Autumn brings shorter days, wet leaves, sudden fog, and low, dazzling sun. Each one changes how your car behaves on the road.
This guide walks you through the season's most common driving hazards and the simple habits that keep you safe in them.
If you drive a Motability Scheme car, we've also included what to do if you break down, so you're never caught out.
Driving Safely In The Dark
The clocks go back in late October, so more of your journeys happen in darkness. If you're out of practice, a few short evening drives will rebuild your confidence quickly.
Switch your dipped headlights on as light fades, ideally around an hour before sunset. On unlit roads, use full beam for a clearer view, then dip them the moment you see an oncoming vehicle or a pedestrian so you don't dazzle anyone.
Dirt and grime build up faster in autumn, dimming your lights. Give your headlights and rear lights a regular wipe so you can see and be seen.
Handling Fog And Rain
Fog is common on cold, damp autumn mornings. When it closes in, slow down, switch on your fog lights, and keep your full beam off, since it reflects back and reduces your visibility further.
Leave a bigger gap than usual between you and the car ahead. At junctions, winding your window down helps you hear traffic you can't yet see. Turn your fog lights off once conditions clear.
Heavy rain hides deep puddles and potholes, so watch the road surface and ease off your speed. If you drive through standing water and your engine cuts out, put your hazard lights on and call for recovery. Don't restart the engine, as that can cause serious damage.
Staying Safe When Aquaplaning
Aquaplaning happens when surface water builds up faster than your tyres can clear it, so the car begins to skim rather than grip. The steering suddenly feels light and unresponsive, and the engine may sound like it's revving more freely.
If it happens, resist the urge to brake or steer sharply. Ease off the accelerator, keep the wheel steady, and let your speed drop until you feel the tyres make contact with the road again.
Good tyre tread is your best defence, since the grooves are what channel water away. Worn tyres aquaplane at lower speeds, which is why a tread check matters most heading into the wetter months.
Coping With High Winds
Strong autumn gusts can nudge your car off line, especially on exposed roads, bridges, and open stretches. Keep a firm grip on the wheel so you can correct quickly.
Take extra care overtaking lorries and other high-sided vehicles in windy conditions, as they can move unexpectedly too. Watch for branches and debris blowing across your path.
Beating Low Autumn Sun
Low morning and afternoon sun is one of autumn's biggest hazards, and it arrives suddenly as you crest a hill or turn a corner. Glare can wipe out your view of the road in an instant.
Keep a pair of sunglasses in the car year-round and use your sun visor to cut the worst of it. A clean windscreen makes a real difference here, since smears scatter the light and make glare worse. So invest in some decent windscreen wipers, ready for the weather ahead.
Watching For Seasonal Hazards
Wet leaves are slippery and can hide potholes and road markings, so leave extra room to brake and steer. Treat a leaf-covered road much as you would an icy one.
Wildlife is more active at this time of year, and reduced light makes deer, foxes, and other animals harder to spot on rural roads. Stay alert and scan the verges as you drive.
Getting Your Car Autumn-Ready
A few quick checks keep your car dependable through the season. Look over your tyres, brakes, lights, and windscreen wipers, and top up your screen wash, oil, and coolant.
Worn tyres struggle for grip on wet, greasy roads, so check your tread and pressures now rather than later. Your local Vertu dealership can sort tyres and servicing if anything needs attention.
Keep a small emergency kit in the boot in case you have to wait for help. A torch, blanket, warm layers, an ice scraper, de-icer, and a hi-vis vest cover the essentials.
Checking Your Battery Before It's Cold
Cold, damp weather is when a tired battery tends to fail, and a flat battery is one of the most common reasons cars won't start once temperatures drop. Catching it early saves you a breakdown on a frosty morning.
Watch for the warning signs: a sluggish, laboured start, headlights that seem dimmer than usual, or electrics that feel slow to wake up. These often show before the battery gives out completely.
If anything feels off, your local Vertu dealership can test your battery in minutes and replace it if needed, so you head into the colder months with one less thing to worry about.
Clearing Your Windscreen Properly
Never set off with frost, condensation, or leaves obscuring your view. Clear frost fully with a scraper and de-icer before you move, and use your demister or air conditioning to shift condensation as you drive.
It's worth leaving the house a few minutes earlier on cold mornings so you're never tempted to drive off before the glass is clear.
Driving An Electric Car In Autumn
Colder weather temporarily reduces the range of electric and hybrid cars, since batteries are less efficient at low temperatures. It's normal, and a little planning keeps it from catching you out.
Preconditioning helps most. Warming the cabin while the car is still plugged in draws from the charger rather than the battery, so you set off warm with more range intact. Using eco mode and gentle acceleration stretches each charge further too.
You'll find the full range of electric Motability Scheme cars available with Vertu if you're weighing up the switch.
What To Do If You Break Down
If your Motability Scheme car breaks down, help is included as part of your lease through RAC Motability Assist. Find a safe, well-lit place to stop, switch on your hazard lights, and call for recovery.
For more on how cover and servicing work on the Scheme, see our step-by-step guide to the Motability Scheme.
Find Your Next Motability Scheme Car
Autumn is a good time to think about a car that suits the season, whether that's better visibility, a higher driving position, or the reassurance of a brand-new vehicle.
Browse the full range of Motability Scheme cars available with Vertu, or speak to the team at your nearest dealership, who'll talk you through the options with no pressure.
- Motability