How to Get Your Car Out of the Mud

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mud - Ways to Spot a Flood-Damaged Car — What mud? I don’t see any mud.
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Getting your vehicle stuck in the mud can be frustrating. Knowing the right way to free your car can help make this situation a bit less stressful. Here are the four steps you should follow if your vehicle gets grounded in the soggy earth.

Tire Smart: Tips for tire maintenance

Get a grip

Weathertech Floorliners review car floor mats rubber heavy duty worth it for price difference track ridges — Use a car mat to give a stuck tire some extra traction so you can free your vehicle from the mud
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Keep some household supplies — like kitty litter, rock salt, or sand — packed in your car’s trunk. Sprinkle this substance over and around the stuck tires to give your vehicle a rougher surface and better traction.

Another suggestion is to put your car mat to good use. Place the edge of the mat under the stuck tire and the rest of the mat in front of the tire. A blanket, trunk liner, or carpet scrap can serve the same purpose.

Help When You Need It: Learn more about Chevy OnStar and Connected Services

Drive out slowly

Avoid accelerating too fast when trying to drive out of the mud. Instead, gently press your foot to the pedal and spin the wheels slowly to enhance what little traction the tires have.

Use another vehicle

Depending on how heavy your vehicle is and how firmly entrenched it is, you might need to ask a friend or neighbor for help. If you’re using another vehicle to help pull your car out, make sure to use a recovery strap firmly attached to secure parts on each vehicle.

When all else fails…

tow truck — Tow trucks can be a lifesaver if you need more heavy-duty help extricating your car out of the mud
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If the previous steps fail to free your car, then it’s time to enlist the help of the professionals. Call for a tow or make use of your dealership’s roadside assistance service if your vehicle came with this provision.

Learn more about the towing process here. Or get the scoop on what to do if your vehicle breaks down this winter.

Whitney Russell

Whitney Russell resides in Dayton, though her spirit can be found beach-bumming in Puerto Rico (the land of her half-Puerto Rican heritage). When not crafting car-related content, she can be found chasing after the most amazing toddler in the world, watching her “beaver” of a husband build amazing woodworking projects, hanging out with two crazy dogs, and visiting family and friends. She also enjoys traveling, crafting, and binge-watching period dramas when time allows. See more articles by Whitney.