There was a time when drivers had to trudge outside on cold winter mornings to give their cars a head start and warm them up for a while before leaving.
Fast forward to modern cars and improvements to fuel and fuel systems and you may be wondering: Do you still need to warm up your car? Not really.
Synthetic oil and fuel injection technology have eliminated the need for extended warm up times, said Robert Sinclair, senior manager of public affairs for AAA Northeast. Synthetic fuel can effectively lubricate the engine quickly even in frigid weather.
So, how long should you warm up your car in winter?
“After starting the vehicle, in the time that it takes to put on the seat belt, the vehicle will be ready to drive,” Sinclair said in an interview with Fox Weather.
Allowing just enough time to warm up the interior and defrost the windshield is sufficient, according to Consumer Reports. Thanks to upgrades in technology, it takes only 20 to 30 seconds to fully lubricate an engine.
At the same time, avoid going from zero to 60 immediately.
“The key is to drive the vehicle gently until the engine reaches operating temperature, which a gauge, if the car is equipped with one, will show. In fact, gentle driving helps to circulate the engine oil more effectively and warm the transmission and related components which remain cold while idling,” according to Sinclair.
Older cars that still have carburetors do need to warm up, he added. And if the car has trouble starting or doesn’t start at all, it’s time to have the battery checked.
When it comes to electric vehicles, you should warm them up in freezing weather to preserve battery power and range. They may have the latest technology, but that technology prefers to be warm.
EV batteries deplete more rapidly in colder temperatures. Chemical reactions that store and release energy in the battery slow down when the temperature drops. Because EVs don’t have engines to produce heat, the heating system also requires a lot of energy from the battery and reduces range. Using the HVAC system on a 20-degree day cuts the range by about 41%, according to AAA research.
The best way to prepare your EV for wintry weather is to start it while it is still plugged into your home charger so you can warm the interior without draining the battery. Plus, you can turn down the heat while you are driving and preserve driving range.
Last updated on January 23, 2026 by AAA Staff
Ellen is a content producer for AAA Northeast, covering automotive, finance, public affairs and electric vehicle news. She is a former newspaper reporter with experience writing for print and online publications about everything from higher education to sustainability. She recently returned to her native Long Island after living in Connecticut for 20-plus years, and has never met a beach she didn’t like.
