As the warm glow of summer sun begins to fade into the cool breeze of autumn, there’s nothing more important than being ready for fall. Don’t wait till the toques and parkas come out to get on top of the changing seasons. Stay one step ahead of the game with our handy Changing Season Checklist.

From doing the smart things to protect your car, home and yard from the chilly temperatures to come, to getting hold of the harvest’s tastiest treats from our BCAA Rewards Partners and exclusive savings on Vancouver Canucks games, we’ve got it planned out.

Get your car prepped

Fall is a crucial time to get your vehicle ready for winter, especially since many BC highways require winter tires or chains after October 1 (we’re looking at you, Yellowhead, Sea to Sky and Coquihalla).

First up, beat the rush and get winter road ready. Some of the most common calls for BCAA Road Assistance during winter are for dead batteries and tires being flat, underinflated, having poor tread or being in poor condition. Be the boss of winter driving by doing the following:

• Install your winter tires – Members save 10% off labour on wheel alignments and receive a two-year extended warranty.
• Check your battery before the cold weather moves in
• Stock a winter driving emergency kit in your trunk
• Avoid the top 10 winter driving ‘snow pas’
• Learn how to avoid BC’s five most common winter driving problems
• Book an appointment for a Fall maintenance service at a BCAA Auto Service Centre in Kelowna, Nanaimo, Victoria or South Surrey. You’ll get honest auto service advice when you bring your car into a BCAA Auto Service Centre.

Fun fall activities you can enjoy at a discount

Once your car is prepped, hit the road to one of many BC fall events and activities where your BCAA Membership gives you a ton of discounts.

• Embrace fall flavours with a Pumpkin Spice Latte from Blenz Coffee and upsize for free.
• It’s never too cold for ice cream! Try a scoop of Apple ‘n’ Spice at Marble Slab and save 15% .
• Hockey season is back! Save up to 30% on Vancouver Canucks single game tickets.
• Get ahead of the season’s top trends and receive expert advice on improving your home at the Vancouver Fall Home Show (Oct 24-27). Buy tickets online before October 20 to get 55% off adult admission.
• Sometimes a movie night is simply the best option. Save 25% on movie night bundles at Landmark Cinemas or get discount Freshslice Pizza for a cozy movie night at home.
• Going on a road trip Save up to 25% on BCAA Rewards partners like car rentals, YVR parking and hotels.

Inside and out, get your home ready for fall and winter

Fall is all about transitions and being ready for what winter will throw at you. Use these crisp sunny days to get your home fixed up and maintained now.

• Make the most of your outdoor space, by adding an outdoor fireplace, firepit, patio roof and plants that bloom in winter like pansies, dogwood and heather.
• 13 ‘to dos’ on your fall home maintenance checklist, including sealing air leaks, checking your fireplace, furnace and safety plans and fixing your walkways.
• Insure your home with BCAA to get peace of mind that you’re covered for the unexpected like fire, water leaks, theft, damages and extreme weather events. Save 5% if you buy online. Plus, BCAA Members save up to 20%.

Take a scenic drive to see BC’s fall colours

The one thing that really stands out about fall are those colours. To see the trees at their finest, there’s no better time for a road trip in beautiful BC. Here are:

• Five great road trips around the province, including the Sunshine Coast and Harrison Hot Springs
• 10 great restaurants and food experiences on Vancouver Island, including Saveur Restaurant in Victoria, and The Pointe in Tofino
• Eight getaway cabins that are perfect for the season

Before you go, check (and top up) your BCAA Car Insurance and link your BCAA Membership card to the Shell App to instantly save 3c per litre on fuel when using Shell EasyPay™.

October 17 is the Great British Columbia ShakeOut – make sure you’re earthquake ready

It’s not something that we ever want to think about but, at this time of year, earthquake preparation is really important. While nature can be unpredictable, there are valuable things you can do to help protect your family and home.

It’s easy to learn the essential earthquake drill: Drop, cover and hold on. Get in some practice by registering for the Great British Columbia ShakeOut at 10:17am on Thursday October 17.

There you go, loads of ways to enjoy the greatest season of (f)all in BC. Wherever you roam this autumn, take BCAA along for all your life’s journeys, and don’t forget to!