Are there some items you should keep in your car for the challenges of winter? If you live in a cold climate, these items could help you get out of trouble.
When you live in an area where the winter months are cold, and the chance of snow is significant, you need to be prepared for the challenges that lie ahead. The worst feeling is being stuck in the cold with nothing in your car to help you. If you put these ten items in your car, you’ll have a fighting chance.
1. A Shovel Could Come in Very Handy
What happens if you hit a patch of ice and end up on the side of the road? You might find your tires spinning with no way of getting out. If you’ve got a shovel, you can add some snow or dirt to the area and improve the grip of your tires. Having a shovel in your car could mean the difference between getting back on the road and staying stuck in the snow. Buy a compact, foldable shovel and keep it in your trunk.
2. You Might Need a Flashlight
A flashlight is an item you should keep in your car in the winter, but it should remain in your car all year long. At least twice a year, you should check the batteries in your flashlight to ensure it still works properly. Even though you have a cell phone, it’s possible you might need to use both your phone and flashlight at the same time, or your phone could run out of battery charge. It’s a good idea to always have a flashlight in your car.
3. A First Aid Kit Should Always be Available to You
Another item that’s necessary all year long is a First Aid Kit. You’ll want to have this item in your car in case of emergency. Buy a kit that has the items you might need if you become injured. You can’t put everything necessary for a car collision in the kit, but you can buy a comprehensive kit that allows you to handle most emergency situations or the small cuts and bruises you might endure.
4. It’s Winter, You Need an Ice Scraper in Your Car
The cold winter months mean you’ve got to deal with ice, frost, and snow. If you don’t want to start your car and wait for the defogger to melt the ice and frost on the windows, you’ll need an ice scraper. This is one of the items you should keep in your car for winter. It might be a good idea to leave it in the car all year long, otherwise, you might end up buying a new one every year.
5. Make Sure You’ve Got Jumper Cables in Your Trunk
You never know when or where your battery will end up dead, and your car won’t start. The cold days of winter are hard on a battery and could lead to a dead vehicle. If you’ve got a pair of jumper cables in your trunk, you’ve got a fighting chance to get started and head back out on the road. Other vehicles passing by are more likely to give you a jump start if you’ve got a set of cables.
6. Put an Emergency Bag with Blankets and Extra Clothes in Your Car
Unless you have a pass-through to your trunk, the best place for your emergency bag is in your car. This is something you should keep in your car during the winter. It’s possible that you could hit an ice patch and end up in a snow bank, unable to reach your trunk. Keep the blankets and warm winter clothes in the car with you to make sure you’ve got something warm to put on when you’re stuck in the freezing cold.
7. A Portable Phone Charger is Always a Good Idea
Some of the items on our list are things you should have with you at all times. One of those items is a portable phone charger. We certainly depend on our cars to keep our phone batteries charged while driving, but if the car isn’t working, that might not be possible. Don’t get stranded with a battery that reaches 1% charge; keep a portable charger in your car and make sure you can always charge your phone, and contact help when necessary.
8. This is the Time of Year for Extra Weight in Your Car
If you’ve got a rear-wheel-drive car, adding extra weight to the rear is more important than if you drive an FWD vehicle. A few bags of sand or kitty litter can make the difference between having enough grip on a road and sliding all over the place. The material can also be used to help you get out when you’re stuck. You should keep a couple of bags in your car during winter to help you get where you need to go.
9. Make Yourself More Comfortable With some Snacks and Water
We don’t see reports of people being stuck in their cars for days during blizzards as much as we used to, but you could be stuck for a few hours. If this happens, you want to have some snacks and water in your car to help you pass the time. You’ll be a lot more comfortable if you have something to eat and drink than if you don’t.
10. Ensure You’ve Got Some Hazard Markers In Your Car
Whether you choose road flares or hazard triangles, it’s a good idea to have something in your car to let other vehicles know you’ve got a problem. These items are great for marking your location and offering visible warning signs that other cars should let you have room to work on your car. If you’re waiting for emergency personnel to arrive, these markers could help them get to your car much faster.
These are the ten items you should keep in your car during winter. Some are great for all year long, while others will only help you combat the challenges that come with ice and snow during the cold months.
