Whether it’s a summer road trip, a winter commute or just a little excursion with the kids, it’s never a good time to be stranded on the side of the road. That’s where an emergency car kit can help. Filled with essentials to help you weather a range of calamities, it’s a stowaway in your trunk that can offer peace of mind.
Here’s a rundown of the basics — a number of add-ons you may not have thought of — so you can build out a roadside emergency kit you can rely on.
Basic Emergency Car Kit
Every car kit should begin with some general emergency supplies. Here are some of the essentials recommended by the National Safety Council and Ready.gov:
- Spare tire, wheel wrench and jack
- Jumper cables
- Basic tool kit and/or multipurpose tool
- Local road maps (in case your GPS and phone are without power)
- Flares or reflective triangles
- Blankets
- Car cellphone charger
- Drinking water
- Food (nonperishables, like protein bars or dried fruit)
