You actually don't need to warm up your car anyway.
Next time you’re thinking about starting your car to get it all nice and toasty on a frosty winter morning, you might want to think again. It could be illegal!
It seems harmless enough. “It’s considered idling if the vehicle sits in one spot with the engine running for more than a few seconds,” says car expert Jon Vorisek. “Brief moments of idling are completely normal and expected as a part of typical vehicle use.”
However, long periods of idling can be harmful to the environment. There are laws in 30 states and the District of Columbia that prohibit drivers from letting their vehicles idle, like when you warm your car up in the morning to knock some of the chill out of your commute. In addition to individual states, a number of cities and counties have similar laws on the books aimed at preventing cars from idling.
What’s the Purpose of Anti-Idling Laws?
These statutes aren’t meant to make your winter mornings more unpleasant. The goal of anti-idling laws is to prevent air pollution. Vehicle exhaust releases harmful chemicals, soot and gasses like nitrogen dioxide that can aggravate asthma and allergies and contribute to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. If you’ve ever lived in a city with air quality advisories or a thick layer of smog hanging heavy in the air, you can appreciate the intent of these anti-idling laws.
Cars and trucks are also a major source of greenhouse gases, contributing to ozone and haze regionally and to the larger problem of climate change. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, every gallon of gas burned pumps about 20 pounds of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere.
What States Have Laws Against Idling?
It’s important to note that the laws, as well as the penalties, differ from place to place. For example, you could face a fine as high as $5,000 for letting your car idle for more than three minutes in Washington, DC. But in Pennsylvania, you can let your car run for as long as 20 minutes if the temperature is below 40 degrees. Here’s the list of states with anti-idling laws, according to the EPA’s website:
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Kansas
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- West Virginia
Because the laws can vary from state to state and city to city, you should always check to see what the statues are where you live.
But Aren’t You Supposed to Warm Up Cars in the Winter?
Back in the old days of carburetors, it was helpful to let the engine run for a few minutes before starting your drive. But that’s not the case with today’s fuel-injected vehicles. Most cars only need about 30 seconds to circulate oil throughout the engine, about the time it takes you to fasten your seatbelt and queue up your playlist.
The best way to warm up a car is by driving it. Sure, it may be a little cold at first, but your car will warm up faster, and the heater and defrost will work better, with the car in motion.
Idling Wastes Fuel
Still not convinced about skipping the warm-up? Think about your bottom line. Idling wastes gas. In fact, idling for 10 seconds burns more fuel than turning off the engine and restarting it. Gas isn’t getting any cheaper, so it makes sense to save where you can.
Does Idling Damage the Engine?
Idling itself doesn’t damage the engine specifically, but it does add to the wear and tear. Those minutes spent idling add up, and you’ll need to get the oil changed sooner the more you idle.
FAQs
Is idling different than remote starting my car?
Idling is when the car is running without moving. So, if you remote start your car and let it run for awhile, it’s the same as idling. If you remote start your car as you walk towards it, then get in and start moving after only a few moments—the car didn’t idle for very long.
Is there an alternative way to warm up my car?
Yes, instead of idling you car to warm up; simply start driving, but be gentle at first. “You can accelerate lightly for the first couple minutes of driving. This is actually better at warming up the engine in modern vehicles. The engine will warm up faster without wasting fuel,” says Vorisek.
About the Expert
- Jon Vorisek is the founder of Repair Surge, an automotive service information provider covering more than 10,000 vehicle models. He has over twenty years of experience in the automotive industry, beginning as a repair shop manager and later becoming an automotive software developer and SaaS startup founder.
Sources
- Compilation of State, County, and Local Anti-Idling Regulations, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
- Greenhouse Gas Emissions from a Typical Passenger Vehicle, EPA.
- Why Is Idling Harmful?, North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality.
- Do You Need to Warm Up Your Car?, JD Power.
