Top 11 Items to Always Have in Your Car

You never know where the road will take you. One minute you could be cruising down a newly paved city street and the next you could find yourself stuck in the middle of nowhere. Make sure that you’re prepared for anything the road throws at you and stock your vehicle with these 11 things you should always keep in your car.

1. Traction Mats and Sand

Tractions mats and sand can help you get out of slippery situations—literally. When you find yourself stuck in mud, snow, or other slippery road conditions, just put a traction mat or a bit of sand in front of your wheels to get your car moving.

2. Jump Starter Kit

Nothing’s worse than being stuck somewhere because of a dead battery, so make sure that you keep a jump starter kit g in your car. Jump starter kits can give your vehicle’s battery the jolt of power needed to get the car running and get you home.

3. Flashlight

You never know if you’re going break down at night, so always keep a flashlight in your car. This will help you get a look at any issues under the hood as well as any other areas you may need to survey. Plus using a flashlight can help to conserve your car’s battery.

4. Tire Inflator or Sealer

If you get a flat on the way to work or any other destination, you’ll wish you had a tire inflator or sealer in your car. These will inflate your tires to the appropriate air pressure. However, these only provide a temporary solution. To make sure that your tires stay properly inflated, get them replaced as soon as possible.

5. Cell Phone Charger

You never know when you’ll need to get in contact with someone, so it’s always best to have a way to keep your phone charged. Keep a spare phone charge cable or portable battery in your car. Just make sure to recharge the portable battery from time to time so there’s enough juice in it to power your phone when needed.

6. First Aid Kit

A first aid kit is a must-have for any vehicle. You want to make sure that yours is stocked with band aids, antibiotic ointment, and anything else that can help to alleviate minor injuries from an accident or other incidents.

7. Flares and Reflective Triangles

Flares and reflective triangles are especially useful when you’re stuck on the side of the road at night. When lit, they’ll make your vehicle more visible to others on the road to help prevent accidents and help emergency services find you and your vehicle in the dark.

8. Umbrella

The weather can be fickle. You never know when you’ll have to walk through a freak rainstorm, so always keep an umbrella in your car to keep yourself dry.

9. Duct Tape

It’s true what they say: Duct tape can just about fix anything. Granted duct tape only offers temporary solutions, but keeping it handy will help to control minor damage in your car long enough so you can get to the nearest service center for a proper repair.

10. Blankets

Make sure that you have at least one blanket in your car. This will keep you or your passengers warm and keep tools clean when performing quick repairs. Plus blankets can act as a makeshift cover that’ll keep your seats clean when you need to carry dirty items.

11. Water

Always store some water bottles in your car. This emergency stash could be a life saver if you’re stranded for a long period of time. You never know where the road will take you, but you can always make sure that you’re prepared for the unexpected by keeping these 11 things in your car at all times.