Quick answer: Before you drive to Murree in winter, test the battery and mix antifreeze into the coolant. Check the tyres, brakes, wipers and heater too. Buy snow chains that fit your tyres and practise fitting them at home. Fill the tank, carry warm clothes and food, and plan to arrive before dark. In heavy snow, police have refused entry to cars without chains.
Murree's winter season runs from 15 December to 15 February. On 2 November 2026, the district set out its winter safety plan for tourists. It includes 19 facilitation centres and more than 20 snow-clearing vehicles. That help is welcome, but it does not prepare your car. Thousands of Lahore families make the drive to Murree each winter. Many of their cars have never seen a frozen morning.
This guide covers the car checks to make in Lahore and the snow rules police have used. It also covers what to carry, and what to do if you get stuck.
Key takeaways:
A battery that copes in Lahore can fail on a frozen hill morning. Test it before you go.
Plain water in the radiator can freeze. Use a proper coolant and antifreeze mix.
Last winter, police made tyre chains mandatory in snow and turned back cars without them.
Plan the drive to Murree to arrive before dark. Black ice forms after sunset and makes braking very hard.
If you are stuck, keep the exhaust pipe clear of snow and a window slightly open.
Why a winter drive to Murree is hard on a Lahore car
Lahore cars are built up for heat, dust and traffic. The hills ask for different things. The road climbs steeply, and the bends are tight. At night the temperature in Murree often drops to around freezing in January. Snow then turns to ice on the road.
Cold hits a car in several places at once. The battery gives less power. Engine oil turns thicker, so the engine is harder to turn over. Tyres lose pressure. Rubber wiper blades go stiff. A long climb also works the brakes and the clutch hard on the way down.
Most of the trip is easy. You take the M-2 to Islamabad, then the Murree Expressway into the hills. The motorway part can bring thick fog in December and January. Our guide to driving in fog covers that stretch. This guide is about the last hour or two, where the snow starts.
The snow rules police have used in Murree
The rules change with the weather, so check the latest advisory before you leave. Last winter, Murree's City Traffic Police used these rules during heavy snow:
Tyre chains: In January 2026, police made chains mandatory in snow or on slippery roads. A later advisory said no vehicle would enter Murree without them.
Four-wheel drive: Police asked tourists to use fully equipped four-wheel-drive vehicles during snowfall.
No night travel: Police advised against driving after dark, when ice and fog make rescue harder.
Distance: Keep at least 50 metres from the car ahead, and drive very slowly.
Lanes and parking: Do not make a second lane in a jam. Do not park on main roads or slopes, and do not stop for photos.
Phones: No phone use while driving.
In late January 2026, the authorities went further. Tourists without a hotel booking were stopped from entering during a snow spell. The Murree Expressway has also been closed to traffic on heavy snow days. So book your stay before you set off, and keep a plan B.
Car checks to make before you drive to Murree
Give yourself a week. That leaves time to order a part or book a service. Start with the six checks below.
1. Battery
Cold cuts a battery's power. AAA says that at about minus 15°C, even a fully charged battery gives around half its rated capacity. Murree is rarely that cold, but the effect starts well before then. A weak battery that just copes in Lahore may not start on a frozen morning.
Have the battery load-tested. If it is more than two or three years old, or the car cranks slowly, replace it before the trip. Our guide to car battery replacement at home explains the signs and the cost.
2. Coolant and antifreeze
Many Lahore owners top up the radiator with plain water in summer. Water freezes at 0°C. In a hill-station night, frozen water can block the cooling system and even crack parts. AAA advises a 50/50 mix of antifreeze and water. If you are not sure what is in your radiator, have it drained and refilled. The same coolant also protects against summer heat, as our guide to car overheating explains.
3. Tyres
Tread matters most on snow. A bald tyre has nothing to grip with. Look for even wear and deep grooves on all four tyres and the spare.
Pressure drops as the air cools. AAA puts it at about 1 psi for every 10°F, or roughly every 5 to 6°C. A car that leaves a mild Lahore morning can arrive in Murree a few psi short. Check the pressure when the tyres are cold, using the figure on the door sticker. Our flat tyre guide covers what to do if one goes on the road.
4. Brakes
The road down from Murree is long and steep. Worn pads and old brake fluid fade under that load. Get the pads, discs and fluid checked. If the pedal feels soft or the car pulls to one side, fix it first. Read car brake repair in Lahore for the warning signs.
5. Wipers, washer and heater
Fit new wiper blades if the old ones smear. Fill the washer bottle, as road spray turns the glass grey in minutes. Then test the heater and the demister on full. If the windscreen mists up and stays misted, you cannot drive safely on a hill road.
6. Lights
Check the headlights, brake lights, indicators and fog lights. Snow and fog arrive fast in the hills. Other drivers need to see you as much as you need to see them.
Check | Why it matters in the cold | What to do |
|---|---|---|
Battery | Gives much less power on a frozen morning | Load-test it, replace if weak |
Coolant | Plain water can freeze at 0°C | Use a 50/50 antifreeze mix |
Tyres | Pressure falls as the air cools | Check tread, set pressure cold |
Brakes | Long descents make worn brakes fade | Check pads, discs and fluid |
Wipers and heater | Spray and mist block your view | New blades, full washer, test demister |
Lights | Snow and fog cut visibility fast | Check every bulb, clean the lenses |
Short of time? Carbid's mobile car workshop can do these checks at your home in Lahore. The van carries a diagnostic scanner and common service parts. The call-out and check is Rs 3,000, and parts and labour are quoted before any work starts. If your car is due a service anyway, read about a car service at home first.
Snow chains: buy them, fit them, practise
Chains wrap around the tyre and bite into snow and ice. Since police have made them mandatory in snow, treat them as part of the drive to Murree, not an extra.
Get the right size
Chains are sold by tyre size. The size is printed on the side of the tyre, such as 185/65 R15. Buy for that exact size. A chain that is too loose can slap against the car. One that is too tight will not close.
Fit them once at home
Fitting chains for the first time on a cold, dark slope is miserable. Practise once on your driveway in Lahore. Lay them out, wrap them round, close the fasteners and drive a few metres. Then tighten them again.
Which wheels
Chains go on the driven wheels. Most small Lahore cars are front-wheel drive, so the chains go on the front. Check your owner's manual to be sure.
How to drive with them
Drive slowly with chains on, and take them off once you reach clear tarmac. Driving fast on a dry road damages both the chains and the tyres.
What to keep in the car
Pack as if you might spend a few hours in a jam. It has happened to many families on the drive to Murree.
A full fuel tank, topped up again in Islamabad before the climb
Blankets, warm jackets, gloves and caps for everyone
Water, dry food and any medicines you need
Snow chains, a torch, a small shovel and a tow strap
Jump leads, a tyre inflator and a warning triangle
A phone power bank and a car charger
Driving on snow and black ice
Snow driving is about being gentle. Every input should be slow and smooth.
Pull away gently. Use a higher gear in a manual car to stop the wheels from spinning.
Brake early and softly. Hard braking on ice locks the wheels or sends ABS into a long, noisy slide.
Use a low gear downhill. Let the engine hold the car back, so the brakes stay cool. In an automatic, use L, 2 or B.
Keep a big gap. Police advise at least 50 metres.
Watch for black ice. It is thin, clear ice that looks like a wet road. It is worst after dark, on shaded bends and on bridges.
Plan to finish the drive to Murree in daylight. If you leave Lahore early, you reach the hills by early afternoon. That leaves a margin for jams and for fitting chains.
Tip: Fit the chains before you need them. Stop at a flat, safe spot as soon as the road turns white. Fitting them on a steep slope, with cars sliding past, is far harder and far more dangerous.
If you get stuck in the snow
In January 2022, at least 22 people died in cars trapped by snow near Murree. Some froze. Others breathed in exhaust fumes inside their cars. The lessons are simple, and they save lives.
Keep the exhaust pipe clear. Snow piled around it pushes fumes back into the car.
Open a window slightly whenever the engine and heater are running.
Run the engine in short spells for warmth, not all night. This also saves fuel.
Stay with the car unless help or a building is close and the way is safe.
Call for help early. Use Police 15, Rescue 1122, or the Murree traffic control room on 051-9269200.
Which cars cope best, and when to rent instead
Police ask for four-wheel drive in snowfall for a reason. A 4x4 with good tyres climbs and grips far better. Ground clearance matters too. A low hatchback can get stuck on packed snow that an SUV rolls over.
That does not mean a small car can never go. On a clear day, with chains and a careful driver, many small cars make the drive to Murree. But if your car is low, old or has weak brakes, think twice. You can rent a car in Lahore instead, with a driver or without one. Our guide to renting a car explains the rates and what to check.
Buying a car for winter trips
Some families now buy a crossover or SUV with the winter drive to Murree in mind. If that is you, check the car the cold will test. Look at the battery's age, the state of the brakes, the tyres and the cooling system. Ask for service records.
A test drive in Lahore will not show how a car behaves on a cold hill. A proper inspection will show the parts that matter. Our guide to used car inspection in Lahore explains what it covers. On Carbid, inspected cars carry a 135-point report from our own team, covering the engine, body, transmission, electricals and papers. For model ideas, see the best used cars for Lahore.
Also note the emission test. If your car is old enough to need a car fitness certificate, the Punjab deadline is 31 December 2026. Sort it before the trip.
Frequently asked questions
Q1. Are snow chains compulsory in Murree?
A1. During heavy snow last winter, Murree police made chains mandatory and refused entry to cars without them. Check the current advisory before you drive to Murree.
Q2. Can a small car like an Alto make the drive to Murree in winter?
A2. On a clear day, with good tyres, chains and a careful driver, often yes. In heavy snow, police ask for four-wheel drive, and a low small car is easily stuck.
Q3. When does Murree get snow?
A3. The official winter season runs from 15 December to 15 February. The heaviest snow usually falls in January and February.
Q4. Do I need antifreeze for one trip?
A4. Yes, if your radiator holds plain water. One freezing night is enough to cause damage.
Q5. What should I do if the road is closed?
A5. Do not try another route at night. Wait in Islamabad or a safe town, and follow the traffic police updates.
Q6. Who should I call in an emergency on the drive to Murree?
A6. Call Police 15 or Rescue 1122. For traffic problems in Murree, the control room is 051-9269200.
Planning a hill trip in a better car? Browse inspected cars on Carbid or join a live auction, and read how Carbid works. Call or WhatsApp us on 0306 6468980.