When most people set out from point A to point B in their vehicle, the last thing they want to consider is experiencing a potential car issue.
One of the most important things you can do right now to prepare for an unexpected car breakdown is to put a strategic plan in place for how you’ll deal with it if and when it does happen.
Here are ten essential things to consider keeping in your car for those unexpected emergencies that your vehicle may experience on the road.
Roadside Assistance Information
Right now, one of the first things you can do to put an emergency plan in place is to call your car insurance company to inquire about roadside assistance and determine whether or not it is part of your existing coverage.
Some insurance companies may provide roadside assistance as a standard feature on most of their plans, while others may offer it as an add-on coverage for an additional fee.
There are also third-party roadside insurance memberships available through companies such as AAA.
Either way, having roadside assistance as part of your emergency preparedness plan ensures that you at least have access to limited towing services should your vehicle become inoperable.
GPS & Paper Map
In today’s digital age, many drivers have forgone the use of traditional GPS devices and paper maps and have instead opted for the GPS apps installed on their smartphones.
While these apps might work great in areas with excellent cell phone coverage, you may well run into issues when traveling outside of your local service area.
Having a dedicated GPS device as a backup can be a lifesaver in the event you lose your smartphone or is unable to receive reliable network coverage to power your navigation apps.
And if all else fails, having a physical travel map can be a much-needed resource when electronic navigation guides are unavailable.
Properly Inflated Spare Tire
While this might seem obvious, having a spare tire in your vehicle is only half the battle.
The other issue is ensuring that the spare tire is properly inflated when you get ready to use it.
Sometimes a spare tire can go months or even years without ever needing to be used.
And then, when you need to change out a flat, you realize that the spare tire you always knew you had is deflated.
You must periodically check your spare tire to ensure that it is properly inflated at all times; otherwise, it’s as good as not having one.
Heavy-duty Lug Nut Remover
So you’re on the side of the road and need to replace the flat tire with a spare one.
What could go wrong now? I’ll tell you; The lug nuts are screwed on extra tight.
I have run into this issue plenty of times. Believe it or not, not all lug nut removers are built the same.
A heavy-duty lug nut remover can simplify the process of exchanging out a flat tire for a spare one.
In my opinion, the standard lug nut remover that comes with many spare tires may not always be reliable, especially on vehicles where the tire is severely damaged.
A heavy-duty lug nut remover may come in handy in these instances.
Heavy-duty Floor Jack with Rapid Pump
Once again, most spare tires will typically come with a mini jack which oftentimes may not be the most user-friendly.
Depending on the location & terrain where your vehicle encounters a flat tire, it may be challenging to jack up the car, especially if you break down on a highway where the shoulder may be on an uneven surface.
In this instance, having a heavy-duty floor jack with rapid pump would allow you much greater flexibility to safely lift the vehicle and replace the blown-out tire with a spare one.
Jumper Cables for Car Battery
There’s nothing like sitting in your car for an extended period of time only to realize that you can’t start the vehicle back up because the car battery has drained.
This can often happen when you utilize the car battery for power while the engine is not running or you forget to turn off the vehicle’s lights after the automobile has been shut off.
In this instance, a quick jump from another vehicle’s battery might be all you need to get your car back started. Unfortunately, many drivers do not have jumper cables stored in their vehicles.
So avoid the double whammy of needing a jump and not having a pair of jumper cables readily available.
Another possible solution to this unexpected car issue would be to invest in a portable jump-start tool.
Portable Air Pressure Tool
A Portable air pressure tool might seem like a bit much, but trust me, when unexpected car issues happen, you want every available tool at your disposal to safely and reliably get back on the road.
If you run into tire pressure issues on a trip, a portable air pressure tool can be handy, especially if you need to replace a flat tire with a spare one that is not properly inflated.
Gas Can
This one might seem pretty obvious, but once again, many people only think about the necessity of a gas can when they run out of gas.
Besides keeping your vehicle adequately fueled, if you run out of fuel, a gas container can come in handy if there is a gas station nearby.
Remember, gasoline is highly flammable, so all necessary precautions should be taken when refueling your vehicle with a gas can.
Extra Fluids
Some extra containers of oil and antifreeze can come in handy if one of these fluids runs low along your trip.
While it is crucial that you always keep your vehicle properly maintained and serviced with the appropriate amounts of fluids, sometimes life happens, so be prepared with these items in the event they’re needed.
License, Registration & Insurance
Last but not least, this is another obvious point that must be reiterated.
Drivers should always have their license, vehicle registration, and insurance information readily available inside the vehicle whenever they get behind the wheel.
If a driver is pulled over or gets into an accident, these are some of the most common documents that law enforcement will need to complete their on-scene incident report.
Consequently, failure to present these documents when law enforcement requests them can lead to additional issues.
Summary
While we wish we never have to experience car issues when we set out on the road, it is always prudent to prepare for the unexpected. I hope you found this list of 10 essential items to consider keeping in your car for emergencies helpful.
