15 Winter Driving Tips for Snow and Ice in MD, DC, and VA (+ Insurance Checklist)

The first real snow in the DC area rarely gives much warning. One week it is cold rain, the next an overnight ice storm turns the Beltway, I-270, and Route 50 into a parking lot. Because big storms do not happen every week here, it is easy to put off getting the car ready until the forecast turns, and by then every tire shop and service bay is booked.

This winter there is one more reason to plan ahead: Maryland has a new law on clearing snow and ice off your car. Below are 15 practical tips for preparing your car and driving in snow and ice, the DC, Maryland, and Virginia rules worth knowing, and a short insurance checklist so you know what your policy does when winter driving goes wrong.

Get your car ready before the first storm

1. Test the battery. Cold weather cuts a battery’s ability to start the engine. If yours is more than three or four years old, have it tested before the first hard freeze.
2. Check your tires. Look at tread depth and pressure. Pressure drops as temperatures fall, so a tire that was fine in September may be low by December. Good all-season or all-weather tires work for most DMV drivers. Winter tires are worth considering if you commute before dawn, live in western Maryland, or head to the mountains often.
3. Refresh wipers and washer fluid. Replace streaky blades and switch to a winter-rated washer fluid that will not freeze on the glass.
4. Make sure every light works. Headlights, taillights, and turn signals matter more when the days are short and the sky is gray.
5. Top off fluids and check the brakes. Have the coolant checked, catch up on any overdue oil change, and ask for a quick brake inspection.
6. Pack an emergency kit. A small bin in the trunk can hold an ice scraper and snow brush, a blanket, gloves and a hat, a phone charger or portable battery, a flashlight, water and snacks, jumper cables, a first aid kit, and a small shovel with a bag of sand or cat litter for traction.

Drive for the conditions you actually have

7. Clear the whole car, roof included. Snow and ice flying off a moving car can crack a windshield or cause a crash behind you. In Maryland it is now the law (more below).
8. Slow down and add space. Leave more following distance than feels necessary so you have time to react.
9. Brake and accelerate gently. Smooth inputs keep your tires gripping the road.
10. Skip cruise control on wet, snowy, or icy pavement. It makes it harder to recover if you start to skid.
11. Wipers on, headlights on. DC, Maryland, and Virginia all expect your headlights on when you are running your wipers because of rain, sleet, or snow. It also helps other drivers see you.
12. Watch for black ice. It looks like wet pavement and is hardest to spot at night and early morning. Bridges, overpasses, and shaded ramps freeze first.
13. If you skid, stay calm. Ease off the gas, avoid slamming the brakes, and steer gently in the direction you want the car to go.
14. Keep the tank at least half full so you can stay warm if you are stuck in traffic or a storm.
15. If the roads are bad and the trip can wait, let it wait.

Winter driving rules in Maryland, DC, and Virginia

Maryland: the Clear Before You Drive Act

Starting October 1, 2026, Maryland requires drivers to make a reasonable effort to remove accumulated snow and ice from the exterior of their vehicle, including the roof, hood, and trunk, before driving or towing it. Police generally enforce it as a secondary offense, meaning they need another reason to pull you over, unless snow or ice from your car contributes to property damage, serious injury, or death. Fines start at $25 for a first offense in a personal vehicle and rise for repeat offenses, commercial vehicles, and cases where snow or ice causes harm.

Maryland snow emergency routes

When the Maryland State Police or a county activates a snow emergency plan, two rules apply on signed snow emergency routes. Vehicles traveling on them must have snow tires or chains on the drive wheels, and parking on them is prohibited. Cars left on a snow emergency route can be towed. Many main roads in Montgomery, Frederick, and other counties carry these signs, so it is worth knowing whether your street or commute is one of them.

District of Columbia

DC also has posted snow emergency routes. Once the District declares a snow emergency, cars parked on those routes are ticketed and towed so plows can get through. DC does not have a specific clear-your-roof law, but general traffic rules still prohibit driving with an obstructed view or in an unsafe condition.

Virginia

Virginia has no statewide law requiring you to clear snow from your roof, though you can still be held responsible if snow or ice from your car damages someone else’s vehicle. Virginia law does require headlights whenever your wipers are in use because of rain, sleet, snow, or fog.

Your winter auto insurance checklist

Winter claims tend to fall into a few familiar categories, and each one is handled by a different part of your policy:

• Collision generally pays to repair your own car when it hits another vehicle or object, such as a slide into a guardrail or a curb, minus your deductible.
• Comprehensive covers damage that does not come from a collision, such as a tree limb falling on a parked car, ice or debris striking the windshield, or hitting a deer. Deer strikes stay common in Maryland and Virginia through late fall and early winter.
• Liability pays for damage and injuries you cause to others when you are at fault, including damage caused by ice flying off your car.
• Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage protects you when the other driver has no insurance or not enough of it.
• Roadside assistance helps with towing, jump-starts, and lockouts, the problems that tend to show up on the coldest mornings.
• Rental reimbursement helps pay for a rental while your car is in the shop after a covered claim. Body shops in the DC area can be backed up for weeks after a storm.

Every policy is a little different, and your declarations page is what counts. If you are not sure whether you carry collision, roadside assistance, or rental coverage, find out now rather than after a slide on the way to work.

A note for business owners

If your company has vehicles on Maryland roads, the new snow and ice law applies to them too, with higher fines for commercial vehicles. Winter is a good time to remind drivers to clear their vehicles fully, put a kit in every vehicle, and confirm your commercial auto insurance still fits how your team drives.

A reasonable next step

Before the first storm, take ten minutes to run through the tips above and pull out your auto declarations page. If anything looks unclear, or your deductibles no longer match what you could comfortably pay out of pocket, give us a call. A short conversation now can save a lot of frustration in January.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it illegal to drive with snow on your car in Maryland?
Yes. Since October 1, 2026, Maryland requires drivers to make a reasonable effort to clear accumulated snow and ice from their vehicle, including the roof, hood, and trunk, before driving. It is usually enforced as a secondary offense, and fines are higher if snow or ice from your car contributes to a crash or injury.

What happens if I park on a snow emergency route during a storm?
In both Maryland and DC, parking on a signed snow emergency route is prohibited once a snow emergency is declared, and your car can be ticketed and towed. In Maryland, vehicles driving on those routes during a snow emergency also need snow tires or chains.

Does auto insurance cover sliding on ice into another car?
If you carry collision coverage, damage to your own car from a slide into another vehicle or object is generally covered, minus your deductible. If you are at fault, your liability coverage handles damage to the other car and injuries to the other driver.

Who pays if ice flies off another car and cracks my windshield?
If you can identify the other driver, their liability coverage may pay. If not, the damage is usually handled under your own comprehensive coverage, subject to your deductible. Some policies include full glass coverage, so check your declarations page.

Is hitting a deer covered by collision or comprehensive?
Hitting an animal is typically covered under comprehensive, not collision. Late fall and early winter are a busy season for deer strikes across Maryland and Virginia.

Do I need winter tires in the DC area?
Most DMV drivers do fine with good all-season or all-weather tires in solid condition. Winter tires can make sense if you commute before sunrise, live in western Maryland, or drive in the mountains regularly.

Related reading from Capitol Benefits

• What to do if you hit a deer in Maryland or Virginia
• Winterizing your home and car
• Auto insurance from Capitol Benefits