Car Emergency Kit: 35 Things to Always Keep in Your Vehicle
Your car emergency kit is your first line of defence for the most common emergencies most people will actually face: roadside breakdowns, being stranded in bad weather, minor accidents, and getting cut off from home for hours or days. Unlike a home emergency kit, your vehicle kit needs to cover both mechanical emergencies and survival basics: because sometimes your car breaks down far from help.
This guide covers all 35 essential items for a vehicle emergency kit, organised by category, with the best Amazon products at every price point. Whether you’re building from scratch or auditing what’s already in your trunk, use this list.
Roadside assistance calls in the US annually: AAA
Americans have been stranded roadside without a working kit
Cost to build a comprehensive car emergency kit
Mechanical & Roadside Essentials (12 Items)
- Jumper cables (heavy gauge, 20+ ft): flat battery is the #1 roadside breakdown cause; longer cables mean you don’t need a car to pull up bumper-to-bumper
- Portable jump starter (lithium battery pack): jump your own car without another vehicle; modern models also charge phones
- Tyre inflator / portable air compressor: inflate a slow-leak tyre to reach a service station
- Fix-a-Flat (tyre sealant): temporary tyre repair for minor punctures
- Spare tyre, jack, and lug wrench: ensure your spare is inflated and your jack is in the car
- Tow strap (20,000 lb rated): pull yourself or help others out of mud, snow, or a ditch
- Basic tool kit: screwdrivers, pliers, adjustable wrench, and Allen keys for minor roadside repairs
- Zip ties (20 pack): temporary fixes for everything from bumpers to air hose connectors
- Duct tape: emergency repairs for hoses, wiring, and bodywork
- WD-40 or penetrating oil: seized bolts and stuck components
- Quart of engine oil (your car’s grade): for adding oil if low on the road
- Coolant/antifreeze: for overheating emergencies
Safety & Signalling (6 Items)
- Emergency road flares or LED flares (3+): alert other drivers to your stopped vehicle, especially at night or on curves
- Reflective safety triangles (3-pack): set behind your stopped vehicle at 10, 20, and 100 meters
- High-visibility safety vest: wear when outside your vehicle on a busy road
- LED emergency beacon / strobe light: visible from long distances; magnetic base attaches to roof
- Seat belt cutter and window breaker tool: exit a submerged or crashed vehicle when doors won’t open
- Fire extinguisher (ABC-rated, 2.5 lb minimum): vehicle fires can start quickly after accidents
Survival Basics (9 Items)
- Water (1 gallon minimum per person): for drinking and for the radiator; replace bottled water every 12 months as heat degrades plastic
- Emergency food bars (1 per person): Datrex or Mayday bars hold up in vehicle temperatures that would destroy other food
- Emergency mylar blanket (1 per person): critical for cold-weather breakdowns; prevents hypothermia while waiting for help
- LED flashlight + spare batteries
- Phone charger cable + USB car adapter
- Portable power bank (10,000+ mAh): charges phone if the car battery is dead
- Printed road maps: if GPS fails or phone battery dies
- Cash ($50–$100 in small bills): card readers at service stations may be down in emergencies
- Extra prescription medications (3-day supply): if you’re stranded unexpectedly
Seasonal Add-Ons (5 Items)
Winter Kit Additions
- Ice scraper and snow brush: basic but often forgotten
- Small shovel (folding): dig out tyres when stuck in snow
- Traction aids (sand, kitty litter, or traction mats): place under spinning tyres
- Extra warm clothing and blanket: if stranded in winter for hours
- Hand warmers (4+): chemical hand warmers last 8–12 hours
First Aid (3 Items)
- First aid kit (50+ piece minimum): for treating injuries from accidents or breakdowns
- Tourniquet (CAT): vehicle accidents cause traumatic injuries; a tourniquet can be life-saving
- Emergency contact card: blood type, allergies, emergency contacts, doctor information
Recommended Products
NOCO Boost Plus GB40 1000A Lithium Jump Starter
The single best upgrade for any car emergency kit. The NOCO GB40 jumps a dead battery without another vehicle: up to 20 jump starts on a single charge. It also charges your phone via USB. At $100, it pays for itself the first time you need it.
- 1,000A peak: jumps cars up to 6L gas and 3L diesel
- No sparks, no wrong connections: built-in safety
- USB-A and USB-C ports for phone charging
Resqme Emergency Keychain Tool (Seatbelt Cutter + Window Breaker)
A tiny keychain tool that could save your life in a vehicle submersion or post-crash entrapment. Cuts a seatbelt in one motion and breaks side windows. Costs $10 and clips to your keychain so it’s always with you.
- Seatbelt cutter blade
- Spring-loaded window breaker spike
- Keychain-sized: always with you
AAA 42-Piece Road Hazard Emergency Kit
A comprehensive pre-packaged car emergency kit covering most of the mechanical and safety basics in one organised bag. Not a replacement for a custom kit, but an excellent starting point for someone who wants to be prepared immediately. AAA’s brand name is a quality signal here.
- 42 pieces covering roadside, safety, and first aid basics
- Organised bag that fits in a trunk compartment
- AAA branded: quality-vetted contents
Car Emergency Kit FAQ
Where should I store a car emergency kit?
The trunk is the standard location: it keeps items out of the passenger compartment and protects them from direct sun. However, extreme trunk temperatures (very hot in summer, very cold in winter) can degrade water bottles, medications, and food. Keep temperature-sensitive items in a small bag behind the driver’s seat instead. Check your kit at least twice a year and replace degraded items.
Should I have a separate kit for each car?
Ideally yes. If you have two vehicles, both should have at least a basic car emergency kit. The minimum for each car: jump cables (or a jump starter), a first aid kit, a flashlight, an emergency blanket, water, and a phone charger. Build a full kit for your primary vehicle first, then a basic kit for secondary vehicles.
Can a car emergency kit double as a get-home bag?
Partially. A car kit handles vehicle-specific emergencies well, but a dedicated get-home bag in your vehicle adds the walking supplies (comfortable shoes, a water filter, maps, extra food) needed if you have to abandon your vehicle and get home on foot. Keep both: a trunk-stored vehicle kit for mechanical emergencies, and a GHB behind the seat for evacuation scenarios.