5 Essential Items You Should Always Keep in Your Car

5 Essential Items You Should Always Keep in Your Car

You know that feeling of sinking dread when your car breaks down, and you realize you’re stuck in the middle of nowhere with no one but the woodland critters for company? Okay, maybe we’ve added a bit of dramatic flair, but this isn’t something anyone ever wants to experience. That’s why it’s crucial to prepare. To help you ready your vehicle for anything, we share a list of the top five essentials to keep in your car at all times.

Jumper Cables

The battery in your car is like that loyal friend you can always count on to give you a lift when you’re down. But sometimes, even the best of buddies need a push. That’s why keeping a set of jumper cables in your trunk is a move straight out of the responsible adult handbook. All you need is a neighbor’s car with some juice, and you’re good to go. These days, you can even buy a jump starter that comes with its own battery for those times when your car dies with no one around to assist you.

Flashlight

It’s like a scene from a horror movie—your car has stalled in darkness, with your headlights being the only light casting a ghastly shadow across the silent road. While almost everyone has smartphones with flashlights built into them, these typically won’t be bright enough to see what’s wrong with your vehicle. A dedicated flashlight will give you the illumination you need to see into your car clearly in the middle of the night.

Duct Tape

MacGyver would be proud. There’s not much that a good roll of duct tape can’t (temporarily) fix. It can patch up hoses, secure loose parts, and even silence the infernal rattle that’s mocked your peaceful drives for months. However, it’s crucial to remember that a quick fix isn’t a permanent one. Anything you put back together with duct tape is something you should have a professional fix as soon as possible.

First Aid Kit

Personal wellness doesn’t just apply to gym routines and kale smoothies. Keeping a small first aid kit in your car can assist with treating minor cuts, insect stings, and accidental blisters—the enemies of any road trip or daily commute. If you want something that can help in more dire scenarios, look into getting a trauma kit instead. Just make sure you learn the key differences between first aid kits and trauma kits before buying one.

Ice Scraper

While this final inclusion in our list of essential items everyone should have in their car might not seem important during warmer weather, it’s still something drivers should have at all times. For one, you never know when you might get a surprise snowfall or icy windows. Furthermore, if your ice scraper has stronger materials, you could use it to break open a window during an emergency. Either way, even though it’s a seasonal item, when you need it, you really need it. So don’t pack it away in the house when the weather starts to get warmer.