11 Items You Need in Your Car Emergency Kit

Girl standing with emergency kit outside her carHas your car ever broken down and you’re stuck waiting for roadside assistance? This is an awful feeling especially if you’re waiting for multiple hours. Hopefully, this never happens to you but if it does it’s important to be prepared.

What To Put In Your Car Emergency Kit

  1. Your car’s user manual is an important item to include in your car’s emergency kit. This can come in handy when you want to find out what the incessant beeping noise in your car is or what the flashing light on your dash means.
  2. spare tire is an important asset to your emergency kit. If you get a flat tire you will be able to change your tire or have roadside assistance change your tire and you’ll be quickly on your way.
  3. Remember to pack yourself a first aid kit. Many hardware stores sell a premade kit with gauze, band-aids, pain killers, antiseptic wipes, bandages, and more.
  4. It’s never a bad idea to pack spare cash but remember to keep this well hidden. This can be used for actual emergencies, such as if you lose your wallet and you need fuel.
  5. Emergency water and snacks are important if you are going to be waiting for assistance for a few hours, you never want to go hungry or dehydrated.
  6. Jumper cables are always essential. if you accidentally leave a car light on or a door open and now your car won’t turn on, a simple jump might do the trick. This can save you lots of time and money!
  7. Road maps and an extra car charger are essential. A dead phone is no good if you don’t know where you’re going. To combat this issue bring road maps and an extra charger to ensure that your phone has a full battery.
  8. Oil and coolant can come in handy if you need to top one or the other off. Oil levels should be checked regularly to ensure it’s running smoothly, while coolant helps the car from overheating.
  9. You don’t want to be caught in the cold without a blanket and a car that won’t turn on. Blankets can also be helpful in the summer to provide shade.
  10. Cat litter may sound weird but it’s a great tool in snowy situations. It can create traction on your wheels, helping your car move out of an icy patch.
  11. Glass cleaner is a great thing to store in your emergency kit. Oftentimes we get streaks on our windows obscuring our vision.

Some of these items may seem obvious but they’re important to have. Being prepared is always a good habit to practice and if you ever find yourself in an emergency situation you will be thanking yourself!