Winter is here. And with the holidays coming, you'll be doing a lot more driving than usual. Through bad weather. In a car packed with food, gifts, family and friends. On highways crammed with idiots. You'll want to make sure your car is prepared. Here are five winterizing tips from NADAguides.com.

1 - Tune Up. It's a good idea to have your car tuned up at the start of the winter. And check for leaks, worn belts, and low fluid levels.

2 - Keep It Cool. Even though it's freezing outside, your car can overheat if it's low on coolant, damaging your engine. In most areas, a 50/50 mix of coolant and water is what you'll want.

3 - See Your Way Clear. Make sure you have plenty of windshield washer fluid to clear the snow, grime and mud spraying up from the car in front of you. Don't go cheap either. Lower cost fluids may freeze more easily.

4 - Stay Full. Running out of gas in the summer may be a pain in the ass, but running out of gas in freezing temps is much more than that. If you get stuck you're gonna want to keep the engine running, and the heat on inside the car.

5 - Think Like a Survivor. Carry a survival kit for those long trips. A good kit will include a compass, a first aid kit, wooden stick matches in a waterproof container, scissors and string/cord, bottled water and non-perishable, high-energy snacks, extra blankets, extra clothing and a battery-powered radio with spare batteries.

For more info and tips, head to www.NADAguides.com