The Emergency Kit You Should Build Before Your Car Ever Leaves You Stranded

The car emergency kits sold in stores are designed around dramatic scenarios. Real roadside trouble is duller and more common: a battery that will not turn over in a parking garage, a jackknifed truck that closes the interstate for three hours, a flat on a road with no shoulder.

The one-bag version

• A jump starter, or jumper cables plus a friendly stranger.
• A flashlight or headlamp with fresh batteries.
• A phone cable and a charged power bank.
• A wool blanket and a knit hat, all year, not just in winter.
• Water and shelf-stable snacks for everyone who normally rides with you.
• A small first aid kit and any medication you would miss in a day.
• Paper towels, a trash bag, and a pair of work gloves.

Car

Portable Jump Starter

Start your own car without flagging down a stranger.

Why we recommend it

It removes the part of a dead battery that is actually stressful: needing another car and a person willing to help, at night, in a parking garage.

Best for: Anyone who parks outside or drives an older car

Pros

• + Self-sufficient
• + Also charges phones
• + Built-in light

Worth knowing

• − Needs recharging every few months

$70–$120 · Amazon

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Things people forget

1. A paper map of your region, or at least screenshots of the route home.
2. Cash for tolls and tows.
3. The tire changing tools your car came with — check that they are still there.

Half a tank is the real car emergency supply. Everything else is comfort.