What You Need in a Winter Car Emergency Kit
A roadside emergency kit is important in any weather — after all, nobody leaves the house expecting to break down.
But in the cold and snow during winter, it’s good to carry a few extra items. And you can go even further, especially if you’re headed somewhere more remote, or if you’re expecting a big storm.
What's in the basic kit?
Whether you put it together yourself or buy one that’s ready to use, a winter emergency kit will typically contain items that will help you to deal with getting stuck in freezing conditions:
Safety equipment
- Flashlight with extra batteries
- First-aid kit
- Road flares and safety triangle
- Tire chains
- Phone charger or backup battery
- Ice scraper or snow brush
- Snow shovel
- A bag of sand or kitty litter
Vehicle maintenance equipment
- Jumper cables
- Tire inflator
- Tire pressure gauge
- Multipurpose tool or basic tool kit
- Electrical tape
Survival equipment
- Winter clothing, including gloves, hats and boots
- Bottled water, energy bars and other non-perishable snack items
- Blankets
- Antiseptic towelettes and garbage bags
Beyond the basics
This emergency kit represents the basics you need to survive a variety of winter crises. But depending on the severity of the weather conditions, you may be stuck in your vehicle for a while. You want your car to keep running, thus providing heat and light until you can get out or get rescued.Â
Keep these things in your car if you’re headed on a wintry road trip or into the wild:
Supplies to keep your car running
- A gas can with a few extra gallons of fuel
- A quart of engine oil (more if your engine burns it)
- A gallon of coolant (more if you have a coolant leak)
- A gallon of windshield washer fluid, rated for winter use
- Extra fuses
- A can of de-icer spray for frozen locks or wiper blades
Rescue and safety equipment
- A tow rope or chain
- A car fire extinguisher
- Contact information for a mechanic, towing service or roadside assistance
- A portable jumper pack with built-in batteryÂ
- A seatbelt cutter and window breaking tool
- A reflective safety vest
- A walking stick or poles, in case you have to hike out to find help
Survival helpers
- Chemical or battery-powered hand warmers
- Solar phone charger
- Battery-powered headlamp
- Sunglasses, to reduce glare in snowy conditions
- Sleeping bags, rated for winter temperatures
- Matches or a lighter, and a candle for light and heat (use inside the car only after cracking a window)
- Duct tape
- Paper maps or a road atlas
- A few days’ supply of all needed medications
- List of medications and allergies for everyone in the vehicle
- A brightly-colored piece of cloth — attach it to the highest point on vehicle to make it more visible in a storm
A little extra comfort
These items may not be essential to your physical survival, but they can make a big difference in how you feel while you're waiting for help:
- Upgraded food and snacks like jerky, trail mix and candy
- Gatorade or energy drinks
- A deck of cards or other gamesÂ
- Coloring books and crayons for the kids
- A battery-powered radioÂ
About the Author
Stephen has been an automotive enthusiast since childhood, owning some of his vehicles for as long as 40 years, and has raced open-wheel formula cars. He follows and writes about the global automotive industry, with an eye on the latest vehicle technologies.
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