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Car Emergency Kit: What to Keep in Your Car

By Memeza · Updated October 24, 2026

A dead battery, a flat tire, a closed highway or a snowbank can leave you waiting hours for help, sometimes far from a gas station or cell signal. A car emergency kit is a small box of roadside tools and supplies that turns that wait from dangerous into merely annoying.

Full tankin winter: Ready.gov notes it also keeps the fuel line from freezing
6 inchesof water can make a car lose control or stall, Ready.gov warns
2 checksa year, in spring and fall, when the winter gear goes in or out

Why it matters

Your car is often where an emergency finds you: on the way to work, on a road trip or during an evacuation. A kit keeps you warm, visible and reachable until help arrives, and a jump starter or tire inflator can save the cost and wait of a tow. If you have to evacuate, the car is also the best place for the extra water and blankets that are too heavy for a go bag.

The car emergency kit checklist

Items marked Essential are on the Ready.gov car list or its basic kit list. Keep everything in a bin or bag in the trunk, except the escape tool and phone charger, which belong within the driver’s reach. Your ticks are saved in this browser only.

If the car catches fire

USFA advises drivers to stop safely, turn off the engine, get everyone out, move at least 100 feet away and call emergency services. Do not try to fight a vehicle fire or open a hood or trunk where you suspect fire. Keep clear of traffic while moving away.

A window breaker is not a universal escape tool. AAA tests found ordinary tools could break tempered side glass but not laminated glass. Check which windows your vehicle has and learn how to open or escape through a suitable window before an emergency.

If you get stranded

Get safe, then get seen. Pull as far off the road as you can, turn on your hazard lights and set out reflective triangles behind the car.
Call for help and tell them where you are, using a mile marker, exit or landmark.
In snow, stay with the car. It is easier to find than a person on foot and it shelters you. Keep the exhaust pipe clear of snow and run the engine only briefly for heat, with a window cracked, to avoid carbon monoxide.
Never drive into floodwater. The National Weather Service’s rule is “Turn Around Don’t Drown”: you can’t tell how deep the water is or whether the road underneath is gone.
In heat, never leave children or pets in the car, even for a few minutes.

Get the car ready, too

The kit helps after something goes wrong; a car in good shape keeps it from going wrong. Before winter or a long trip, NHTSA and Ready.gov suggest checking the battery, tires (including the spare), brakes, wipers and washer fluid, lights, heater and defroster, and getting any recall repairs done. Cold weather lowers tire pressure and weakens batteries, so check both more often in winter.

Keep it ready

A car sees bigger temperature swings than a closet, so it needs checking more often than the home kit. Use the calendar button above the checklist to set a reminder.

In the fall
- Put in the scraper, shovel, traction litter, blankets and hand warmers.
- Charge the jump starter and test the flashlight.
- Swap in fresh water and snacks.
In the spring
- Take out the bulky winter gear (keep one blanket).
- Replace water, snacks and first aid supplies that a winter of cold may have damaged.
- Check that the insurance card and registration are current.
Every time you get gas or service
- Check tire pressure, including the spare.
- In winter, fill up before the tank drops low.
- Restock anything you used.

Common questions

What should be in a car emergency kit?

Ready.gov lists jumper cables, flares or a reflective triangle, an ice scraper, a car phone charger, a blanket, a map and cat litter or sand for traction, along with basic kit items such as a flashlight, first aid kit, water and snacks. A tire inflator, tow strap and seatbelt cutter are useful additions.

What should I add to my car kit for winter?

Add an ice scraper and snow brush, a folding shovel, cat litter or sand for traction, warm blankets, hats, gloves and hand warmers. Keep the gas tank full: Ready.gov notes it also keeps the fuel line from freezing.

Is it safe to keep bottled water in a hot car?

Heat shortens the life of bottled water, food and batteries, so keep them in the trunk out of direct sun and replace them at least every 6 months, or after a hot summer. A sealed bottle that has been through a heat wave is best swapped for a fresh one.

What should I do if I get stranded in my car in snow?

Stay with the car, turn on the hazard lights and call for help. Keep the exhaust pipe clear of snow and run the engine only briefly for heat with a window cracked, to avoid carbon monoxide. Use blankets and warm clothes to stay warm between runs.

Should I keep my go bag in the car?

Keep your go bag by the door at home so you can grab it, and keep a separate car kit in the trunk. The car is a good place for the extra water and blankets that are too heavy to carry, but a bag left in the car is no use if you leave home another way.

Related guides

Sources

Car Safety, Ready.gov, Federal Emergency Management Agency
Winter Driving Tips, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Build A Kit, Ready.gov, Federal Emergency Management Agency
Turn Around Don’t Drown, National Weather Service
Vehicle Fire Safety, U.S. Fire Administration
Vehicle Escape Tools, AAA

This guide is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not financial, medical, legal, or tax advice. Follow instructions from local officials during an emergency, and consult a qualified professional for guidance specific to your situation.

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