

[BigDiamonds]

on 2/2/2009 lol, I misread the title, I had hoping to get a car for free...

[japiii]

on 1/16/2009 Lived in the icy and snowy north all my life. Most of the suggestions could work. Carpet only works if you put the pile (fuzzy) side down in the snow. The slightly melted snow under your tires must freeze to the greatest surface area (the pile) for this trick to work. However I have seen this trick fail more times than it works. keep a coffee can with a mixture of sand and salt in it (the salt melts and softens the ice and the sand can then apply a ruff surface it). turn your tires strait.... most people get stuck because they turned the tires left or right... and on rear wheel drive cars the rear wheels are pushing strait forward thus what they push will want to move strait forward as well. Turned tires will only stop this. The biggest problem in winter these days is all terrain/ all weather tires. In snow the narrowest tires work the best (they cut through the snow to the pavement) wid

[poster]

on 11/28/2007 These are all good comments. Remember don't force anything. If you do a lot of flooring it you will make your own grand canyon. Once you get going again keep steady and smooth on the gas to avoid this again.