When taking your vehicle out on the road, it is important that proper maintenance is conducted beforehand to ensure that everything will run as smoothly as possible. However, even with proper maintenance, accidents can happen, and things can go against your best interest. Therefore, responsible vehicle owners should always keep a kit of important supplies in their vehicles at all times in case of emergencies, or if they need to conduct some quick repairs. These supplies can range anywhere from a spare tire to a first aid kit, however, there are several important pieces of equipment that you might not think to include in your vehicle’s emergency kit. Some of these unexpected essentials are as follows:
Jumper Cables
A dead car battery can happen to any of us, and usually when we least expect it. A mistake as simple as leaving a light on in your car overnight can be enough to drain your battery, so therefore having a set of jumper cables at the ready to help get your vehicle started and get you to a place where you can sort the issue out more permanently is essential.
Duct Tape
Duct Tape is known for its versatility and reliability, and car repairs are no exception to its multifaceted uses. Duct tape can be used as a temporary solution to several issues that your car could unexpectedly face, including something from your undercarriage dragging on the street. A little bit of duct tape is all it will take to allow you to get yourself to an auto repair shop.
Flashlight
A flashlight, while not a tool that will work directly to fix your car, is always an important tool to have in an emergency. If you break down at night, you’re going to need a flashlight to see what the issue is, and to avoid being stranded in the dark. Smartphones come equipped with their own flashlights, but if stranded using your phone unnecessarily and draining its battery could be a mistake.
Energy Bars/ Food
If your car were to break down and leave you stranded for an extended period of time, having energy bars or non-perishable foods such as an MRE could be extremely helpful. It would be an extremely unfortunate situation to be left with no vehicle, no help in sight, and no food to be had.
Seatbelt Cutter/ Window Breaker
This is an item that should be kept in the glove compartment or door of your vehicle, rather than the trunk. They can be found for as low as $6 on Amazon, and can save your life if you are in an accident of some kind where you are trapped on the inside of your vehicle.
Ice Scraper
This is an item that is especially important now during the winter months. Being stuck out in a snowstorm with no way to remove the snow and ice from your windshield to improve visibility would be extremely dangerous. Therefore, keeping a scraper handy is essential.
Blankets/ Change of Clothes
If your vehicle breaks down somewhere and you are stranded, having something like a blanket to keep you warm can be essential. Additionally, if you are forced to do repairs in inclement weather, such as rain or snow, having a change of clothes can help prevent sickness from setting in.
Of course, this is not a complete list of essentials that you should keep in your car at all times, and there are many more tools and items that could come in handy if your vehicle were to break down or you were to be stranded somewhere. Remember to always be prepared, and when you do get your car operable again, bring it on down to Barry’s Auto Body where we will get you safely back on the street as soon as possible!