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Emergency Car Kit Checklist
A calm, printable checklist to help you prepare for unexpected situations on the road.
This guide is general preparedness guidance only. For crashes, injury, fire, dangerous weather, carbon monoxide, or unsafe roadside situations, call 911 or roadside assistance immediately. Do not put yourself in danger to retrieve or use kit items.
An emergency car kit is not about fear. It is about being prepared before a stressful moment happens — so you are not searching for things in the dark.
Why It Helps to Prepare Ahead
Many roadside situations — a dead battery, a flat tire, being stranded in bad weather — are stressful mostly because people are not prepared. A basic kit in your vehicle can make these moments safer and calmer. You do not need to buy everything at once — build it gradually.
Basic Car Kit Essentials
0/12Phone charger (car charger or portable battery bank)
Flashlight
Extra batteries for flashlight
Jumper cables or portable jump starter pack
Tire pressure gauge
First aid kit
Reflective triangles or road flares (follow local regulations)
Blanket
Work gloves
Bottled water (at least one bottle per person)
Non-perishable snacks
Written emergency contacts (not only stored in your phone)
Weather-Related Items
0/7Ice scraper and snow brush
Small folding shovel (for snowy or muddy areas)
Extra warm clothing — hat, gloves, jacket
Rain poncho
Dry towel
Extra windshield washer fluid
Sand or kitty litter for traction if stuck in snow or ice
Important Documents
0/5Vehicle insurance card
Vehicle registration
Roadside assistance number (AAA, insurance, or manufacturer)
Emergency contact list — printed, not just in phone
Medical information card if appropriate
Kit Maintenance Reminders
- •Do not keep sensitive documents exposed in plain sight inside the vehicle
- •Check kit contents seasonally and replace expired or used items
- •Store items securely so they do not become projectiles in a sudden stop
- •Do not store items in a trunk that gets extremely hot — check for heat-sensitive items
- •Adapt your kit to your local climate and typical driving conditions
- •Let family members know the kit exists and where it is
Safety Reminders Checklist
0/8If stranded on road — stay in vehicle if safe, turn on hazard lights
Place reflective triangles or flares safely behind vehicle if trained to do so
Call roadside assistance first — do not attempt unsafe repairs on busy roads
Stay visible but away from traffic if you must exit vehicle
Do not run engine in enclosed space — carbon monoxide risk
Keep phone charged — roadside assistance contact saved
In severe weather — shelter safety may be higher priority than vehicle
For crash, fire, injury, or immediate danger — call 911 immediately
Know When to Call a Pro
Call 911 or roadside assistance for:
- ▸Any crash — even minor ones may require a police report
- ▸Injury to any person
- ▸Fire or smoke from vehicle
- ▸Dangerous roadside location with fast-moving traffic
- ▸Severe weather threatening safety
- ▸Being stranded with no resources and no safe location