Top tips for taking pics of your car in the winter

Winter pictures are harder than they should be in Ontario. Snow hides body lines, salt dulls paint, and daylight disappears early in Toronto and across the GTA. The good news is you can still take clear pics that help CarDoor review your vehicle quickly and accurately, even on a freezing day.

Start with a picture of your VIN, it’s the most important image you’ll upload. You can find the VIN at the driver’s side of the windshield, and it also appears on your insurance and ownership documents. It’s slightly hidden, but easy to spot once you know where to look.

Now, let's start by getting your car picture ready, not perfect. Brush snow off the roof, hood, trunk, and lights, then scrape ice from the windows and mirrors. A car that’s still frosted over makes everything look hazy and unfinished, and it can hide details we need to see. If you only have the energy for a quick clean, focus on the windows, lights, and big flat areas like the hood and roof.

Next, use the best light you can find. Winter’s bright overcast days are ideal because they soften shadows and reduce glare. If it’s sunny, try positioning the car in open shade near a building so reflections do not wash out the paint. Avoid taking exterior pics at dusk or under streetlights. Colour shifts and image grain make it harder to see the vehicle’s condition clearly.

Before you take a single shot, wipe your phone camera lens. In winter, a lens can fog up or collect moisture fast. That one quick wipe often fixes “blurry camera” problems instantly, and it makes your pics look sharper without doing anything else.

Another simple winter trick is to shoot the interior of your car first. You’ll move faster, and you won't rush these shots later. Sit in the back seat and take one clean, centered pic of the dashboard so the full layout is visible. Then grab a clear odometer pic that’s sharp and readable. Interior pics are less about beauty and more about clarity, so turn on the dome light if it helps and steady your phone with both hands.

Once that’s done, head outside and do a quick walkaround. The best exterior pics are simple and consistent, a few angles that show the whole car, not artistic close-ups. Step back far enough that you can capture the full vehicle without cutting off bumpers or mirrors. If you’re in a tight space, use your phone’s 0.5x ultra-wide option if you have it. It can slightly distort shapes at the edges, but it helps capture the full car when you cannot physically step back.

A few winter-specific tips that make a big difference: shoot earlier in the day when there’s more natural light, keep your hands steady because cold can make you shaky, and retake any pics that look even slightly blurry. If you’re unsure whether you “got it,” take one more angle. It’s always faster than having to go back outside later.

Ready to upload your pics?

Once you’ve got your set, upload them to CarDoor and we’ll take it from there. Clear pics help us review your vehicle quickly and help you get a strong, accurate offer as soon as possible.