When you are on the road driving, would you have what you need if your car broke down? Or in case you get a flat tire, do you have the tools needed? Let us say you are having a long drive and an emergency happens. Do you have the things needed in your car to solve the problem? Check out the list of car essentials that you should have in your car. Then knock on wood that you never need to use some of them.
This list is long. This is a topic that inspires a lot of debate. You don’t need everything on this car essentials list, or don’t have room for it. It will be up to you.
If you are driving a small car, there wouldn’t be room for everything. If you are a city driver, you might be within 500 meters from an auto shop or gas station. So if you rarely go on long drives help is always nearby, and that cuts down your own list of car essentials.
If you take long drives on a regular basis, having the things in the car essentials list in your car will be a good move.
This car essentials list is quite lengthy. Now that you get the idea, it will be up to you to
Contents
The car essentials list is not about emergencies or safety, either. I have separated the checklists by category below.
The Car Essentials Checklist:
Car Repair and Maintenance
Tire Changing
The number one on the car essentials list is a collection of items:
- Spare tire (in good condition),
- tire jack
- lug wrench (cross wrench)
- tire iron (optional)
- WD-40
Without them or someone else to help you, the spare tire is useless. If your wheels need a special security key, make sure that’s always in your car too. The spare tire, tire jack and lug wrench (cross wrench) are absolute car essentials. They usually come with a car sale, together with the other basic tools.
Tire Pressure Gauge
Check tire pressures on a regular basis. It can:
- improve handling
- increase fuel economy
- promote tire longevity
- save lives
Tire Pressure Gauges are small, affordable, and can give you peace of mind when on a long drive. Yes you can pressure up your tires in a gasoline station or a tire shop but how do you know when you’ve added enough air? Did you add too much? Or did you add too little? Not all gasoline stations/shops have accurate pressure indicators. Having your own allows you to have a standard means to verify your tire pressures.
Before starting off on a drive, check your tires before leaving home. This saves you a trip to an air station when you don’t need to.
A good tire pressure gauge to have is the Accutire MS-48B Tire Pressure Gauge and Tread Depth Gauge (2 in 1 device, digital). If you don’t want battery powered devices, an alternative is the Armor All 6-in-1 Tire Pressure Gauge (analog).
Tire Inflator (Air Compressor)
I mentioned above that you should always have a spare tire and jack in your car. But there are times when you cannot get to a shop to inflate your tires and an air pump will save you a ton of time and effort.
The R8 Tire Inflator Portable Air Compressor is a good device to have in your car. It is compact, measuring 2.79 x 4.92 x 6.49 inches, and comes with a carrying bag for easy storage and transport. In the box, you’ll find a 12v tire inflator, Carrying Bag, Schrader-Presta Valve, Fuse, Needle Valve, Extension Nozzle, Wire, and User Manual.
Tire Sealant
Tire sealants like Fix-A-Flat or Slime can be very useful.
Jumper Cables
A dead battery can take you by surprise, so always have on the ready jumper cables. A heavy duty 16 foot (5 meter) length of jumper cable is good enough. As an alternative, you can have an emergency battery booster. This could be an expensive option though.
Owner’s Manual
Keep it in your glove compartment. You never know when you might need it.
Duct Tape
Duct tape is great for temporary auto repairs, roadside first aid, and many more! If you have duct tape, a pair of scissors will come in handy too! Here is a quote from HandymanConnection:
If you have car troubles, but won’t be able to have them repaired immediately, duct tape can be used as a temporary fix! This can be taped over a small crack in your bumper or windshield to prevent it from worsening. A dangling rear-view or side-view mirror can be remedied by duct tape, though just for a short while. Even a loose hood or trunk can be taped shut by duct tape until you get to the nearest repair shop. Just make sure that the surface you’re taping on isn’t dirty, wet, hot or cold, or else it won’t stick properly!
Gas Can
When on the road and there is horrible traffic, there is a possibility that you may run out of gas while on the road. You can walk to the nearest gas station when you run out of gas, but how will you bring the gas back to your car? It is not wise to keep a full gas can, though, for safety reasons as it is a flammable spill risk.
Siphon Pump
A siphon pump can come in handy if you run out of fuel far from a gas station. You could use this if a good Samaritan offers you to get some from their tank. Also, it may come in handy in case your gas can (above) doesn’t have provisions for pouring the gasoline into your tank.
Windshield Washer Fluid
There is nothing worse than driving in heavy rain with passing vehicles kicking mud onto your windshield. Then you realize that you run out of windshield washer fluid. You can use water. But nothing beats the benefits of formulated windshield washer fluid. They remove stains and leave no residual traces on the windshield. And they do form a protective film to prevent attachment of dust.
Work Gloves
Keep your hands clean and safe whenever you need to stop for road repairs like changing tires.
Multi-Tool
A multi-tool may come in handy as you never know what tool you’re going to need. A multi-tool includes the most common stuff. It is more space-efficient than having a bulky toolbox.
When you think of multi-tools, Leatherman is the most known. There are plenty of affordable options on the market though. The Leatherman Wave is their best-selling multi-tool ever. It has one-hand opening blades, comfortable handles and 17 essential tools.
Replacement Bulbs And Fuses
For on-the-road repairs, as safety often depends on visibility. Have replacement bulbs and fuses always on the ready.
Safety
There are safety items in the car essentials list too!
First Aid Kit
Accidents do happen and you will never when you are going to need a first aid kit.
Flashlight
It is hard to change a tire in the dark. Or in case you lose something under the seat, it won’y be easy if it is already dark. A flashlight or mini-lantern would help. Most cellphones though have flashlight functions so they would do.
The Energizer Vision Headlight allows itself to be strapped onto your head to provide hands-free illumination in any environment.
Fire Extinguisher
I hope this never happens. If your engine ever catches fire you will be glad that a fire extinguisher is always on standby.
There are small portable fire extinguishers which look like a can of spray paint or bug spray. You don’t need those gigantic, wall mounted fire extinguishers that you see in establishments.
Food
Imagine going on a long drive or on a road trip. It is a good idea to have some food in the car in case we get hungry and there is no suitable place to stop and eat on sight.
Water
Same as above, having water could be a lifesaver. Plus, empty water bottles may are useful for some emergencies. Think calls of nature or in case you need water to cool down your engine.
Reflective Triangle (Car Early Warning Device)
This is a necessity in case we need to stop for repairs. It is required by law for every car to carry a set of Early Warning Devices. This is a must have in the car essentials kit.
Printed Maps
Not really needed as we have Waze and Google Maps, but if you are not familiar with a place that you are in, it is good to have a map just in case.
Seat Belt Cutter And Window Breaker (Car Hammer)
Keep this in your glove compartment, not in your trunk, obviously. This is actually not expensive, better to have it than not. In case you get stuck inside the car, the car hammer can help you get out.
Convenience And Comfort
In addition to the basics above, you might want to keep these things around also as part of your car essentials kit:
Paper Towels
A hand towel, Tissues, roll of toilet paper, wet tissues, alcohol, band-aid, cotton buds, safety pins, small towel, etc. This is for cleaning your hands, dealing with accidents, spills, etc. Quick cleanup options are always a good thing.
Pencil And Paper
Great for jotting down directions in case you are lost. Or your contact and insurance info after a minor accident. Or the name of that amazing restaurant you stumbled into. Or the license plate number of the guy who cut you off and went all road rage on you. Most cellphones nowadays do have note taking functions though.
Umbrella
Imagine running from the car to your office door while it is raining without an umbrella. Enough said. In the Philippines, an umbrella is also a useful sun shade.
Spare Coins/Emergency Money
For toll fees, parking, etc.
Reusable Shopping Bags
For those impromptu shopping trips.
Blanket
May come in handy not just for keeping warm in emergencies, but also at the park, picnics, etc. It is also an ideal cover for the back seat when you have wet and muddy passengers or pets with you.
Change Of Clothes
Can be considered an emergency item, because if you get drenched in rain, it is no good to sit around like that. I would also suggest keeping an overnight bag in the trunk. Have a toothbrush, clean clothes, etc. This is in case you can’t get home because of floods. You may end up staying the night at the office, or at a friend’s house. If you drive around with kids or pets, you might need to add the things that you will need for them. And if you are a female, keep stuff like hair ties and a comb, as well as small bottles of hand lotion and sunscreen.
USB Mobile Device Charger
Keeping a charger in your car may be one of the best decisions you will ever make. Keeping your phone plugged in while you drive ensures that you have a fully charged battery whenever you arrive at your destination, even if you ran GPS, Waze, Maps and Spotify the whole way.
Cellphone Holder
Some countries have Anti-Distracted Driving laws. Enough said. With this, trouble with the law may be avoided. A cellphone holder mounted below the dashboard is a good choice.
Solar Phone Charger
A solar phone charger with a power bank could be very useful if everything is dead in your car. It could also be a lifesaver in an emergency. Imagine being stranded for days, and yet you still continue to charge your phone. Invaluable.
Small (Personal) Cooler
A small cooler is great for fresh or frozen items in case we do some impromptu shopping at a grocery store.
SUMMARY
There you go! Quite an extensive list right? I do have most of the items in my SUV and just have the really important ones in my hatchback. Depending on the drive, particularly for road trips, I do make adjustments though and bring the other car essentials. Better safe than sorry. How about you?
Do you agree or disagree with our list of car essentials? Tell us what we missed in the comments below!
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If you are interested in GADGETS, check out my other blog posts.
