8 Emergency Items To Always Carry In Your Car & Some Extra Helpful Accessories You Might Consider As Well
In case of emergency — break glass.
It’s a sign we all see fairly regularly, but have you ever stopped to consider that breaking that glass, unless there’s a hammer nearby, is probably a little painful?
Of course, that was mostly a problem with the old style of emergency glass, and nowadays most glass cases that hold emergency items have a little hammer attached.
It’s all about being prepared.
They’ve taken the idea of being ready for emergencies and built it right into the systems that we rely on. It’s a brilliant idea, and I want to see similar preparations in more places.
While we can’t always rely on the manufacturers to do the emergency planning for us, we do always have the option to do the planning ourselves — and when it comes to our cars, I recommend just that.
There’s no place we’re more likely to have an emergency than in our vehicles. Perhaps in part that’s because even if they just break down far from home, that can count.
No one has to be in imminent danger, and it still counts as a minor emergency — and you still want to be prepared, so you’re not waiting for a tow and paying the price for it.
While I can’t speak for everyone, I do spend far more than my fair share of time behind the wheel, and these are the top 8 emergency items that I always carry… plus a few more that are less important for everyday use, but still quite handy in the right situation.
1. First Aid Kit
No explanation needed on this one — everyone should have a first aid kit in their car, and it should be up-to-date.
I recommend replacing it every couple of years, just to make sure everything is fresh, clean, and well-stocked — because it’s really embarrassing (and problematic) when you have an emergency, and find your kit is empty.
2. Phone Charger
Our best line of defense in any emergency is often our mobile phones — because at the very least, we can always call for help… as long as it’s got battery left.
While you may think it’s good enough to be able to plug into your car to charge your phone — I always try to have a little power storage bank on hand, or a separate device that can charge my phone, even if the car dies.
3. Tyre Checker & Pump
Of all the emergencies that can take us off the road, a low tire may be one of the silliest.
If you’ve got a low tire, and it’s not leaking air through a big hole, then you’re trapped on the roadside for a lack of, well, air… the stuff that’s all around us.
A portable compressor can fix this in a jiffy, and they often include other helpful tools like a pressure checker, flashlight, and power storage for your mobile.
4. Jumper Cables Or Booster Box
Although I feel, personally, like cars don’t need a boost as often as they used to — it’s still an easy complication to be prepared for.
Carrying a set of jumper cables means that in the event of a dead battery, any passing motorist can help.
To be even more prepared, consider bringing a booster box that can hold a charge, and boost your car without anyone having to stop and help.
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Just make sure that you keep it charged up, because it’s no good to anyone with a dead battery.
5. Spare Food & Water
While this item should be on the top of the list if you’re doing a lot of long-distance adventuring… for most of us, it’s unlikely we’ll really need food or water in an emergency.
Chances are good that we won’t be that far from civilization, or the nearest fast-food shop.
If you’re driving anywhere that you may be away from food and water, even for a little while, it’s important to carry some in your car, just in case.
It doesn’t need to be much. Personally, I carry a 6-pack of water bottles, and another 6-pack of granola bars. If I’m trapped longer than that lasts, well, something unusual must be going on.
6. Tyre Repair Kit
If you’re comfortable getting your hands a little dirty, a tyre repair kit can be a real lifesaver, and they’re pretty easy to use.
While these kits can’t fix an exploded tyre, or one with a big hole in the sidewall — they can make short work of holes caused by screws, nails, or other small objects.
With a tyre repair kit, and an inflator, you can get your car back on the road pretty quickly after most tyre problems… as long as you don’t drive on it while it’s flat first.
7. Tow Strap
For some reason that I’ll never understand, most folks I know don’t carry a tow strap in their emergency kit, and I’ll never understand why.
More than once, a tow strap has helped me to get out of a bind, or a ditch, or a mud pit. It’s not something I ever drive around without.
You don’t need anything fancy, but it should be rated for pulling cars — please don’t try to tow your car using a rope, or anything else not intended for the purpose.
8. Spare Tyre & Jack
I know, it seems a little weird to have the spare tyre so far down the list — but honestly, how often do we blow up entire tyres while we’re driving?
It happens, for sure — but often we can fix the problem before the tyre explodes as long as we have a portable inflator and a tyre repair kit.
While I always recommend having a spare tyre and jack, I also hope that we’ll never have to use them.
Blowing up a tyre on the freeway is terrifying, and it’s much better to just take good care of them before you hit the road.
That means always checking that they’re in good shape, full of the right amount of air, and they haven’t developed a leak.
With these 8 items, you can be prepared for just about anything — but of course, that depends on where you are, how far you’re going, and what type of weather you’ve got along the way.
For example, if you’re driving in a cold area, it’s essential to also carry blankets, emergency candles, a snow brush or ice scraper, and maybe even a small shovel.
You might even want to bring some sand or cat litter, for extra traction in case you get stuck.
The thing to remember is, emergencies rarely announce themselves before they happen.
Your best bet is to always be prepared, ready for anything, and aware of how all your emergency gear works.
After all, a tyre kit is only helpful if you actually know how to use it.
