12 Items You Need in Your Car Emergency Kit
A prioritized list of what to keep in your car for breakdowns, accidents, and bad weather — no survivalist gear required.
Your home probably has a flashlight and some canned food. Your car — the place where emergencies actually happen — probably has nothing but old receipts and a phone charger that only works sometimes.
A car emergency kit doesn’t need to be complicated. These 12 items cover breakdowns, accidents, bad weather, and being stranded. They fit in a small bag in your trunk and cost under $75 total.
The top 4 (non-negotiable)
1. Jumper cables — Dead batteries are the most common roadside issue. A set of cables costs $15 and lasts forever. If you’d rather not flag down a stranger, a portable jump starter ($40-60) works solo and doubles as a phone charger.
2. First aid kit — A basic one with bandages, gauze, antiseptic wipes, and pain relievers. The pre-made kits at any pharmacy or auto store work fine. Cost: ~$12.
3. Flashlight with extra batteries — Not your phone flashlight. A real flashlight you can set down, point under the hood, or use to signal for help. LED flashlights last longer on batteries. Cost: ~$10.
4. Phone charger — A portable battery pack, kept charged. Your phone is your map, your tow truck call, and your emergency contact list. If it dies, you’re in trouble. Cost: ~$15.
The next 4 (highly recommended)
5. Blanket — If you break down in winter or get stuck overnight, a wool or fleece blanket can prevent hypothermia. A mylar emergency blanket works too and takes up almost no space.
6. Water and snacks — Two bottles of water and a few granola bars. Not a meal — just enough to keep you going while you wait for help. Replace every 6 months.
7. Tire pressure gauge — A $5 pencil gauge can save you from driving on a dangerously low tire or help you figure out if that “low tire” warning is a slow leak or a flat.
8. Reflective triangles or flares — If you’re stopped on the shoulder at night, other drivers need to see you. A set of three reflective triangles costs about $10 and folds flat.
The final 4 (for extra peace of mind)
9. Multi-tool or basic tool kit — A multi-tool with pliers, a knife, and a screwdriver handles most minor fixes. A small socket set is even better if you have room.
10. Duct tape and zip ties — Temporary fixes for things that are loose, leaking, or dragging. You’d be surprised how many roadside problems duct tape can delay until you reach a mechanic.
11. Rain poncho — Changing a tire in the rain is miserable. A $3 poncho makes it slightly less miserable.
12. Pen and paper — When your phone is dead and you need to exchange insurance info after a fender bender, you’ll be glad you have these. Old school, but reliable.
Put the kit together and forget about it
The whole point is that this bag sits in your trunk, ready, and you never think about it until you need it. Toss everything in a duffel bag, put it in the trunk, and set a reminder every 6 months to check batteries and swap out the water and snacks.
If you want a ready-made checklist you can actually check off, HooReady has a detailed car emergency scenario with prioritized items, buy links, and the ability to track what you already own. Free and no sign-up needed — just pull it up and start checking things off.