10 Items You Should Always Keep in Your Car

Cars break down. It’s only a matter of time before a blown tire, a stalled engine, or transmission issues interrupt your travel plans. Don’t be left helpless and hopeless on the side of the road. Be prepared for these potential problems before they happen. Keeping an emergency supply kit in your car can really save the day (or night) if you find yourself unable to drive and in need of a tow.

If you want to save yourself the time of putting together your own emergency road kit, there are several options of prepackaged kits available at a variety of stores. However, the majority of these kits don’t include supplies for keeping vehicle passengers comfortable and happy until help arrives. We’ve compiled a list of 10 things to keep in your car at all times in addition to an emergency road kit:

1.       Water – Since you can’t plan for roadside emergencies, you can’t plan for how long they will have you stranded. A few one-liter bottles of water should be kept in your car.

2.       Food – We’re not saying that you need to keep a feast in your trunk just in case you miss a meal due to a roadside problem, but it’s a good idea to keep a few high-calorie items, such as fitness bars, in your car to keep hunger pains away. Individually wrapped nonperishable items like granola bars will easily satisfy short-term hunger. Remember to swap out water and food items quarterly or semi-annually to make sure they are fresh.

3.       Clothing – Throw an extra pair of sweatpants and a windbreaker in your trunk. Warm and waterproof clothing can make a big difference when you are stuck in cold or rainy weather.

4.       First Aid Kit – This one is pretty self-explanatory. A basic first aid kit can be found at almost any convenience or specialty store and should be kept in your car at all times.

5.       Flashlight – Keep a simple, good sized flashlight and extra batteries in your car if your emergency road kit did not come with one.

6.       Lighter – Unless you spend every weekend on an adventure in the wilderness, you probably can’t start a fire by hand. If you find yourself out of your car and off the well beaten path in extreme cases it may be necessary to start a fire for light and warm.

7.       Blanket – Keeping an extra blanket from your linen closet in the car can really come in handy.

8.       Tow Rope – As long as you have another vehicle that is able to pull you out, a tow rope is a quick solution to getting your car out from over an embankment.

9.       Additional Tools – A basic tool kit can be improved with the addition of a proper jack, a lug wrench that fits, and a roll of duct tape.

10.   Jumper Cables – One of the main reasons you may find yourself on the side of the road is due to a dead battery. Jumper cables and a willing partner to actually give you the jump are a quicker and cheaper solution than calling a service to do it for you.