Updated October 18, 2026. In Quebec, winter tires must be on by December 1. Tire shops are already filling up, and prices are in the news. It is also the time of year when fuel and battery numbers start to climb. This page explains why, with real figures from Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), CAA and the Quebec government.

For how the label works, see our guide to fuel consumption in Canada.

The label only covers a bit of winter

NRCan tests every new car on five lab cycles. One of them is a cold test, and it runs at -7°C. That is a cool day in Canada, not a January morning in Winnipeg or Saguenay. So the label already counts some cold. It cannot count the real thing.

Why a gas car uses more in winter

NRCan lists the reasons.

  • Cold starts. A cold engine runs a richer mix of fuel and air, and the catalytic converter works poorly until it warms up.
  • Cold, heavy air. Winter air is about 11% denser than summer air. NRCan says that adds about 1.3% to highway fuel use.
  • Bad roads. Snow, slush and ice add drag and wheel slip. NRCan quotes U.S. EPA data of 7% to 35% more fuel use from poor road conditions alone.
  • Winter gas. A litre of winter gas has 1.5% to 3% less energy than summer gas.
  • Electrical loads. Heated seats, defrosters, lights and wipers all draw power that the engine has to make.

The U.S. EPA also estimates that a drop from 24°C to 7°C can raise fuel use by 12% to 28% on city commutes. For a car rated 6.7 L/100 km, that would mean about 7.5 to 8.6. That is our math, as an example. Short trips are the worst, since the engine never gets fully warm.

What to do about it

  1. Skip the long warm-up. NRCan says idling for more than 30 seconds does nothing for the car. Ten minutes of idling burns 0.25 to 0.5 litres. Drive gently instead. The engine, the drivetrain and the cabin all warm up faster on the move.
  2. Use a block heater on a timer. NRCan says to set it to start no more than 2 hours before you leave. An older NRCan article says that at -20°C a block heater can improve fuel economy by as much as 10%.
  3. Check tire pressure every month. Pressure drops when the air gets cold. Check the tires before you drive, when they are cold. Use the number on the sticker in the door frame, and never go above the maximum on the tire's sidewall. NRCan says tires 8 psi (56 kPa) too low can raise fuel use by up to 4% and cut tire life by more than 10,000 km.
  4. Clear the snow off the whole car. It is weight and drag. In Quebec, driving with snow or ice on the car can bring a fine of $60 to $100, plus fees.
  5. Take out the extra weight. Salt, sand and sports gear add up. NRCan says a mid-size car uses about 1% more fuel for every 25 kg it carries.

Winter tires: the law and the price

In Quebec, winter tires are required from December 1 to March 15 on every vehicle registered in the province, rentals included. The fine is $200 to $300. A tire must carry the peaked mountain with snowflake symbol, or be studded. Transport Canada says all-season and summer tires begin to lose elasticity below 7°C, and that means less grip. It also says to fit winter tires in sets of four and not to use tires worn close to 4 mm of tread on snow. The Quebec government says winter tires can cut braking distance by up to 25%.

Prices are rising. Agence QMI reported on October 15 that rubber and shipping costs could push winter tire prices up 5% to 10% in 2027. The tires for this winter are mostly in stock already. The Journal de Montréal reported on October 17 that four new tires cost about $1,000, and that a garage charges $75 to $125 to put them on. The same Agence QMI story quotes an expert who said tires built for EVs can cost 20% to 30% more.

Book early, compare the full price with installation, and check the date code. The last four digits of the DOT code are the week and the year the tire was made.

Photo: Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Why an EV loses range in winter

Electric cars have no engine to make heat, so the battery runs the cabin heater too. The battery also does not like cold. CAA drove 14 EVs from Ottawa to Mont Tremblant in February 2025, in temperatures from -7°C to -15°C. Every one fell short of its NRCan range. The loss was 14% to 39%.

Vehicle in the CAA test Official range Winter range Difference
Polestar 2 444 km 384 km -14%
Chevrolet Silverado EV 724 km 456 km -14% (adjusted)
Tesla Model 3 584 km 410 km -30%
Chevrolet Equinox EV 513 km 337 km -34%
Hyundai IONIQ 5 410 km 262 km -36%
Toyota bZ4X 406 km 255 km -37%
Volvo XC40 Recharge 409 km 248 km -39%

Our math on those results: a car that loses 14% of its range uses about 16% more electricity per kilometre. A car that loses 39% uses about 64% more. Those are big gaps between models, so look at winter results and not just the label. The bZ4X was the earlier name of the Toyota bZ. Toyota changed the car for 2026, and our Toyota bZ winter guide covers the current one.

Charging is slower in the cold, too. In the same test, a 15-minute fast charge added about 100 km on average. The Tesla Model 3 added over 200 km. The bZ4X added 19 km.

CAA and CAA-Québec give the same advice:

  • Warm the car while it is plugged in. Many EVs let you set a departure time.
  • Use heated seats before the cabin heater. They use less energy.
  • Park in a garage if you can. If not, park on the sunny side of the street.
  • Keep range double your daily need. That is the rule of thumb from the Association des véhicules électriques du Québec.

On a bill, a bigger kWh number costs more. See the math in EV electricity use and cost. For range basics, see comparing electric range.

Does AWD help fuel use?

It helps grip, not the fuel number. On the Camry Hybrid, AWD costs 0.1 L/100 km. Winter tires matter more than the drive type. If you want a hybrid with AWD, the RAV4 AWD LE is rated 5.5 and the Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid AWD is rated 6.5. See the lowest fuel consumption cars for more. For a lower electric number, the Hyundai Kona Electric is rated 18.1 kWh/100 km.

Easy habits help all year. They are in how to lower your fuel consumption. To see what a litre costs this week, see what your car costs per 100 km.

FAQ

How much more fuel does a car use in winter? NRCan quotes the U.S. EPA at 12% to 28% more on city commutes between 24°C and 7°C. Bad road conditions can add 7% to 35% on top.

Is a block heater worth it? NRCan says yes, on a timer set 2 hours ahead. Do not leave it plugged in all night.

When must I have winter tires in Quebec? From December 1 to March 15. The fine is $200 to $300.

How much range will my EV lose? In CAA's test at -7°C to -15°C, 14 EVs lost 14% to 39%. Your model and your driving will change that.

Should I warm up my car? Not for long. NRCan says more than 30 seconds of idling does not help. Drive gently.

Sources

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