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How do I know if my car has anti-lock brakes?
This is my first winter up North, and I am so worried about driving in the snow. My partner told me as long as I have anti-lock brakes, I will be fine. But how can you tell if a car has anti-lock brakes or not?
Shannon Martin · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Anti-lock brakes can really make a difference in bad weather! Luckily, cars made after 2012 were legally required to have anti-lock brakes, so odds are your vehicle has them.
The best way to tell is when you start your engine. When the lights on the dashboard flicker, you should see ABS pop up and then disappear.
Another great place to check would be the owner’s manual. Since you stated that you’ve had the car for a while, you can access it online if you don’t have the physical manual anymore. Then you will know for sure what kind of brakes you have.
Additionally, here are some winter driving tips:
- If you find your vehicle slipping in the snow and you do have ABS, just press down on the brakes, hold, and steer the car to safety.
- If you don’t have ABS, it will be a little different. In that case, press down on the brakes calmly yet firmly and slowly pump the brakes while steering the car to safety.
Since you are new to the snowy weather, make sure to have an emergency
roadside assistance
package before the first snowflake falls. If you’re looking for roadside assistance at a great price, try Jerry
. Jerry’s membership provides you with industry-leading roadside assistance, including benefits like towing, lockout service, and a mechanics hotline for as low as $4.16 a month.View full answer
- Gregory R.
WHY YOU CAN TRUST JERRY
Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.
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