11 Items You Should Always Keep in Your Car

Your car is probably home to at least one coffee mug, a handful of stale French fries, and more sticky pennies than you can count. But does it have everything you need in case of an emergency? Use this as a checklist for your next road cruise.

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A siphon pump can come in handy if you run out of fuel miles from a gas station, and a good Samaritan offers you a hit from their tank, says Mike Calkins, manager of technical services at AAA. Pick one up at your local auto or home improvement store—try the Arnold Siphon Pump ($12).

Keep a brand new gas can on hand for the times you’re on empty and there’s no tank to siphon, says Calkin. But never keep it full. Driving with one of those—or even a used gas can—can increase your risk of nasty fires or explosions. A long walk to a gas station is better than a fire bomb any day of the week.

If worst-case scenarios hit, some bottled water can be a lifesaver. In China, a woman who plunged off a cliff in her SUV survived for 5 days on just a half bottle of water and some grapes.

But a bottle of H20 will also provide some comfort during more run-of-the-mill problems, like engaging in a roadside repair on your car or a stranger’s car, says NASCAR Sprint Cup Driver Cole Whitt, a driver for Speed Stick.

When your car’s spinning its wheels on snow, ice, or mud, a traction mat—made of plastic or lightweight steel—or traction sand can help you get unstuck, says Calkin. Place them under your tires so they have something to grip on to. You can pick some up at your local home improvement store. Try Hot Headz Multi-Link Traction Mat ($25). Have some spare kitty litter? Put a bag in your truck and use that in a pinch.

Your road flares could burn out before your repair job is complete, so dole out a few bucks for some little reflective triangles, says Calkin. They’ll work just as well.

Store at least three in your ride so you can put them directly behind your vehicle. U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle guidelines advise putting one triangle 10 feet behind the vehicle, one 100 feet behind the vehicle, and one 100 feet in front of the vehicle—all in the center of the driving lane. If the road curves, place the reflective triangles ahead of the bend to warn approaching cars. Check out your local hardware or home improvement store. Try Blazer International Safety Triangle Warning Kit ($25).

You’ll want a blanket in the backseat in case a blizzard strikes, you become stranded, and don’t want to freeze to death, says car expert Alan Taylor, host of the syndicated radio show, The Drive.

But it’s also worth its weight during hot, sunny weather, too. Sitting on a blanket will keep you from frying on the pavement as you tinker with your car on the side of the road or wait for a tow truck to arrive, says Taylor. Any kind of blanket will do, and don’t worry that it’s too big—fold it up and stash it in the trunk to keep it out of the way for daily drives.

Don’t put all your faith in your credit card. You may find yourself in a scenario—say, needing to buy a snack from an old-timey store on the side of the road, paying certain tolls, or simply getting a drink from a vending machine—in which your platinum card becomes no more valuable than a piece of plastic.

So stash some cash in an old sock, and then hide it in your trunk. Think smaller bills, says Taylor. A couple hundred or so should cover any emergency that comes your way.

This is an obvious one, but an absolute essential: Buy a pair of #4 or #6 gauge jumper cables to keep in your trunk, says Taylor. Six to eight feet in length is ideal for bring your car back to life or offering a charge to someone else. (Here’s How to Jumpstart a Dead Battery).

Keep a magnetic LED flashlight in your car, says Taylor. It’s better than your phone’s light, because you can secure the magnet to your vehicle while freeing up your hands to take care of the problem. Plus, you won’t have to worry about draining the battery on your cell in case you need to call for help. Try the Nebo Tools SE Redline ($40), or check out your local hardware or home improvement store.

Ever seen a guy driving around with his car taped together? That’s because it works—at least well enough to give you time to reach a repair shop, says Taylor. You’ll be glad you have it if you’re in an accident and your car is driveable, but a side mirror, bumper, or part of your grille is hanging off.

You probably have a regular charger at the ready to plug into your car when you’re low on juice. But if your car’s out of power, that’s not going to do you any good.

Keep an external portable battery charger with you. All you need to do is plug your phone into it for a quick power up. However, make sure it’s fully charged before you hit the road, which can take several hours. Otherwise, it’s as useless as your dead phone. Choose one that’s compatible with most USB-enabled devices like the Rapid Recharge Portable Power Bank ($63).

If you don’t want to worry about keeping another item charged, opt for a non-electric charger for an emergency call. Try the BoostTurbine 4000 ($80). You can charge your cell or your tablet with its hand crank—four minutes of arm power equals about one minute of talk time or a few texts. Enough time to tell emergency crews where you’re located.