Quick Summary:
- Clear snow and ice from roof, bonnet, windows, mirrors, and lights.
- Make sure number plates and registration stickers are fully visible before moving.
- Police commonly ticket near highways, bridges, downtown areas, and parking exits.
- Buy a snow brush, ice scraper, and de-icer at local supermarkets.
If you are visiting Pennsylvania on car hire in winter, yes, you should clear snow from the roof and number plates before you drive. It is not just about being courteous to other road users. Loose snow can slide onto your windscreen when you brake, and roof ice can blow off at speed and hit other vehicles. Obscured lights and plates also make it harder for police and other drivers to identify you, and can trigger a stop.
The practical approach is simple: treat your hired car the same as your own. Before you pull away, clear every surface that affects visibility, lighting, identification, and safety. If your rental does not come with a brush or scraper, you can pick up the basics locally for very little money and keep them in the boot for the duration of your trip.
If you are collecting a vehicle in the Philadelphia area, it helps to know your pickup location so you can plan time for clearing snow in the car park. Hola Car Rentals offers options around the city and airport, including car hire at Philadelphia Airport (PHL) and car hire in Philadelphia. Allow a few extra minutes at pickup, especially after overnight snowfall.
What you should clear before driving in Pennsylvania
In winter conditions, the safest rule is: if it can blow off, slide off, or block something important, clear it. Pennsylvania drivers are expected to remove snow and ice that could endanger others, and police may stop vehicles that appear unsafe or not roadworthy.
1) Roof
Clear the roof completely. This is the number one problem area on SUVs, minivans, and taller vehicles, because you may not notice how much snow is up there. At speed, roof snow becomes a white cloud that reduces visibility for drivers behind you. When it partially melts and refreezes, it can turn into heavy slabs of ice.
2) Bonnet (hood) and boot (trunk)
Snow on the bonnet can blow up onto the windscreen, especially on motorways. Clear it so it does not lift and refreeze around the wipers or vents. Clear the boot area too so the rear view, lights, and plate remain visible.
3) All glass: windscreen, rear window, and side windows
Do not rely on a small “peephole” scraped in the windscreen. Clear the full windscreen, both front side windows, and the rear window. If your car has heated rear glass, it helps, but it is not a substitute for clearing thick snow first. Also clear around the edges of windows where ice can prevent proper sealing or limit the mirror view.
4) Mirrors
Wing mirrors must be fully clear and correctly adjusted. A thin icy layer distorts distance and can make lane changes dangerous, especially in slushy conditions.
5) Lights and reflectors
Clean snow and road grime from headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, and reflectors. In falling snow, you need every bit of visibility you can get, and other drivers need to see you clearly when you brake.
6) Number plates and registration stickers
Plates must be readable. If your front plate is packed with snow or your rear plate is obscured by slush spray, you are more likely to be stopped. In Pennsylvania, many vehicles display a registration sticker on the rear plate area, so keep that zone clear as well.
7) Wipers, washer jets, and cowl area
Lift snow away from the base of the windscreen where the wipers rest. Frozen wipers can tear rubber blades and smear ice across glass. Check washer jets are not frozen, and top up washer fluid if the level is low. In very cold weather, use proper winter washer fluid, not plain water.
8) Wheel arches and tyres
Knocked-in snow around wheel arches can rub on tyres when you turn. Also check tyre treads are not packed with ice. Even a quick visual check helps, particularly if the vehicle has been parked in ploughed-in snow.
Do you have to clear snow off the number plates?
In practice, yes. Even when the law is framed around safe operation and visibility, an unreadable plate or covered registration sticker is an obvious reason for an officer to stop you. It also creates problems at tolls, car parks, and any automated camera systems that rely on plate visibility.
Make it a habit each time you set off: clear the rear plate first (it collects the most slush), then the front. If conditions are wet and salty, wipe plates again after 10 to 15 minutes of driving because road spray can quickly re-cover them.
Where drivers commonly get fined or pulled over
Most stops are not random. They happen where officers can safely observe vehicles and where winter hazards cause incidents.
Highways and on-ramps
Officers often watch merging traffic, and a vehicle shedding snow or with obstructed windows stands out. If you join a highway with a roof load of snow, it can blow directly into faster traffic behind you, which is exactly what enforcement targets.
Bridges, overpasses, and elevated sections
These areas ice first. Police and road crews focus here because collisions and spin-outs are common. A car with poor visibility, blocked lights, or snow sliding onto the windscreen is an avoidable risk they may address immediately.
City centres and busy corridors
In Philadelphia and other towns, enforcement is more visible around congested streets, school zones, and major junctions. Even slow driving is not a shield if your lights or plates are covered.
Car parks, petrol stations, and rental lot exits
Winter mornings often bring a cluster of minor incidents as drivers rush off without clearing vehicles properly. Officers sometimes watch exits during storms because unsafe vehicles are easy to identify there.
If you have hired a larger vehicle type, give yourself more time. Roof clearing is harder on taller models, including people carriers and SUVs such as those available through minivan rental in Philadelphia and SUV hire in Philadelphia.
What to do if your rental has no snow brush or ice scraper
Many rentals do not include winter tools as standard, or the previous driver may have removed them. If you arrive to find nothing in the boot, you can still sort it quickly.
Best quick tools to buy locally
Snow brush with ice scraper end
This is the most useful single purchase. Choose one with a longer handle if you are driving an SUV or minivan. A swivel brush head is helpful for reaching the middle of the roof without scratching paint.
Small hand scraper (backup)
A compact scraper fits in the glovebox and is ideal for clearing mirrors and tight edges around wipers. If the main brush goes missing, you are not stranded.
De-icer spray
Good for stubborn ice on locks, door seals, and the windscreen edges. It also helps if freezing rain leaves a hard glaze that a scraper struggles with.
Microfibre cloths or shop towels
Useful for wiping lights and number plates after you have scraped. They also help clear inside condensation if you get in with snowy clothing and wet mats.
Disposable gloves
Clearing snow with bare hands is miserable in windy conditions. Thin insulated gloves make the job faster and keep your fingers functional for driving.
Windshield washer fluid rated for freezing temperatures
In Pennsylvania winters, washer fluid is not optional. Road salt spray can turn your windscreen opaque in minutes. Make sure the fluid is winter-rated so it does not freeze in the reservoir or lines.
You can usually find these items at supermarkets, petrol stations, pharmacies, and big-box stores near major roads. If a winter storm is forecast, buy the tools the evening before, not after everyone else has cleared the shelves.
How to clear snow fast without damaging the car
Speed matters when you are travelling, but so does avoiding scratches and broken wiper blades. Use a simple order of operations.
1) Start the engine and set the heater
Turn on front and rear defrost. Set airflow to the windscreen and rear window, and select fresh air rather than recirculation if the windows fog.
2) Clear the roof first
Brush snow off the roof so it does not fall onto freshly cleared glass. Push snow off to the sides, not onto the windscreen.
3) Clear the windows completely
Scrape the windscreen and side windows down to clean glass. Then clear the rear window, and check the area around the high-mounted brake light if fitted.
4) Clear lights, mirrors, and plates last
Finish by wiping headlights, tail lights, and both plates. This is also a good moment to confirm the bonnet and boot are not carrying a ridge of snow that will slide later.
5) Do a quick walkaround before moving
Look for snow packed in wheel arches and ensure the exhaust area is not blocked if the car was parked in deep snow.
Extra Pennsylvania winter tips for car hire drivers
Allow extra time at pickup
After heavy snowfall, rental lots are ploughed, but vehicles still carry snow on roofs and in crevices. Build in 10 minutes for clearing before you join traffic, particularly if you are unfamiliar with the car.
Ask politely at the counter if tools are available
Some locations keep spare brushes or scrapers, especially during snow season. Policies vary by supplier, but it never hurts to ask. If you are comparing suppliers, Hola Car Rentals also lists major brands in Philadelphia such as Enterprise car hire in Philadelphia and Payless car hire in Philadelphia.
Do not rely on “it will blow off”
It might, and that is the problem. Even light powder can become a visibility hazard for other drivers, and heavier chunks can damage windscreens behind you.
Re-check after your first stop
Slush accumulates quickly. After a short motorway run, stop somewhere safe and re-check plates, lights, and the rear camera lens if the vehicle has one.
Know when to delay your trip
If freezing rain is coating everything in hard ice and you cannot clear the glass effectively, consider waiting for treatment crews or a temperature rise. Visibility is non-negotiable, especially on unfamiliar roads.
FAQ
Do I legally have to clear snow from the roof in Pennsylvania? You are expected to remove snow and ice that could endanger other road users. In practice, a snow-covered roof can lead to a stop or citation if it sheds onto traffic.
What happens if my number plate is covered by snow or slush? If the plate or registration sticker is not readable, you can be pulled over and potentially fined. Clear both plates before driving and wipe them again during slushy trips.
Can I just clear a small area on the windscreen and drive carefully? No. Limited visibility increases collision risk and can be treated as unsafe operation. Clear the entire windscreen, side windows, and rear window before you move.
My rental has no scraper, what is the quickest fix? Buy a combined snow brush and ice scraper plus de-icer spray at a nearby supermarket or petrol station. Keep them in the car for the whole hire period.
Will idling the car melt the snow so I can skip scraping? Defrost helps, but it is slow and does not clear roof snow or thick ice safely. Scrape and brush first, then use heat to finish and prevent re-freezing.
