Lots of people warm their vehicles up before hitting the road, especially when it's COLD.

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But, what do the experts say about warming up our vehicles?

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It's not necessary. While it's awesome to jump into a warmer vehicle, you really only need to let your vehicle run from 30 seconds to a minute. The fastest way to warm up an engine is by driving it.

According to Consumer Reports:

It’s a good idea to let the car run for about a minute. Some drivers prefer to let the engine idle for 20 minutes or longer to get everything—including the cabin—really warm, but the fastest way to warm up an engine is by driving.

However, please, make sure your windshield is clear to see.

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Let's not forget that you can be substantially fined for NOT clearing your windshield.

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No one wants or needs to be fined for this. It's NOT safe to drive with snow blocking your view. And yet, I see it all the time.

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While it seems Mother Nature has subsided for a time, be vigilant.

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Do your part to remain safe. Clear your vehicle so that you can see properly. We're not out of the woods, just yet.

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Be sure to check travel conditions before you go.

Check WSDOT or Tripcheck for current road conditions.

LOOK: See how much gasoline cost the year you started driving

To find out more about how has the price of gas changed throughout the years, Stacker ran the numbers on the cost of a gallon of gasoline for each of the last 84 years. Using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (released in April 2020), we analyzed the average price for a gallon of unleaded regular gasoline from 1976 to 2020 along with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for unleaded regular gasoline from 1937 to 1976, including the absolute and inflation-adjusted prices for each year.

Read on to explore the cost of gas over time and rediscover just how much a gallon was when you first started driving.

LOOK: Route 66’s quirkiest and most wonderful attractions state by state

Stacker compiled a list of 50 attractions--state by state--to see along the drive, drawing on information from historic sites, news stories, Roadside America, and the National Park Service. Keep reading to discover where travelers can get their kicks on Route 66.

See the Must-Drive Roads in Every State

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