Winter is right around the corner, which means it’s time for vehicle owners to take preventative steps to prevent one of the most common vehicle breakdowns.

Year after year, the top roadside-assistance call AAA receives during the winter months is for dead batteries. According to data from this past winter, AAA East Central contractors jump-started 70,531 batteries and replaced 24,732.

A vehicle’s battery endures a lot of stress during the summer, and the heat from the sun is particularly damaging to its internal components. In the winter, that damage manifests in the form of a dead battery, particularly after cold snaps and long periods of leaving a vehicle idle. AAA recommends that vehicle owners have their batteries and charging systems tested sooner rather than later, especially if their battery is more than three years old.

“With the winter months approaching, now is the time to make sure your battery is ready for the drastic temperature changes,” says Mike Hoshaw, vice president of automotive services at AAA East Central. “Having your battery tested during the fall season may prevent families from being stranded when adverse temperatures hit.”

Other items AAA recommends people check at this time of year is tire type and tread, tire pressure, wiper blades, washer fluid and coolant levels.