Car emergency kit checklist
Most household emergencies that involve a car are small: a dead battery, a flat, a road closed by weather. A single bin in the trunk covers nearly all of them.
Get moving again
These items handle the breakdowns that happen most often and cost the least to fix yourself.
- Jumper cables or a charged lithium jump starter
- Tire plug kit, a 12V compressor, and a tire pressure gauge
- Basic tools, duct tape, zip ties, and work gloves
- A quart of oil, coolant, and washer fluid
Stay safe and visible
Being seen matters more than being comfortable when you are stopped on a shoulder.
- Reflective triangles or flares and a high-visibility vest
- Headlamp plus a flashlight with spare batteries
- Seat belt cutter and window breaker within reach of the driver
- Fire extinguisher rated for vehicle use
Wait it out
Plan to sit in the car for several hours with no heat and no cell service.
- Water and shelf-stable snacks for everyone who normally rides along
- Blanket or sleeping bag, hats, and gloves
- First aid kit, any daily medication, and hand sanitizer
- Power bank, cables, and a paper map of your region
Winter and long-trip extras
Cold weather and rural routes raise the stakes enough to justify a second, seasonal layer.
- Folding shovel and sand, salt, or cat litter for traction
- Ice scraper, snow brush, and tow strap
- Spare boots and a change of clothes for each regular passenger
- Keep the fuel tank above half from first freeze to spring
Common questions
What should I check in the kit and how often?
Twice a year, at daylight saving changes: test the jump starter and flashlight, replace water and snacks, check tire sealant expiry, and swap clothing for the season.
Do I need a car kit if I have roadside assistance?
Yes. Roadside assistance can take hours in storms or on rural roads, and it cannot keep your family warm, fed, or visible while you wait.
Should I keep the kit in the trunk or the cabin?
Tools and traction supplies go in the trunk. Keep water, a flashlight, the seat belt cutter, and medication in the cabin where you can reach them without getting out.
See where your household stands
The Household Resilience Check scores this dimension along with seven others in about five minutes.
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- Build a 72-hour household emergency kit
- Get your home ready for a multi-day power outage
- Hurricane preparedness checklist for your household
- Earthquake preparedness checklist for your household
- Tornado preparedness checklist for your household
- Flood preparedness checklist for your household
- Wildfire preparedness checklist for your household
- Winter storm and power outage checklist
- Evacuation go bag checklist
- Pet emergency preparedness checklist
- Emergency water and food storage
- Prepare your household for a heat wave
- California earthquake preparedness for households
- Florida hurricane preparedness for households
- Texas winter storm and grid outage preparedness
- Emergency preparedness for renters
- Oklahoma tornado preparedness
- Pacific Northwest earthquake preparedness
- New York City emergency preparedness
- Set up an emergency fund that actually gets used
- Run an annual insurance coverage review
- Document your accounts and passwords for your household