Hey, I've lived all of my life in Florida. In June I am moving to Chicago and don't know how driving is different in the snow.Do I need a car built for snow driving? What do I need to know, is it much different. I've never driven in ice/snow. Let me know.

when driving on ice and snow the car will slide out underneth you. you gotta drive slow and 4 wheel drive is a good thing. its kinda like drifting i guess. if you give it gas you will slide you just gotta take your time and leave an hour early for anywhere you go

You need snow tires or All weathers. You have to take it easy, don't go too fast, but don't go too slow or you won't have any traction. Have you ever driven on red clay roads? It's similar. You can always tell the Southerners, they drive too fast or too slow on bad roads. Fresh snow gives you traction and isn't too bad. Ice is tricker, if you start sliding, say the back end of your car is going to the right STEER right to even your self up. Always steer into the direction your car is going, best to stay off ice (or snow over ice) until you get used to driving under those conditions. Lots of cheap transportation in Chicago, buses, taxis, the L, use them until you catch on!

Driving on ice and snow is different; even locals take some time getting used to it. If you can, after the first snow, find a LARGE parking lot with no obstacles or parked cars and see how your car handles in the snow and on ice (they're are differences). At a slow speed (under 20), with a lot of room to spare, turn sharply to one side and hit the brakes; do it again bot hit the accelerator. Leave plenty of room; a car may take 100 times the distance to stop or turn when on wet ice.Be aware that ice can occur even when the air is above freezing, and even if it has not rained or snowed (condensation).The best handling cars on snow are 4-wheel drive, such as Subaru, some Volvos etc. but front-wheel drive cars do pretty well (though they tend to understeer, i.e. go straight when you meant to turn more sharply). Rear-wheel drive is less stable, tending to oversteer (spinning out).Another nuisance in the snow-belt is salt on the roads: it rusts out cars and clouds windshields.There are courses specifically for ice and snow driving, and they have course-ware you can order. Looks like a fun course, but a few hundred to a few thousand dollars...

Get an extra set of snow tires on rims for winter and watch out for black ice. Use pure anti freeze.

If you've never driven through snow before...or ice for that matter, just imagine your car taking on a mind of its own. Once you know what it's like to completely lose control of the direction your tires are going in, then you will be an experienced northern driver. Good Luck to you