On average, we spend more than four years of our lives in cars (about 6% of our waking hours). In fact, we spend so much time behind the wheel that it’s not just getting from point A to point B anymore. You have to be comfortable and prepared for various situations.

So here are 23 car essentials that will make your trips safer and more comfortable.

Essentials for any car

Some drivers will get rid of important car necessities together with the clutter. While an empty boot space and glove box look neat, they exist for you to keep things in them! Regardless of who you are, the following things you should always have in your vehicle.

1. Spare tire kit

tire

You should never leave your driveway without a spare tire and all the required tools to change it. Hitting a pothole or a curb is all it takes to puncture a tire. If you don’t have a spare, you’ll end up calling road assistance, which will cost a fortune compared to changing a tire yourself.

It’s advisable to have a seasonal spare – using a summer tire in the snow is not fun and can send you right to the nearest ditch. The tire tread is different and you may suddenly lose control. Don’t risk it even if you’re only driving to the nearest repair shop.

Bonus points if you also carry a tire repair kit. Usually, it’s a piece of rope soaked in special adhesive. You can insert it into a hole using a screwdriver-like tool. A piece of cake!

2. A few liters of water

Reserve some room for a water container because it comes in handy in many ways. It’s great for removing bug splatter when the windshield washing system fails. You can use it to refill the engine cooling system to prevent overheating, or just wash your oily hands after stopping at a roadside hot dog stand.

3. First aid kit

first aid kit

Many drivers will never use the first aid kit in their cars, but if you ever need one – you’d better have it! Most cars have compartments built exclusively for the first aid kit, so it won’t take your space. These kits usually include adhesive and elastic bandages, gauze pads, antibiotic ointment, antiseptic wipes, medical gloves, scissors, and tweezers.

4. Car emergency kit

Instead of buying various car must-haves separately, you can get a full emergency kit, which includes most essentials for roadside emergencies. Here’s the most important stuff to look for inside these kits:

Jumper cables – any passing car or truck can juice up your battery if you have jumper cables. Just make sure to know how to use them!
Tow rope – you’ll save lots of time and money by towing your broken car to a repair shop yourself instead of calling a tow truck.
Emergency escape tool – not many drivers know about this tool which will let you easily smash a side window or cut a seatbelt. Just place it somewhere within your reach.
Emergency warning triangle – put an emergency triangle at least 45 meters away from the car after stopping at the roadside. This will keep upcoming drivers on alert.
Reflective vest – it’s vital when you’re changing a wheel or fixing something else on the side of a road.

The cost of these kits varies by the equipment inside. The above-listed things are a must, but some kits also include electrical air compressors, flashlights, zip ties, spare fuses, etc.

5. Tire pressure gauge and air pump

Tires are the only things that contact the road, and their condition is as important as it can be. They can leak air due to many reasons, and monitoring tire pressure is an essential part of car maintenance. With the tire pressure even slightly off, tires wear out much faster, the traction worsens, and fuel consumption increases.

You should never drive with a flat tire because you’ll destroy the tire and, eventually, the rim. If it’s just leaking air, you may drive back home by using an air pump from time to time. If the situation is worse, put a spare on.

6. Basic tool kit

basic tool kit

Pliers, a screwdriver, and a few spanners can come in handy when something loosens or breaks. In some cars, a simple fuse check requires a flat screwdriver. However, you can even change brake pads with a couple of wrenches by your side.

7. Work gloves

Your hands will get dirty or even injured if you get anywhere near the engine bay or wheels without having work gloves on. These don’t take much space, and you can keep them almost anywhere. Most car emergency kits include a pair of gloves, though.

8. Duct tape

Everyone becomes an engineer with duct tape in their hands. While it won’t patch a tire or stop a fuel leak, you can tape back a broken side-view mirror, a headlight after breaking a clip, cover a broken window, and much more – imagination is the only limit.

9. Cell phone charger

Smartphone batteries can hardly survive a day, which becomes an even bigger problem when you’re stranded on the side of a road. Fortunately, every hardware shop and even gas stations offer 12-volt chargers for your cell phone, meaning that it’ll be full of juice throughout the whole trip.

10. Flashlight

You can never know when you’ll need to navigate in the dark. These days, people don’t care so much about flashlights anymore because everyone has a smartphone. However, a smartphone isn’t nearly as convenient as a real flashlight when shoveling snow or putting a spare on – and neither is it any good if you need to see into the distance.

11. Paper towels

Instead of using thick rags, get a bunch of paper towels. They absorb moisture well, are cost-efficient, and are fully biodegradable – they’ll disappear after a few weeks in a bin.

Obviously, they help to keep your hands and smartphone clean. However, paper towels are also perfect for cleaning a dipstick during an oil check or locating various leaks in the sunroof, boot, coolant system, and more.

12. Hand sanitizer

Only a fraction of people had been using hand sanitizer before the pandemic hit. Thousands of people touch the same door handle or gas pump nozzle, so it’s easy to get germs on your stuff and face if you’re not using a hand sanitizer.

Car necessities during winter

Ice, snow, and cold throw even more challenges at drivers. Winter makes it easy to get stuck, and low temperatures put a strain on electronics, batteries, and other systems. In addition to the mentioned car essentials, here are a few more for winter.

13. Shovel

shovel

After getting stuck in the snow, the first thing you need to do is excavate as much of it around the wheels as possible. Get yourself a military-like folding shovel. It’s much shorter and won’t take much space, but it will serve perfectly during emergencies.

One thing to remember: avoid plastic shovels because the force needed to remove ice and dirt may break them.

14. Window scraper

Don’t damage credit cards or freeze your hands to clear snow and frost off windows. Most department stores sell cheap window scrapers – it will save you lots of your time and protect your fingers from the cold.

15. WD-40

Originally, WD-40 was a special spray meant to protect metal from rust, get stuck parts moving, and displace water. However, it’s been widely used to lubricate all kinds of things, including frozen locks, door latches, and even rubber seals (don’t use it for the latter in the long-term though).

16. Warm gloves

Have you ever experienced how scary it is to touch cold metal with your bare hand? Don’t risk losing your fingers when changing a tire or digging through snow. Get yourself a pack of thick work gloves with a rubber grip to keep your hands warm and dry during freezing emergencies.

17. Windshield washer fluid

Don’t replace windshield washer fluid with water during winter because it will damage the system when frozen. Have a few liters of windshield washer fluid in the trunk. This will guarantee a clear windshield when there are no shops nearby.

18. Snow chains (during extreme weather)

snow chains

Even a small front-wheel-drive Toyota Corolla can outperform rugged off-roaders when the snow chains are on. They wrap around the tires, creating a grip similar to tracks. However, the driving speed becomes very limited, and snow chains are even illegal in some countries. So, make sure you need them and are allowed to use them before buying a set for your car.

Car essentials for a road trip

Be careful if you choose to spend your hard-earned vacation on the road. Leave something important at home or skip necessary car maintenance, and your vacation may turn into a nightmare. Make sure to pack these things up to avoid legal problems, clutter, and damages.

19. License, registration, and insurance documents

We are currently in the Information Age, so the whole world is shifting towards exchanging digital information. As such, many countries and states don’t require drivers to carry a pile of documents inside the car anymore. Officers have access to police databases and can find out everything they need about you or your vehicle. However, the situation differs by country, and vehicle documents may be essential abroad. On top of that, databases still tend to crash, so having the documentation in the glove box may save lots of your precious time.

20. Car owner’s manual

Every new car comes with an owner’s manual explaining how to use and troubleshoot various systems. If your car doesn’t have one anymore, you should purchase it for your own sake – there should be physical and digital versions available.

If you’re really into solving problems by yourself, most car models also have massive repair manuals, which thoroughly explain how to replace every single part of your engine, suspension, etc. But, in most cases, a regular owner’s manual hits the spot.

21. Mini trash bin

Car door bins and cup holders fill with all kinds of trash very quickly during road trips. Get a mini trash bin or at least a small bucket to keep these areas clutter-free. Even a simple plastic bag will do the trick – just preserve the original compartments for your belongings, not empty packets and fruit leftovers.

22. Map

map

Yes, even though we all have smart navigation devices in our pockets, you can never know when they’ll decide to quit on you. Buy a map in case your phone’s battery dies, the phone gets wet, or the screen shatters. Being in the middle of nowhere without a cell phone and not knowing the location doesn’t sound fun or safe.

23. Umbrella

Wherever you go, pack an umbrella inside the car. It will protect you from the rain and sun. You can even pack a beach umbrella for relaxing picnics along the way if you have additional space in the boot.

Bonus organization tips

As easy as throwing all the stuff inside the trunk sounds, nobody likes clutter. While there are compartments for some essentials, most of the listed things would just slide along the floor at every corner. So, here are some great tips on keeping everything in its place:

Strap items in the trunk – if your car doesn’t have a cargo net, get a pack of rubber straps. There should be multiple spots where you can hook or tie straps and secure cargo in the boot area.
Use plastic boxes – don’t store food, drinks, and various small items directly inside the center console or glove box. Put everything in a plastic box so you can easily take it out when needed.
Use seat storage organizers – you can strap these to the back of each seat and have multiple vertical storage compartments without sacrificing your passengers’ comfort.

bonus organization tips

Keep in mind that safety should be your number one priority, so make sure nothing comes flying at you or passengers when braking. Moreover, never store gas inside your car to avoid hazardous risks.

Stay safe!

Car essentials: 23 things you should have in your car

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