The Complete Guide to Driving a Used Car in Kansas City’s Winter Weather

Start with a Great Used Car from a Leader in the Kansas City Auto Sales Market

Now that fall is on its way out, it’s time to prepare for another Kansas City winter. Outside of a couple of famous ice storms and cold snaps, we’ve generally been spared consistent blizzard conditions.

However, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, this winter is going to be what they are calling a “hibernation zone,” which means freezing cold temperatures and periods of significant snow and ice.

What does this mean for you and your car? It means that if you’re not yet ready for winter weather driving, it’s time to learn the ropes. As you’ll read below, you can save yourself from a snow and ice calamity with some good information and a little preparation - and that all begins with checking out Auto Bank of Kansas City’s buy here pay here dealerships.  

Related Research: The Most Fuel-Efficient Used Cars in Kansas City   

How Do I Choose a Used Car for Kansas City Winters?

First, you want to make sure you have the right car. If you’re in the market for a used car that can handle the elements, consider stopping at one of our car lots near you to pick up a car that you know can get you where you want to go - even during the winter of 2022-23.

Auto Bank of Kansas City has you covered with great cars, simple car financing, and - because of our extensive research - all of the information you need to brave the cold.  

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, 24 percent of accidents are caused by snowy, slushy, or icy conditions. That’s a fairly significant number, and enough of a risk to you that we think having a car that’s safe for the elements should be a priority for you and your family. 

When we talk about choosing a used car for winter weather, however, we don’t mean selecting some heavy-duty SUV - although that wouldn’t hurt, either. However, many used cars available at our buy here pay here car lots near you are going to have options that are suitable for winter weather - especially if you keep paying attention to the rest of this blog, which will show you how to outfit the car for the weather once you’ve purchased it with affordable car financing. 

Here are some cars we’ve seen in our Kansas City used car inventory that perform well in the snow: 

• Are Sedans Good Used Cars for Kansas City Winter Weather? Believe it or not, a four-door sedan can be useful in winter weather, if you choose the right one. For example, our buy here pay here often features used VW Jettas, which can help you get through winter weather fast. According to Engine Patrol, which offers trustworthy, independent auto reviews, a Jetta can power through snow if it’s also outfitted with snow tires. Also of note are Hyundai’s sedans, which we’ve seen on our lots with four-wheel drive features. Much more powerful than rear-wheel drive, a four-wheel drive from Hyundai, such as the Sonata, can give you a little more power when getting out of your driveway on a snowy day.
• How do SUVs perform in Kansas City Winter Weather? They don’t call these Sport Utility Vehicles for nothing. Although an affordable sedan can get you through the winter weather, most SUVs are built for more rugged terrain, including snow. Keep the Kia Sorento in mind as well as the Ford Explorer and Escape, all of which we’ve seen on our car lots near you. You always get state-of-the-art power from Ford, but many don’t recognize that Kia has one of the highest safety ratings outside of the name-brand “safety vehicles” from Subaru and Volvo. In fact, the newest Kia Sorento model is the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s top safety pick for 2022.
• How do trucks perform in Kansas City Winter Weather? While you might think all trucks are created for tough conditions, you want to make sure your truck is heavy enough in the back. Remember, there’s not as much steel on the tail end because of the bed, so if you don’t weigh it down with sandbags or quick concrete, you’ll end up slipping and sliding. Auto Bank, a leader in Kansas City auto sales, often sees a good number of used trucks at our Kansas City used car car lots near you, so you’ll find inventory from Chevrolet, Dodge, RAM, Ford and more. And with our buy here pay here dealership’s car financing program, we can hand you the keys without all the mega-dealership hassles.

 Related Research: Don’t Panic! Buy a Used Car in Kansas City  

What Kinds of Winter Weather Accessories Should I Buy for a Used Car in Kansas City?

Now that you’ve taken a look at our overview of the kinds of used cars that can brave a Kansas City winter, you want to think about accessories, so you can be sure your car is outfitted perfectly.  

Why do winter accessories matter for a used car in Kansas City?

• They keep you safe.
• They help you get where you’re going on-time.
• They help you prepare in case there’s an accident.
• They make your drive more comfortable and warm.

As you can see, there are many reasons related to both comfort and safety for why you should consider picking up accessories, even after you’ve selected the perfect winter-ready used car from a buy here pay here dealership.  

What specific list of winter weather accessories should I get for my used car?

Turning back to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, we did some research at both of our used car lots near you, and came up with a streamlined list that takes Kansas City weather conditions into consideration. We also added a few items that we think are important for conditions here in KC.  

We wanted to be sure that our list fits with the kind of weather you’d find specifically in the metro area. At Auto Bank, we’re proud to be our city’s leaders in Kansas City auto sales, and we’re proud of this city that features the best food, best sports, kindest people, and so much more.  

Must-Have Winter Weather Accessories:

• Extra winter clothes 
• Warm blankets
• Water and snacks
• Small snow shovel (you can also find collapsible/folding shovels)
• First aid kit

 Winter-weather accessories for Kansas City used cars:

• A bag of sand or gravel for traction 
• Recovery traction ramps
• Reflective vest and flares
• Extra windshield fluid

 Why Our Suggestions are Useful for Kansas City Used Cars in Winter-Weather Conditions

As you can see, the Old Farmer’s Almanac has you preparing for the worst. While we don’t have too many blizzards that might leave you stranded for hours on the road - we’ve chosen not to live in the North after all - you still want to consider their advice just in case.  

However, our suggestions for Kansas City used cars are something you definitely want to consider because of the particular conditions we experience in our region. 

A bag of sand or gravel as well as traction ramps can be useful for used cars in Kansas City. We often get sudden overnight snowfalls that we aren’t prepared for, and these can make us late for work almost every time. 

Take this scenario for instance: you know your street is going to be plowed, so you’re not too worried when you get to bed. You know that your route to work includes many main roads, so you’re thankful to the transportation department and safety crews for their help. However, you may have forgotten one crucial detail!  

While your street and main roads are looking pretty good - even after a storm - the biggest hurdle is getting your car out of your driveway. Gritty material or traction ramps can be essential in helping you get over the end of your driveway, so you can get to work without having to shovel your driveway right away. 

A reflective vest and flares are useful because so many folks on the road are unprepared for winter, and may not be watching the road closely enough if you do get stranded or have a weather-related fender bender.  

In Kansas City, it seems like most drivers’ minds suddenly go on the fritz at the first sign of winter weather (it’s as if they’ve never seen snow before), so you want to be sure that you’re staying safe, and reminding other drivers of your presence if you do have to get out of your vehicle in the snow and ice. 

Extra windshield fluid is important because Kansas City tends to experience far more ice than other regions of the country. Being able to blast all of that ice away (as well as that dirt and residue that comes with driving in winter weather in the city) will keep your windshield visibility in great shape. However, you may find yourself needing more fluid far sooner than you think. Instead of driving with your head out the window in the cold, keep an extra jug in your trunk.  

Related Research: 8 Affordable Winter Car Care Tips to Keep Your Kansas City Used Car Going   

Moving On: How Do You Outfit Your Kansas City Used Car for Winter Weather?

If you’ve got a great, reliable used car from a buy here pay here dealership that offers simple online car financing and in-house billing - and, if you’ve picked up the recommended accessories - you can still add two more items to your winter-weather checklist to make sure you pull out of one of our two used car lots near you, knowing you’ll be safe in Kansas City’s winter weather. 

Here’s what we recommend as necessary Kansas City used car add-ons for winter weather:

1. Remote start
2. Snow tires
3. Regular vehicle maintenance

It’s that simple. Be wary of anyone who wants to pile too many extras onto the price of your Kansas City used car. If you’re already committed to buying at a buy here pay here dealership, you’re probably looking to be practical, and you’re trying to build your credit without spending extra cash that could be going to something more important in your life. 

Therefore, these suggestions prioritize safety while also cutting out all the extras that a major, brand-name dealership might try to add on. 

1. Get remote start if you want to clear off the snow and ice without stepping out of your home. Enough said.
2. Get snow tires that you can pop on in the winter and remove in the spring. These will give you the traction you need for an affordable car that can get you where you want to go. We get it. When you work with our Kansas City auto sales team, you’re there to save money while finding a car that will fit your needs. Snow tires are an affordable way to add a great safety option when you can’t afford a vehicle that’s already loaded.
3. Also, remember that regular maintenance goes a long way. Being able to brake efficiently, having your fluids topped off, and getting that fresh set of wipers installed can help more than you think, especially when you can’t spring for a car that is plowing through snow effortlessly in the commercials. Being practical and keeping it simple is far smarter than trying to chase name-brand luxury.

Practical, Simple, Trustworthy Kansas City Used Car Auto Sales are What We’re About

We hope you feel informed and confident about your used car’s performance on the road in Kansas City weather. We also hope you noticed that our advice doesn’t force you to go all-in on all the extras or spend a mint while worried about what “might” happen.  

Instead, we focus on simple, practical, and trustworthy information that prepares you for the future, affordably. This is much like the model for Kansas City auto sales at our buy here pay here dealership.

• We’re here to help those with little or no credit get access to great Kansas City used cars
• The cars on our two car lots near you are stocked with quality vehicles 
• We offer in-house car financing and take care of all the little details
• You deal directly with us, and no extra banks or financing companies.

 Come experience the Auto Bank of Kansas City difference as you prepare for the winter ahead. We have a massive inventory at our two car lots near you. Come down and check it out, or give us a call. Our East Front Street number is (816) 281-7210, and our Truman Rd. location can be reached at (816) 207-3738. We’re looking forward to getting all of Kansas City into the used cars of their dreams.