Items to keep in your car
< Back to Automotive & Insurance
Following is a list of items to consider keeping in your car, so that you are prepared in case of an emergency - car accident, car breaks down, you get stuck away from home, blizzard, travel, or other situation. Hazardous driving conditions can happen when we least expect it. This list is meant as a guideline, items vary depending on the weather and individuals.
- 72 hour kit
- AM/FM radio, battery powered
- Auto insurance card
- Baby or child items, if needed – diapers, wipes, formula, snacks, bottle, clothes, toys
- Batteries, extra - for radio,flashlight, ...
- Blankets
- Boots
- Breaker bar to loosen lug nuts
- Broom to push off excessive snow
- Bungee cord
- Camera – to take pictures in case of an accident
- Can opener
- Cash - $50 cash – small bills, and spare change (pay phone, tolls)
- Cell phone
- Cell phone – extra battery
- Cell phone charger
- Chains (for snow)
- Change of clothes
- Coat
- Duct tape
- Electrical tape
- First-Aid kit
- Flashlight
- Flag – orange, distress
- Flares
- Entertainment – a good book or magazine
- Fire extinguisher
- First aid kit
- Flares
- Flashlight, batteries
- Food (energy bars, nuts, dried fruit, protein shakes, meal replacement bars, MREs, snacks)
- Gas – keep your tank full – fill when it gets to 1/2
- Gloves – work gloves, and warm/winter gloves
- Hat, gloves, mittens, scarf, warm items
- Jack
- Jumper or booster cables
- Map, atlas – of your local area, and anywhere traveling
- Matches (waterproof), lighter and candle
- Medicines (prescription) and over-the-counter remedies
- Paper & pen – take notes, exchange # if accident, write message if leave car in emergency
- Phone numbers of family, insurance, physician
- Phone book
- Pocket knife
- Rain poncho
- Rope
- Safety vest - to wear while working on vehicle near traffic
- Sand or salt – for traction
- Shovel – collapsible or small
- Siphon pump - to transfer gas from one vehicle to another
- Snow scraper
- Snow shovel
- Tire inflator
- Tissues, paper towels, toilet paper
- Tire, spare
- Tool kit – screwdrivers, pliers, hammer
- Tow chain
- Towel
- Warming pads
- Water for radiator
- Water to drink
- Whistle
- Wiper fluid
- Wrench
