Things You Should Keep in Your Car

There’s nothing like breaking down at the side of the road. To keep you safe and prepared, keep these items in your vehicle:

• Spare tire (in good condition), along with a tire jack and tire iron, because without them or someone else to help you, the spare tire is useless.
• Jumper cables, because dead batteries happen to the best of us.
• Your car’s manual, which should be kept in the glove compartment.
• Tire pressure gauge: Checking tire pressure on a regular basis can improve handling, increase fuel economy, and promote tire longevity.
• Duct tape and WD-40
• First aid kit
• Flashlight
• Matches or other fire starter
• Energy bars or MREs
• Weather radio
• Blanket, which comes in handy not just for keeping warm in emergencies, but also at the park, baseball stadium, etc.
• Seat belt cutter and window breaker. Keep this in your glove compartment.
• Flares or reflective triangle, so you don’t get hit at the side of the road in the dark.
• Maps. Yes, the paper kind.
• Ice scraper
• Paper towels or a hand towel
• Tissues or a roll of toilet paper
• Pencil and paper
• Umbrella
• Spare change/emergency money

Are you prepared?

Nancy Roe
Author