Roadside emergency kit
What should live in the trunk all year: jumper cables, a tire gauge, a flashlight, first aid, water and a blanket.
📖 Read the guide: what to keep in your car
Amounts below are for 2 people. They are planning estimates; change any of them on your list.
Saves the 11 must-haves, 3 easy-to-forget items and 4 things to do to a list on this device. Upgrades are up to you. Then shop the list item by item and tick things off.
At a glance
- 🛒 Jumper cables1 set
- 🛒 Tire pressure gauge1 gauge
- 🛒 Flashlights2 flashlights
- 🛒 First aid kit for the car1 kit
- 🔎 Car blanket2 blankets
- 🛒 Water pouches for the car6 pouches
- 🛒 Emergency food bars for the car4 bars
- 🛒 Car phone charger2 chargers
- 🛒 Roadside warning triangles1 set
- 🛒 Seatbelt cutter and window breaker1 tool
- 🔎 Paper road map1 map
🛒 9 exact products we picked · 🔎 2 Amazon searches, so you choose the brand and size.
Must-haves (11)
- Must-haveOur pick
Jumper cables
Energizer jumper cables, 20 ft, 4-gauge
Long, heavy-gauge cables with a carry bag.
Good for: Every car
Get about 1 set
1 set for the group
Product link checked Oct 30, 2026
- Our pick
Tire pressure gauge
AstroAI digital tire pressure gauge
An easy-to-read digital gauge with a lit nozzle.
Good for: Monthly tire checks
Get about 1 gauge
1 gauge for the group
Product link checked Oct 30, 2026
- Must-haveOur pick
Flashlights
GearLight S1000 rechargeable flashlights, 2-pack
Bright flashlights that charge by USB-C, so a power bank keeps them going.
Good for: Outages
Get about 2 flashlights
2 people × 1 = 2 flashlights
One per person, so nobody is left in the dark.
- Budget pick: GearLight S1000 flashlights, 2-pack (AAA) ↗The same light on AAA batteries, sold without batteries.
Product link checked Oct 30, 2026
- Our pick
First aid kit for the car
Protect Life 100-piece travel first aid kit
A small hard-case kit that fits a glove box.
Good for: Car
Get about 1 kit
1 kit for the group
Product link checked Oct 30, 2026
Car blanket
Get about 2 blankets
2 blankets for the group
Amazon search: “wool blanket”
- Our pick
Water pouches for the car
Datrex emergency water pouches, 18-pack
Sealed water pouches with a long shelf life.
Good for: Car and go-bag
Get about 6 pouches
2 people × 3 = 6 pouches
Product link checked Oct 30, 2026
- Our pick
Emergency food bars for the car
Datrex 3600 emergency food bars
A sealed 3-day ration of food bars with a long shelf life.
Good for: Car and go-bag
Get about 4 bars
2 people × 2 = 4 bars
Product link checked Oct 30, 2026
- Our pick
Car phone charger
Anker 323 car charger
Charges two phones at once: one USB-C, one USB-A.
Good for: Every car
Get about 2 chargers
2 chargers for the group
Product link checked Oct 30, 2026
- Our pick
Roadside warning triangles
Performance Tool W1498 warning triangles, 3-pack
Three reflective triangles in a case.
Good for: Breakdowns
Get about 1 set
1 set for the group
Product link checked Oct 30, 2026
- Our pick
Seatbelt cutter and window breaker
resqme car escape tool
A keychain seatbelt cutter and side-window breaker. Not for windshields.
Good for: Every car
Get about 1 tool
1 tool for the group
Product link checked Oct 30, 2026
Paper road map
Get about 1 map
1 map for the group
Amazon search: “road atlas”
Easy to forget (3)
Ice scraper for each car
Get about 1 scraper
1 scraper for the group
Amazon search: “ice scraper”
Windshield washer fluid
Get about 1 jug
1 jug for the group
Amazon search: “winter windshield washer fluid”
Tire repair kit
Get about 1 kit
1 kit for the group
Amazon search: “tire plug kit”
Upgrades (5)
- Our pick
Car emergency kit
First Secure car emergency kit
Jumper cables, an air compressor and first aid in one bag.
Good for: Trunk
Get about 1 kit
1 kit for the group
Product link checked Oct 30, 2026
- Our pick
Portable jump starter
NOCO Boost GB40 jump starter
Starts a dead battery without a second car. Doubles as a USB charger.
Good for: Every car
Get about 1 jump starter
1 jump starter for the group
Product link checked Oct 30, 2026
- Our pick
Tire inflator
AstroAI tire inflator, 12V and wall power
Inflates tires from the car's 12V socket or a wall outlet.
Good for: Car and home
Get about 1 inflator
1 inflator for the group
Product link checked Oct 30, 2026
Road flares (LED)
Get about 1 set
1 set for the group
Amazon search: “led road flares”
Dash camera
Get about 1 camera
1 camera for the group
Amazon search: “dash cam”
Spend less (1)
Instead of portable jump starter:
- Must-haveOur pick
Jumper cables
Energizer jumper cables, 20 ft, 4-gauge
Long, heavy-gauge cables with a carry bag.
Good for: Every car
Get about 1 set
1 set for the group
Product link checked Oct 30, 2026
Things to do (4)
- ✅ Spare tire checkCheck the spare's pressure and that the jack and wrench are there.
- ✅ Car registration and insurance checkMake sure current copies are in the glove box.
- ✅ Save roadside help numbers in the phoneInsurance, roadside assistance and a parent or friend to call.
- ✅ Winterize the carCheck battery, tires, wipers and antifreeze.
Official guide: Ready.gov: Car safety ↗
More in cars and roadside
General planning information, not professional or medical advice. A list does not guarantee anyone’s safety. In any emergency, call your local emergency number and follow official guidance from local authorities.
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