Quick Answer: Every car should have jumper cables or a jump starter, a reflective triangle or road flares, a basic first aid kit, a flashlight, a phone charger, a spare tire with a working jack, and a gallon of water. These seven items cover the most common breakdown and emergency scenarios. Most cars have none of them.
What To Do
In the Trunk (Always)
Spare tire, jack, and lug wrench, Check the spare’s pressure twice a year. A flat spare is useless. Many newer cars have only a compact “donut” spare, know this before you need it.
Jumper cables (at least 16 ft) or a portable jump starter, Cables require another car. A jump starter works alone. If you’re often in remote areas, the jump starter is worth the extra cost.
Reflective triangles or LED road flares, Set them 100–300 feet behind your car if you’re stopped on a road or highway. Three triangles is the standard. They pack flat and last forever.
Tow strap or tow rope, If you go off the road or get stuck in mud or snow, this gets you out. Rate it for your vehicle’s weight.
Basic tool kit, Screwdrivers (flat and Phillips), adjustable wrench, needle-nose pliers, zip ties, and duct tape handle most temporary roadside fixes.
In the Glovebox or Cabin
Phone charger (12V / USB-C), Your phone is your map, your emergency call, and your roadside assistance app. A dead phone in a breakdown is a serious problem.
First aid kit, A basic kit: bandages, gauze, antiseptic wipes, medical tape, pain reliever, and latex gloves. Check expiration dates once a year.
Flashlight with fresh batteries, Or a USB-rechargeable flashlight. You will need it at night for tire changes, checking under the hood, or signaling.
Paper copies of important documents, Insurance card, registration, and your roadside assistance membership number. Apps fail; paper doesn’t.
For Longer Trips or Remote Areas
One gallon of water, For overheating radiators (wait until cool before opening), washing wounds, or staying hydrated while waiting for help.
Energy bars or snacks, If you’re stuck for 2–4 hours, this matters more than you’d think.
Mylar emergency blanket, Takes up almost no space, weighs nothing, keeps body heat in. Critical in cold weather.
Rain poncho, Changing a tire in the rain with no poncho is miserable. They cost $2.
What It Might Cost
Building a full kit from nothing runs $100–$200. The jump starter is the biggest expense ($60–$120). The rest, reflective triangles, first aid kit, flashlight, duct tape, zip ties, tow strap, can be assembled for under $80.
Most people already own half of this. Pull what you have together, put it in a bag in the trunk, and fill the gaps. One use will pay for the entire kit.
Stay Safe
Keep the reflective triangles and flashlight somewhere accessible, not buried under luggage in the trunk. If you break down at night on a highway, you need those items in the first 60 seconds, not after you’ve unloaded your groceries.
Check your spare tire’s pressure every spring and fall. A tire loses 1–2 PSI per month naturally. After two years sitting unused, most spares are flat.