“Be prepared.” It’s not just the Boy Scout’s marching song, but sound advice for most things in life. Particularly when it comes to the road.  

Emergencies can happen anytime, anywhere, and to anyone — whether your car is new, old, super souped up, or practically hand-stitched together. Maybe it’s a pile-up on the highway that keeps your car stalled at a stand-still… or perhaps you have a tire failure or mechanical breakdown, a dead battery, you ran out of gas, or snow and ice have blanketed your route. Or any variety of other issues. 

No matter what the concern, you want to always have a well-packed car safety kit to ensure you and your passengers can remain safe until help arrives. 

Tailor your car emergency kit to your car’s specific needs — as well as the type of weather conditions you travel in.  

Here is our essential car emergency kit — unwrapped, explained, and easily-ready-for-you-to-pack: 

You live a good portion of your life in your car. And when you’re out and about, your car will be closer to you than your home or apartment. So it goes to reason that you should always have a first-aid kit stashed in your trunk or glove compartment. Keep a supply of ibuprofen, band-aids, tweezers, gauze pads, tweezers, scissors, non-latex gloves, and any other medical materials you can use if anything makes you go “ouch.” 

Almost all vehicles come with these VIP items for changing a tire. If you’re not sure where they’re located, check with your owner’s manual. And if you don’t have them, getthee to a store and get them.  

You don’t have to be prepping to be America’s Next Top Carpenter… but you should be able to use basic tools in an emergency… and have these tools at your fingertips if you need them. Supplies like scissors or a seatbelt cutter may come in handy if you’re stuck. 

You never know how long you may be stuck or, let’s face it, if you forgot to charge your cell (or laptop) before you headed out to begin with. You may also drain your battery by being on the phone, not thinking you’d be stuck for hours on end.  

No, not just for cuddling when you have an outdoors movie night (or wherever the night takes you). If you get stuck in freezing or snowy weather, a heavy emergency blanket will help you literally chill out. And if you find another use for the warm and snuggly blanket, well… that’s a win-win, isn’t it? 

Getting lit is never as important as when you need to be seen. Whether that’s an LED flashlight (be sure your batteries work), the flashlight on your phone (see above, for the spare charger need) reflective triangles, or bright clothing — you want to be sure you’re visible if there’s a need for rescue. 

Keep some green available for little emergencies — we suggest at least $20. Venmo is always an option, but safest to have some cash on hand. If you’re going to dip into the fund for random parking needs or any of life’s other non-emergency emergencies… just don’t forget to replace what you took out. 

For life’s little emergencies and for bigger ones… as much as you don’t want to get caught in the rain when going out and about, you really may not like it if you have to fix your tire in a deluge, and then get back in the car.  

Yep, you never know when you’re going to need an extra little boost. Having them in your car will make life a lot easier than hoping to rely on someone else being around to give you a jump start. Pro Tip: Keep the jumper cables in a separate box to prevent damage. 

Getting hangry is never fun. It’s even less fun if you’re stranded on the side of the road. Keep nonperishable food items around just in case. And if you often travel with your pet(s), pack some food for your furry friends as well. 

While this isn’t something we would normally consider part of an “emergency kit,” per se, this should still be a given. Having a spare tire stowed in your car is absolutely necessary if you get a flat on the road.  

This includes us. Have your insurance info always at the ready, which includes downloading our app. It’s also important to have the number of a towing company, along with a way to reach friends and family. 

Salt, sand, and kitty litter (the kind that doesn’t clump) are a necessity in cold weather, as well as an ice scraper, snow brush, or windshield washer fluid. 

As always, empowered drivers are safer drivers, more thoughtful drivers, and more engaged drivers. Check out more of our safety tips on our blog, such as:

• When to Replace Your Windshield Wipers

• How to Prevent Engine Fires

• 5 Essential Summer Car Care Tips

• 6 Ways to Defend Yourself Against Drunk Drivers

What are you waiting for? Join the ride and get a quote today and see how techno-driven coverage can lower your premiums.