A car emergency kit is cheap insurance: most of it fits in a single bin, almost none of it expires quickly, and the day you need it is exactly the day nothing else will do. Build the core kit once, then add the seasonal layer for your climate.
The core kit (every car, every season)
- First aid kit - check it yearly for used or expired items
- Flashlight with spare batteries, or a hand-crank light
- Phone charger and cable (a 10,000 mAh power bank is better)
- Water - two bottles, rotated twice a year
- Non-perishable snacks (granola bars, nuts)
- Jumper cables or a lithium jump starter pack
- Tire pressure gauge and a 12-volt inflator
- Jack, lug wrench, and a spare tire in good condition - check its pressure too
- Warning triangles or LED flares (more visible than reflective triangles alone)
- Basic tools: screwdriver, adjustable wrench, duct tape, zip ties
- Work gloves and a tarp or ground cloth
- Paper towels and trash bags
- Blanket - useful for warmth, shock, or kneeling on pavement
- Our printed crash checklist in the glovebox
Winter additions (freezing climates)
- Ice scraper and snow brush
- Collapsible shovel and traction aid (sand, kitty litter, or traction mats)
- Extra blanket or sleeping bag per passenger, plus hats and gloves
- Windshield de-icer and extra washer fluid rated for freezing temps
- Hand warmers
Summer and hot-climate additions
- Extra water - heat dehydrates you faster while you wait for a tow
- Sunshade and sunscreen
- Cooling towels
- Never store full water bottles or aerosol cans where direct sun hits them; pressure and plastic fail in a hot cabin
If you drive with kids or seniors
- Any daily medications family members need, in original labeled containers
- Diapers and wipes for young children
- For seniors, consider a medical alert device that works on the go, not just at home
- A printed list of emergency contacts and doctors, in case a phone is dead or locked
What people forget
- The spare tire. Many new cars ship with an inflator kit instead of a spare - know which you have before the roadside.
- Charged devices. A jump starter pack left uncharged for two years is a brick. Put a calendar reminder to top it up.
- Documents. Insurance card, registration copy, and a laminated card with your emergency contacts.
Where to put it
The trunk is fine for most items, but the first aid kit and flashlight belong in the cabin - a crashed trunk latch or a cargo area buried under luggage should never come between you and a first aid kit.