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You should always have certain items in the car, and no, we\u2019re not talking about the piles of trash that are currently in the back seat. This list of car essentials will keep your car running and help you deal with unforeseen obstacles in the road.<\/p>\n
You may even run into a \u201cGood Samaritan\u201d opportunity to help a stranded stranger in need. Who knows? You may just meet your future love this way. It\u2019s a stretch, but that doesn\u2019t make these items any less important!<\/p>\n
While city drivers can do without some of these items since they are never too far from a mechanic, if you live in a rural area or are planning a long road trip, it\u2019s always a good idea to double check some emergency essentials before heading out on the road.<\/p>\n
So, use your instinct and view these items as strong suggestions rather than absolute requirements. Someone in Southern California may not need an extra parka, for example. But everyone needs their license, insurance, and registration.<\/p>\n
We\u2019ve divided these items into the essential categories: Documentation, Car Repairs & Maintenance, Safety, and Winter. Read on for the 17 things you should have in your car in 2017, and drive on to new adventures this winter and all year round!<\/p>\n
Double check your glove box or wherever you keep your owner\u2019s manual to make sure that it is indeed there. Your owner\u2019s manual will tell you important information, such as recommended fuel and PSI levels, in addition to other important information that will be unique to your vehicle. It comes with your car, so if you never take it out, you\u2019ll never have to worry about its whereabouts.<\/p>\n
We recommend keeping\u00a0car repair information<\/strong>, as well as insurance claim forms<\/strong> and AAA information<\/strong>, all in the same location. Car repair records help you when you are selling or repairing your vehicle, provide important information about vehicle history, and can be deducted as a business expense.<\/p>\n It may seem obvious, but you should always have your license, registration, and insurance in the car whenever you are driving it. Especially when the new insurance card comes in the mail, remembering to actually stick it in the glove box could take months. And in the meantime, you\u2019re driving around without the main documentation asked for by police officers and required by law.<\/p>\n Hopefully you won\u2019t be pulled over, but it\u2019s the law to have these documents whenever you are driving. Knowing you\u2019re all set and up to date with your paperwork, makes every ride all the more smooth and secure.<\/p>\n Keep all of your important car documents in a file folder in the glovebox:<\/strong><\/p>\n We\u2019ll count this as 3 things, although they must be grouped together. Nothing is quite so frustrating as finding out that your spare tire has a flat or you forgot your jack in the garage. So, make sure you have a jack, inflated spare tire, and lug wrench in the car. If you have two of these items and not the third, it\u2019s all useless. These three things go together so make sure you have them all.<\/p>\n Some cars have special locking lug nuts, so make sure you have a lug nut key<\/strong> if that\u2019s the case.<\/p>\n Learn\u00a0how to change a flat tire here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n If your vehicle\u2019s battery dies, it\u2019s not always efficient or even likely that you can depend on a helpful passerby to supply you with a jumpstart. Jumper cables alone are not enough to get your engine revved up again. Because of this, you\u2019ll also need an emergency battery booster<\/a>. Sure, your insurance provider\u2019s roadside assistance is always an option, but often the wait is longer than anticipated which can be a problem if you are late or in a dangerous situation.<\/p>\n Jumper cables are relatively inexpensive, costing below $20 at most retail stores or online. A dead battery tends to always be a surprise and super inconvenient. But if you\u2019ve taken the time to purchase jumper cables and practice with jumpstarting a battery, your car, and most importantly your day, won\u2019t be dead for long.<\/p>\n Most compact battery jump-starter kits now come with USB connections to keep all of your devices charged. Whether you need to jump start a vehicle or simply need to recharge your phone, a jump-starter kit is a great item to have in the car and a great gift<\/a>.<\/p>\n Learn how to jumpstart a car\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n Boy does this little gadget come in handy! No one can just look at a tire and know exactly how much air has been lost and how much needs to be added. It’s easy to find out, however, with a tire pressure gauge.<\/p>\n Even if a specific tire doesn\u2019t look especially low, routine checks of all four tires are always encouraged. Ensuring that your tire pressure is on point will improve handling, prolong the lifespan of your tires, and increase your vehicle\u2019s fuel economy.<\/p>\n You can get your own standard gauge for under $5 on Amazon. It\u2019s a super helpful, inexpensive safety tool that every car owner should stash in the glove box.<\/p>\n Click here<\/a> for more information on how to take care of your tires.<\/p>\n How many times have you struggled to loosen a nut or bolt on your car? Whether you are switching your license plate out, loosening lug nuts, or silencing a creaky door, WD-40 is a great item to always have in the car.<\/p>\n We’ve published a whole page on WD-40 automotive uses<\/a>. Learn more about how WD-40 can help remove dirt and grease and maintain your vehicle on wd40.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n It\u2019s durable duct tape to the rescue when it comes to many emergency fixes! Arguably the most magical and diverse object ever, car owners have found endless ways to use duct tape as a DIY tool for unexpected leaks, cracks, and breaks. For a laugh, but also some future inspiration, check out this compilation of Ten Heroic Duct Tape Car Repairs<\/a>.<\/p>\n Having certain cleaning and hygiene items in the\u00a0car won’t save your life, but it could save you a lot of frustration. Keep these items in your car for a cleaner and easier trip:<\/p>\n You never know when you are going to need a First Aid Kit. Life has a way of springing unexpected scrapes on you, especially if you have children. You may need to clean up a cut or bandage a blister. If you spend a lot of time in your vehicle, it\u2019s much more convenient to have a small supply of medical essentials on hand.<\/p>\n Your kit should include items such as Band-Aids, ointment, gauze pads, scissors, and gloves. If you don\u2019t want to think too hard about all the little odds and ends you may need, you can purchase pre-made kits online. The AAA 53 Piece Tune Up First Aid Kit<\/a> is basic, but a bargain at $8.25 on Amazon, or opt for the more thorough AAA 85 Piece Commuter First Aid Kit<\/a> for $14.55. Either way, you\u2019re looking at a pretty complete kit for under $15. Why not make the purchase rather than risk the alternative?<\/p>\n Good luck trying to change a tire at night without one of these. Keep a strong tactical flashlight in your car for the darkest maintenance moments that hit even the best of us at some time or another. If your flashlight requires batteries, keep some extra of those in the glove box as well.<\/p>\n Tactical flashlights are used by the police and military, so in addition to emitting much more light, they can also be used as a personal self-defense tool.<\/p>\n We offer further information on durable tactical flashlight<\/strong> options and other car essentials on our blog<\/a>.<\/p>\n Alongside a tactical flashlight, reflective triangles and\/or flares are your nighttime safeguards. If you\u2019ve pulled off to the shoulder for any prolonged amount of time, put these safety essentials around your vehicle. They offer enhanced visibility for ongoing traffic, lowering the possibility of you being hit by unsuspecting drivers while you\u2019re waiting for the help you need.<\/p>\n Just in case you need scissors, a screwdriver, or a sharp edge, a good multi-tool will give you peace of mind knowing you have all that and much more. Here<\/a> are some multi-tool user favorites.<\/p>\n This little tool can save your life! While you may be able to use your tactical flashlight to break a car window in the event of an emergency, many people complain about this feature not working.<\/p>\n It’s much easier to break a window and escape from your car with a car hammer or emergency escape tool. Most come with a seatbelt cutter too. All\u00a0cars should have one mounted for easy access.<\/p>\n Baby, it\u2019s cold outside. And driving in any type of precipitation \u2014 rain, snow, ice \u2014 is no joke! To prevent the potential hazards caused by winter splash-back and combat the road sludge and slush attacking your window, you\u2019re going to need a backup of wiper fluid.<\/p>\n Without visibility, get off the road! Windshield wiper fluid is your biggest support system when it comes to keeping the road visible and your path clear throughout these unpredictable weather months.<\/p>\n Snowfall has greeted Chattanooga and parts of North Georgia with its icy glow. If you have snow on your windshield, you\u2019re not going anywhere. An ice-scraper or a snowbrush are crucial for car owners in snow-covered areas.<\/p>\n Having one of these tools on hand will save time and help you to avoid scratches and awkward attempts at getting the snow off with whatever random items you have in your car. You also want to make sure you brush the snow off your roof, because it will either fly off the back and bother the car behind you, or it will simply loosen up enough to slide onto your windshield while you\u2019re driving. Brush off, then drive on!<\/p>\n Winter weather is unpredictable. You might leave the house with only a jacket, but find when you\u2019re leaving work that you need gloves, a beanie, and a scarf in order to get home comfortably. Keep a reusable tote in the back of your car with these winter essentials. Leather driving gloves<\/a>\u00a0should be in there too. They’re both practical and stylish.<\/p>\n Don’t forget a blanket<\/strong>. In addition to keeping you warm, a blanket is perfect for picnics, preventing messes, and getting underneath your car.<\/p>\n Many\u00a0car owners also recommend the following items:<\/strong><\/p>\n3. License, Insurance, and Registration<\/strong><\/h4>\n
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Car Repairs and Maintenance<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n
4. Tire Jack, Spare Tire, and Lug Wrench<\/strong><\/h4>\n
5. Jumper Cables<\/strong><\/h4>\n
6. Tire Pressure Gauge<\/strong><\/h4>\n
7.\u00a0WD-40<\/strong><\/h4>\n
8. Duct Tape <\/strong><\/h4>\n
9.\u00a0Cleaning Supplies<\/strong><\/h4>\n
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Safety<\/strong><\/h3>\n
10. First Aid Kit<\/strong><\/h4>\n
11. Tactical Flashlight<\/strong><\/h4>\n
12. Reflective Triangles and\/or Flares<\/strong><\/h4>\n
13.\u00a0Multi-Tool<\/strong><\/h4>\n
14. Car Hammer<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Winter <\/strong><\/h3>\n
15. Windshield Wiper Fluid<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n
16. Ice-scraper or Snowbrush <\/strong><\/h4>\n
17. Warm Gear<\/strong><\/h4>\n
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