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Let’s hit the road! But, before you do, it’s important to pack appropriately. Emergencies can happen to anyone. Prepare for the worst-case scenario (especially in wintertime) by keeping the following supplies in your winter car kit!
Whether you run out of fuel, puncture a tire, or slip off a snowy road, a car emergency kit can help you get back on the road safely and quickly.
In addition to the items listed below, keeping a cell phone on hand is highly advised. Ensure your phone is charged every time you get in the car, and keep a spare cell phone charger and a rechargeable battery pack in your emergency kit.
Car Emergency Kit List
Keep the items listed below in a bag in your trunk. Ideally, we’d suggest keeping these items in a clear, plastic container so it’s easy to see and locate everything. You can buy a pre-packaged kit or create your own.
Minimum Supplies
In an emergency, in addition to a full tank of gas and fresh antifreeze, the National Safety Council recommends having these with you at all times:
- Blankets, mittens, socks, and hats
- Ice scraper and snow brush
- Flashlight, plus extra batteries (or a hand-crank flashlight)
- Jumper cables
- First-aid kit (band-aids, adhesive tape, antiseptic wipes, gauze pads, antiseptic cream, medical wrap)
- Bottled water
- Multi-tool (such as a Leatherman multi-tool or a Swiss Army knife)
- Road flares or reflective warning triangles
- Windshield cleaner
Extra Supplies for Frigid Weather
Add the items below to your emergency kit for those in wintry, snowy areas. (If it’s balmy all winter where you live, be thankful that you don’t need all of this stuff!)
- A bag of sand to help with traction (or a bag of non-clumping cat litter)
- Collapsible or folding snow shovel
- Blanket
- Tire chains and tow strap
- Hand warmers
- Winter boots for longer trips
- Sleeping bag for longer trips
Note: Salt helps with deicing driveways and roads. (Excess salinity can damage vegetation and contaminate groundwater, however. So, with this in mind, salt your driveway only when you must, and try not to use more than necessary.) See 7 salt alternatives for deicing driveways.
Other Essentials
- Small fire extinguisher (5-lb., Class B and Class C type) in case of a car fire
- Tire gauge to check the inflation pressure in all four tires and the spare tire
- Jack and lug wrench to change a tire
- Rags and hand cleaner (such as baby wipes)
- Duct tape
- Foam tire sealant for minor tire punctures
- Rain poncho
- Nonperishable high-energy foods: unsalted and canned nuts, granola bars, raisins and dried fruit, peanut butter, or hard candy.
- Battery– or hand-crank–powered radio
- Lighter and box of matches (in a waterproof container)
- Scissors and string or cord
- Spare change and cash
- Compass
- Paper maps
Be Prepared for Winter Driving
Before You Go
- If you must travel, make sure you share your travel plans and route with someone before you leave.
- Do not leave your car if you become stranded in bad winter weather. Don’t try to push your vehicle out of the snow. Place light flares in front of and behind the car, and make sure the exhaust pipe is not blocked by snow, mud, or anything else.
- Make sure the tires are properly inflated.
- Keep your gas tank filled above halfway to avoid a gas line freeze-up.
- Avoid driving when you have the flu, which can reduce your reaction time almost six times as much as moderate alcohol intake.
Winter Driving Tips
- Beware of black ice. Roads may look clear, but they can still be slippery.
- Stuck without traction and lacking sand or cat litter? You can take the floor mats out of your car in a pinch, place them next to the tires, and slowly inch the car onto and across them.
- Make sure windows are defrosted and clear. And be sure to clear snow and ice from the vehicle’s top! Gently rub a small, moistened, cloth bag of iodized salt on the outside of your windshield to prevent the ice and snow from sticking.
- To restore proper windshield wiper blade action, smooth the rubber blades with fine sandpaper to remove any grit and pits.
- Fog-proof your mirrors and the inside of your windshields with shaving cream. Spray and wipe it off with paper towels.
- Increase following distance to 8 to 10 seconds.
- Avoid using your parking brake in cold, rainy, and snowy weather.
- Do not use cruise control in wintry conditions.
- Look and steer in the direction you want to go. Accelerate and decelerate slowly.
- Know whether you have antilock brakes, which will “pump” the brakes for you in a skid.
- If possible, don’t stop when going uphill.
- Signal distress with a brightly colored cloth tied to the antenna or in a rolled-up window.
See more cold-weather tips provided by AAA.
What do you have in your car emergency kit? Let us know in the comments. (Thank you to our readers who have made suggestions, which we have added to the above list!)
Learn More
To see what weather’s in store for your area, see our free two-month extended forecasts or check out your local 7-day forecasts.
Be sure to find out what to have in your home emergency supply kit, too!
More Like This
One essential item was omitted: KITTY LITTER - works great to provide traction when you're stuck on ice.
Always carry a reflective vest ! It will aid you in being seen while changing a tire or performing other roadside work. on top of that carry a piece of plywood to place under the base of your jack, Plywood will flex and not break like solid wood . And it can aid in keeping your jack stable on wet or soft ground . Remember, you're not necessarily going to have a flat tire on nice smooth concrete . This plywood will also come in handy if you need to jack your car on hot asphalt ! It will provide a wider foot for your jack, distributing the weight better. The plywood piece need only be about 18" square .... and 1/2" thick. You'll be glad you have it with you and it doesn't take up too much space .
Hi Vicki!
Actually, they did mention kitty litter under "Additional Items for Winter Driving". "A bag of sand to help with traction (or bag of kitty litter)"
When I had a larger car, with a large trunk, I kept a lot of that stuff in the trunk, but still not all of that, because I lived in warm climate. Now, I have a smaller car, a hatchback, so there really isn't anywhere to keep that much stuff and not have it in the way. Also, now that I live in a colder climate, I need even more stuff. I've managed to get a few things in with the spare tire, put an extra set of gloves and water in the door pockets, and a Mylar emergency blanket in the glove compartment. We have a couple of knives, flashlight, granola bars, and a mini-first aid kit in the center console. We recently added a snow shovel (didn't have a folding one). But that's it. We recently bought ATV's to go hunting, and I managed to get a few things in the storage compartment of mine. I'd love to hear how others manage to organize and store this much stuff.
A couple of cans of tuna fish in oil. Poke a hole in the top of the can, insert a wick ( shoelace if made of cotton) and you have an oil lamp. When the oil peters out eat the tuna.
The cars mirrors can be used as signal mirrors during the day.
Compass to go along with the maps. Learn how to use it.
Be ready to change the message on your cell phone before the battery looses it's charge. " Hi it's me I'm stuck in a snowstorm in ......... Today is the ..... of....... I'm OK. Send help when you get this message.
Butane lighters need to come out of the car in the summer. I had a few explode inside the cab.
Magnesium Metal match. Nearly fool proof. Practice with it.
Along with the empty paint can don't forget an opener or a large screw driver to get the lid off.
Up date your stock on a yearly basis.
Most importantly, use common sense and don't panic.
For each of our kids we keep in the car: a blanket, handwarmer, Mylar blanket, extra hat, scarf and mittens, extra sweater, extra change of clothes, and diapers and dry cloth wipes, so they are not wet and freezing! Those are always in the car during winter along with items for the car and myself and partner. Whenever we go anywhere though, we pack our "diaper bag" backpack with bottles of water, age appropriate snacks and a packet of dry milk in addition to our usual child necessities. We always bring heavy coats and bibs and if they are not wearing snow boots already, we toss them in just in case. It's a lot of extra stuff, especially with more than one kid, but it's worth it. And like most cars that transport kids, there are some toys and kid items. If something were to happen, they would be there to keep the kids occupied.
Remember, absolutely do not put a child in a carseat while wearing winter gear- they can slip out of the straps. My kids' blankets are folded in between their car seats for easy access, they can reach them and use them anytime they want in the car. An infant would probably be snuggled under a blanket already (mine always were!)
I'm sure there are other items that could be helpful for children, but everyone's needs are different, so just keep them in kind when preparing your vehicle.
Keep some cash in your stash as well. Not everyone accepts plastic. Cash will also get you through if you lose your wallet!
Oh; and sources of ignition; carry MATCHES; not butane lighters, if you're in a cold climate. Butane won't go to a gaseous state below 15*. If you are in a bad situation, and a "Bic lighter" is all you have, put it close to your body for a while before using it, to warm the butane.
For those of us in cold zones (prone to freezing weather for many months), bottled water SOUNDS like a good idea, but keeping it in the car means frozen water or shattered bottles during freeze/thaw cycles.
Anyone got a good alternative?
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Use a small cooler to store your water bottles. That should keep them insulated enough.
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