Don't Get Caught Off Guard

Like, right now would be good. October's when everyone suddenly remembers winter exists and we get slammed. By November we're booking out 2-3 weeks.

Best time is honestly late September or early October. Weather's still decent, we're not crazy busy yet, and you're actually ready before the first cold snap hits. Don't be the person calling us in a panic when it's already snowing.

Basic package? Maybe an hour, hour and a half tops. Complete package with tire swap and everything? Figure on 2-3 hours depending on what we find.

Full protection with undercoating takes longer cause that stuff needs to dry properly - we usually keep the car for half a day. You can hang in our waiting area with decent wifi and coffee that doesn't suck, or we can give you a lift somewhere nearby.

So Vancouver uses a ton of salt on roads when it gets icy. That salt is basically eating your car from underneath all winter long. Rust protection is like putting a raincoat on your undercarriage.

Is it worth it? If you're planning to keep your car more than a few years, absolutely. I've seen 8-year-old cars with undercoating that look better underneath than 4-year-olds without it. Rust repair is expensive and sometimes impossible - prevention is way cheaper.

Just don't get it done at those quick lube places. You want proper coverage in all the cavities and seams, not just sprayed on the obvious bits.

New cars still have batteries that die in the cold. They still need winter tires for proper grip. And starting rust protection early means your "new" car stays nice for way longer.

Think of it this way - you just dropped a bunch of money on a car. Winter prep is how you protect that investment. Plus warranty doesn't cover "I didn't maintain it properly" problems. At minimum get the battery tested and think hard about those tires.