Sample issue. Written by AI for a fictional firm to show format and quality. Subject line: "Winter on the road: a 10-minute car check and 5 auto-policy questions". Preheader: "Tires, battery and an emergency kit, plus what to check before holiday driving."

Winter on the road

From Maple Street Insurance (sample agency): your local independent insurance agency

Hi there,

Holiday travel, early sunsets and the first icy mornings all arrive at once. A few minutes of car prep now can keep a bad morning from becoming a tow, a claim or worse. Here's a short checklist based on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's winter driving guidance, followed by five questions worth asking about your auto policy before you hit the road.

1. Check your tires (5 minutes)

Pressure drops as the temperature drops. Fill each tire to the pressure on the label inside the driver's door frame, not the maximum number printed on the tire itself.
Check tread and sidewalls. NHTSA says tread should be at least 2/32 of an inch on every tire. Look for cuts, bulges and cracks, and don't forget the spare.
Check when the tires are cold, meaning the car hasn't been driven for a few hours.
In snowy areas, ask your tire shop whether winter tires make sense for how you drive.

2. Battery, wipers and fluids

Cold weather saps battery power, and electric and hybrid vehicles can lose range. Ask your mechanic to test the battery and charging system, and top up washer fluid with a winter blend. Replace streaky wiper blades before the first storm, not during it.

3. Pack a winter car kit

Keep these in the trunk from now until spring:

Ice scraper, snow brush and a small shovel
Sand or cat litter for traction if you get stuck
Jumper cables, a flashlight and warning markers or flares
A first-aid kit, blankets, water, snacks and any needed medicine
A phone charger

Keep the gas tank close to full whenever you can. If you drive an EV, keep it charged and plug it in overnight in freezing weather when possible.

4. If you get stuck

Stay with your car, make it visible (a bright cloth on the antenna, the dome light on), and make sure the exhaust pipe is clear of snow before running the engine. Run it only in short intervals to stay warm. And never warm up a car in a closed garage. Carbon monoxide builds up fast.

5. Questions to ask about your auto policy

Coverage depends on your specific policy, so this is a good time to check a few things:

Collision versus comprehensive. Sliding into a guardrail or another car is generally a collision claim. Damage from things like a falling tree limb, hail or theft is generally handled under comprehensive. These are separate coverages with separate deductibles, and some drivers carry one without the other. Ask us which you have on each vehicle.
Roadside assistance and towing. A dead battery or a car in a ditch is a common winter call. Some policies include towing or roadside help as an option; others don't. Know before you need it.
Rental reimbursement. If your car is in the shop after a covered claim, would your policy help pay for a rental, and for how long?
College students home for the break. If a student who's been away is driving the family car again, make sure we know who's in the household and driving.
Liability limits. Winter roads mean more chain-reaction accidents. If your savings, home equity or income have grown, ask whether your liability limits, or an umbrella policy, still fit.

Keep this number in the glove box

Write our number, (555) 010-0100, and your policy number on a card and keep it with your registration. If you're ever in an accident, get to a safe spot first, call 911 if anyone is hurt, take photos, and exchange information with the other driver.

If any of this raises a question about your coverage, reply to this email or call (555) 010-0100. A quick review now costs nothing.

Safe travels,

The team at Maple Street Insurance

Drafted with AI assistance and reviewed by Maple Street Insurance (sample agency).

This newsletter is general information, not a description of your policy or professional advice. Coverage depends on the terms, conditions and exclusions of your policy. Contact Maple Street Insurance (sample agency) about your situation.

Sources: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, "Winter Weather Driving Tips: Prepare Your Vehicle" (tires, batteries, vehicle kit, fuel, emergencies); Ready.gov, winter weather preparedness; Insurance Information Institute, auto insurance basics (collision, comprehensive, rental reimbursement, umbrella liability).

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