Car Emergency Kit: What You Actually Need

I used to have a store-bought emergency kit in my trunk. It had a foil blanket, a plastic whistle, and a bandage that had been in there since 2017. I felt prepared. I was not prepared.

Here’s what I actually put together after giving it real thought.

Jumper Cables or a Jump Starter

A dead battery is the most common roadside problem. Jumper cables work but require another car. A portable jump starter (lithium, the size of a thick paperback) works alone, in a parking lot, at night. Get the jump starter.

Tire Inflation

A 12V portable air compressor plugs into your cigarette lighter and inflates a flat tire in five minutes. Combined with a can of Fix-a-Flat for small punctures, you can handle the majority of tire situations without changing anything.

A Real Flashlight

Not the tiny keychain one. A proper LED flashlight with fresh batteries, stored where you can actually find it in the dark. Or a headlamp so your hands are free.

Basic First Aid

Not the foil-blanket kit from the gift shop. A real first aid kit with bandages in multiple sizes, gauze, medical tape, antiseptic wipes, and some pain reliever. Add any medications your kids might need on a long drive.

Water and a Snack

Two bottles of water and a few non-perishable snacks. If you’re ever stuck in traffic for three hours with a hungry child, you’ll understand why this is on the list.

Phone Charger

A car charger and a small power bank. Your phone is your navigation, your communication, and your emergency services contact. Keep it alive.

Fifteen minutes of assembly. Potentially invaluable.