Do you know the things you should keep in your car? You can’t control when an emergency situation occurs, but you can control how well prepared you are if an emergency does happen to you by keeping supplies in your vehicle.

Why Is an Emergency Kit Essential?

The British Red Cross recommends having easy access to an emergency kit in your home as well as in your vehicle, in case of extreme weather events, blackouts, road accidents, or other emergencies. The best way to keep yourself and your family safe in these events is to be prepared beforehand.

Things You Should Keep In Your Car

To help you stay prepared, we have created a list of the most important items we believe you are the essential things you should always keep in your car.

1. Spare Bulbs

In addition to being unsafe, it’s illegal to drive a vehicle without working lights in the dark. This includes headlights, brake lights and indicators. Your bulbs should have a long shelf life and not need replacing regularly, but if one of your lights stops working you should replace the bulb as soon as possible.

In some vehicles, replacing a bulb is a straightforward process but in others it can be more time consuming and require more expertise. If you are in any doubt turn to a qualified technician but if you are confident in replacing a bulb yourself you should keep spare ones that are compatible with your specific vehicle in your car.

2. High-Visibility Jacket

This will come in handy if you do need to change your lightbulb in poor conditions, so that oncoming traffic is able to see you as clearly and early as possible. A high-vis jacket will also help you if you become stranded and need to get the attention of another driver.

3. Blanket

You may find yourself waiting for roadside assistance for a long time, and in Winter, this can range from being uncomfortable to putting you at risk of frostbite. A wool or thermal blanket is best for keeping yourself and any passengers as warm as possible until help arrives, if you are left stranded somewhere.

4. Water

Keep sealed bottles of water in your boot in case of emergency, especially if you are planning a long journey. If you frequently travel with multiple passengers, you should keep enough water for everyone, so that you don’t get dehydrated.

5. Snacks

Just like with water, you should keep food available in your vehicle, especially in preparation for long journeys or if you have passengers. Snacks like energy bars are ideal as they usually have a long shelf-life and therefore won’t need replacing regularly.

6. Warning Triangle

These are included as standard in some vehicles. Make sure you’re able to locate exactly where in your vehicle it is, should you need it.

If you’re in an accident or have to stop in the road for any reason, place the warning triangle 45 meters behind your vehicles when it is safe to do so. We recommend placing it further back if visibility is poor or on roads with national speed limits, to give other drivers as much warning as possible.

7. Antifreeze/Coolant

Winter months are especially dangerous for road users because of colder temperatures, so keeping spare antifreeze in your vehicle is essential for winter, but very useful all year round. Be careful when topping up antifreeze levels yourself. You should always allow for the vehicle to fully cool down before accessing the antifreeze system as it is pressurised and if the cap is released too quickly it can boil over causing skin irritation or even chemical burns.

8. Screen Wash

You should be checking your screen wash levels regularly to avoid it running out, but it’s still a good idea to keep a spare bottle of screen wash available to you if your car does run out. Having a clear dashboard allows you to drive safely and prevents you from getting into accidents in the first place.

9. Engine Oil

As with the screen wash, and antifreeze, you should be checking engine oil levels regularly to prevent situations where they run out unexpectedly. However, accidents can happen and you may find yourself running low whilst driving. If you experience minor engine troubles, you may be able to temporarily resolve this by topping up your engine oil and driving to the nearest garage, if it is safe to do so.

10. Power Bank

Always keep a power bank, spare battery pack or phone charger in your vehicle so that you can get in touch with roadside assistance or emergency services in case of an accident. If you are planning a long journey, this is especially important as you may be miles away from service stations and therefore unable to safely walk to seek help.

Always Stay Prepared

UK weather can be very unpredictable, with weather being a contributing factor in 7,635 car accidents in Great Britain in 2023. If you’re in the unfortunate position of getting into a serious accident on the road, poor weather will only make your situation worse, which is why we recommend so many weather-specific items in this checklist.

If you are struggling to complete your emergency kit yourself, or do not know which items are right for your car, such as specific antifreeze, then please contact us or pop into the garage so that we can help you out. Everyone should feel safe when they’re driving and be prepared in case of an emergency. Having these things you should always keep in your car will give you peace of mind whenever you set off.