How to get your car out of snow

This is a time-consuming and tiring method, but it's also one of the best. Your car gets stuck because the snow is too slick to allow the tires enough grip. Removing the snow around the tires, under the car's body, and in the path towards the road — ideally down to the road surface — is one of the most reliable ways to get back on track.

Like shoveling, melting the snow with salt or other chemicals can help you get the traction you need. However, melting the snow this way isn't ideal. Salt can cause rusting if it stays in contact with the car's body too long, and other chemicals like antifreeze can harm your pets and the environment.

If you can't remove the snow, add dry materials around the wheels to improve your traction. Common options include sand and non-clumping cat litter. If you live in an area where severe winter weather is typical, consider keeping these materials on hand in the car's trunk during the winter months if you get stuck in the snow.

Modern cars contain advanced electronic systems to help get tires unstuck in the snow. If your car has a four-wheel-drive option, turn it on because it delivers power to all the wheels, increasing your odds of finding a spot that provides the grip you need. Put your car in low gear if it's an automatic to help keep the wheels from spinning too fast when you press the accelerator.

If your car has a traction control system (TCS), turn it off. While that may sound counterintuitive, the TCS's job is to cut power to the wheels when it detects that they are spinning against a slippery surface. That helps you maintain control in a skid but makes it very hard to get loose from snow.

Another common method is "rocking" the car back and forth. If you've got a little space where the car has traction, this method builds momentum, which can carry you through the slippery spot. You go forward as far as you can, then switch to reverse and go back as far as you can, then forward again, and so on.

The problem is that rapidly changing gears repeatedly — especially while the wheels are moving — can be tough on the transmission. If you try rocking your car, be careful. Apply the brake to stop the car at the endpoint of each rock, then shift gears while the car is still. If it doesn't work after a few tries, let it go. Transmission damage is expensive and more inconvenient than calling for help.

If your vehicle has a manual transmission, you can try starting the car in second gear to achieve a similar effect. The second gear has less torque, making it less likely that you'll spin the wheels and potentially get the traction you need. It can still be hard on the transmission — the clutch specifically — so take it easy.

You can also try letting air out of the tires. By making the tire slightly flat, you put more of the tire in contact with the road surface and create more traction. Only do this if there's a gas station or mechanic nearby where you can fill the tire back up. Driving on underinflated tires is dangerous and can cause long-term damage, so you want to get them re-inflated as soon as possible.