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What to Do If Your Car Gets Stuck in the Snow

Blog Oct 30th, 2025
Vehicle driving through snow

There’s no understating the amount of snow Yellowknife gets. Put simply, it’s a lot. The volume presents challenges on the roads and can cause difficult driving conditions. These conditions can also cause your vehicle to get stuck in the snow. When this happens, you should safely assess the situation, clear away excess snow, and add traction to free your vehicle. Continue reading with the experts at Yellowknife Motors to learn more. 

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1. Assess the Situation

The first thing you should do is stay calm and assess the situation. Stay visible by turning on your hazard lights. Doing so will show others you need assistance. If it’s safe to do so, get out of the vehicle and examine the position of your vehicle. In some situations, the only option is to call for help. In other cases, you might be able to free yourself.

2. Clear a Path 

Situations like this are a perfect example of why drivers should have an emergency winter kit on hand. One item that should always be included is a shovel. To free your vehicle from the snow, you’ll want to start shoveling snow away from your tires. Make sure your exhaust pipe is also free of snow. A blocked pipe could lead to harmful gases entering the cabin. Depending on whether you’re moving forward or reversing, you’ll also want to clear a path in that direction.

3. Rock Your Vehicle

Get back behind the wheel and start rocking your vehicle back and forth slowly by shifting between drive and reverse, rocking your vehicle back and forth gently. Be careful not to press the accelerator too hard. If you do, you’ll dig your vehicle deeper into the snow.

4. Gain Traction 

If rocking your vehicle doesn’t work, it might be because the surface is too slippery. Try and gain traction. How you do this depends on what’s around you. If you have salt on hand, sprinkle some in front of your wheels. Kitty litter also works. You can also use your floor mats.

5. Call For Help

If all of your attempts to free your vehicle from the snow fail, your only solution will be to call for help. Make sure you’re doing so safely. It’s best to stay in your vehicle to protect yourself. Only get out if you absolutely need to. The best way to prepare for a situation like this is to winterize your vehicle beforehand. Check out our blog on how you can get your vehicle winter-ready.

Prepare Your Vehicle for the Snow with the Experts at Yellowknife Motors

If you want to improve your chances of staying clear of any snow-related issues for your vehicle, visit the experts at Yellowknife Motors. Our certified technicians are on hand to make sure your transportation is ready to take on the winter snow. Visit our website to book an appointment.

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