You can easily fix a small dent in your car with the help of a plunger. Clean the dented area with soap and water, and then dry thoroughly before placing the plunger directly over the spot and pressing firmly to create a seal. (If the suction is weak, try coating the plunger’s rim with petroleum jelly.) Push the plunger in, and then quickly pull it out. Repeat if the dent doesn’t fully “pop” out.

Some 40% of us are uncomfortable driving at night. Part of the problem is that at night our eyes rely on cells that shut down when exposed to bright light, like other drivers’ high beams, says M. Council, M.D., assistant professor of ophthalmology at the Saint Louis University Eye Institute. “Once the light passes, your eyes have to readjust and your vision is impaired until they do.” Diming the dashboard lights until you are just able to see the panel can help, and when a car with bright lights approaches, look to the right, toward the white line, until it passes.

Property stolen from your vehicle will not be covered by your auto policy (although it may be covered by your homeowners insurance). Make sure you take valuables with you or, lock them in the trunk out of view.

Inflate the tires with nitrogen. “Cold weather negatively impacts tire pressure, and poor pressure affects steering and handling. But nitrogen provides a more consistent means of maintaining tire pressure.” The reason is nitrogen is drier than compressed air, so it reduces moisture and corrosion that leads to leaks.