Whether traveling from your home to the grocery store or taking a road trip, there are a few things you should always keep in your vehicle. These items come in handy no matter the season, or the weather, and in fact could save your life! So, what should you keep in your vehicle?
Vehicle Registration and Insurance
This might seem like common sense, but papers occasionally go missing. Every once in a while, double-check your glove box to confirm your vehicle registration and insurance is where you expect it to be.
Spare Tire and Car Jack
Even if you don’t know how to change a tire, it is good to know where the spare and car jack are in the event you find someone to assist you with changing the tire. If your spare is missing or flat, purchase a new one.
Phone Charger with Battery Bank
If your phone dies, you might expect to charge it using your car battery. However, if your car battery is also dead, you will have no such luck. Keep a battery bank and charging cable in your car and regularly check it is topped up with a charge.
Blanket
You never know when you might need a blanket! Use it in the summer to lay down for a picnic or dry yourself off after an impromptu swim. In the winter, you can cover yourself while the car’s engine heats up or during a breakdown on a cold day. A blanket will always have a use.
Change of Clothes
There are quite a few scenarios where a change of clothes is welcome:
- Spill morning coffee on yourself during the drive into work
- Change a tire in the rain
- Experience motion sickness
Non-Perishable Food and Drink Items
Keep a small non-perishable snack and beverage in your car. If you get stranded, you can keep your energy up. Or if you get hangry, you can tamp it down. Note that single-use plastic bottles should not be left inside vehicles. Consider alternatives like boxed water or water pouches. Or you can take a couple of water bottles with you every time you get in the car.
Emergency Escape Tool
This multi-tool is designed specifically for vehicles and can be used to break a tempered glass window and cut your seatbelt. Should you ever get stuck, this is a tool that can truly save you.
First Aid Kit
From skinned knees to headaches, a basic first aid kit is a must-have. Store your kit in a bag and include the following:
- Bandages and gauze
- Disposable globes
- Mask
- Cleansing wipes
- Scissors
- Tweezers
- Hand sanitizer
Bonus Winter Essentials
If you are in a region that regularly gets snow and temperatures well below zero degrees, consider adding these items to your vehicle by October 15. These winter essentials are also important for snowy, mountain destination road trips!
- Non-clumping cat litter, sand, or salt for traction
- Tow ropes
- Jumper cables
- Antifreeze
- Windshield washer fluid
- Road maps
- Duct tape
- Small shovel
- Scraper and snowbrush
- Candle in a can (like a coffee can) with matches
