Emergencies and unfortunate events always almost come unannounced. Read on to discover the things you should always have in your car for emergency’s sake here.
When comes to supplies for our cars, we place device chargers, music, and beverage holders first. The truth is if you were to experience an emergency while out on the road, these aren’t the important things you should always have in your car.
Many car owners are ill-prepared in case of an emergency. Having a roadside assistance service is great but there may be times when the wait is too long or you are able to call. For these times, you can turn to the trunk of your car for basic emergency items for example a roadside emergency kit.
Are you wondering what car essentials you need to keep in your car? Keep reading for nine things that can get you out of an emergency situation.
- Tools to Change a Tire are Things You Should Always Have in Your Car
In case of a flat tire, you’re going to need more than a spare. There are multiple tools when it comes to changing a tire. They include:
- A spare tire in good condition
- A car jack
- Lug wrench
- Air pressure gauge
- Wheel chucks
Even if you have all of these supplies if your tire is not in good condition it will do you no good. Check your spare tire at the same time you have your tires rotated. You do not want to find your tire has dry-rot when you finally need it.
- Battery Cables
How many times have you seen people in a parking lot asking strangers if they have battery cables? It’s easy to find someone willing to give you a jump but good samaritans don’t always have the tools to help you out.
A perfectly good battery can go dead if you leave your lights on. Regardless of the reason, you need a charge to have your battery tested to see if it needs to be replaced. Sometimes it can be something more serious like a failing alternator.
- Car Owners Manual
If you’re not an auto mechanic, chances are you’ll need help locating parts of the car and understanding preventive maintenance schedules. The owner’s manual is standard in new cars. Unfortunately, one may not come with a used car purchase.
It is important to have a manual because all cars are not built the same. There are simple things you can do yourself but will need the manual to make sure you buy the right parts and refill liquids in the right reservoirs.
Click here if your vehicle does not have an owner’s manual and you want to replace it.
- First Aid Kit
Things happen even when you’re not driving. Having a first aid kit in your vehicle can come in handy. You can be at the park and scrape your knee. Or perhaps you have a headache en route to work.
No matter the reason, having a first aid kit in your car is as important as having one in your home.
- Flashlight and Flares
Unless you’ve experienced your car breaking down in the middle of the night on a deserted road, you won’t truly understand the necessity of flares. They can save your life.
Flares are red lights that you place several feet away from the car to alert oncoming traffic to a disabled vehicle.
A flashlight comes in handy in the dark also, but it can also be used when you’re working under the hood. Sometimes you have a lot of stuff in the trunk and need light to find what you need.
- Gallon of Antifreeze
Antifreeze is a coolant that helps the car from overheating. If you’re ever on the road and your temperature light rises above the midway point, pull over to see if you have coolant in the reservoir. The radiator will overheat and this can cause the car to malfunction.
if you find that the antifreeze is running low, refill the container. in cases where your car is overheated and all the refrigerant is gone, do not attempt to refill it until the car has cooled. You can also use water.
Get you car to a mechanic as quickly as possible to see if there is a leak in the radiator.
- Mobile Device Charger
In older cars, it was called the cigarette lighter. It also doubled as a charger for phones, and other equipment.
Mobile device chargers allow you to use the power from the alternator to charge mobile devices and even portable outlets.
These outlets also allow users to plug in low wattage devices like a computer or a small printer. They come in handy for small business owners that work from their vehicles. be careful because usage can drain the car battery.
- Quart of Oil
Keeping a quart of oil in your car can come in handy if you’re overdue for an oil change or if you are aware of a known leak in the oil system. It is important to maintain your car. Oil is essential to the operation of the vehicle’s engine.
leaking oil can run off onto other vital car parts like the starter. A new engine is a costly expense that a lot of people are not prepared for.
- Spare Windshield Wiper Blades
Windshield wiper blades seem to go out at the most inopportune times. They are among the things you should always have in your car just in case. You never know when you’ll get caught in a rainstorm and realize your blades are gone bad.
With a spare in the trunk, you can pull over and quickly change them out. The process takes about two minutes.
It’s Time for a Road Trip!
Now that you know what things you should always have in your car, you can breathe easy when it’s time for your next road trip. These items do not eliminate the need for proper car maintenance, nor is it all-inclusive.
Create a checklist to ensure you’re always prepared in case of an emergency. Do you want to know more about cars and how to care for yours? Keep checking back for new articles.