Car emergency kit: what to keep in your car, and what to do if you get stuck

The short answer: a car emergency kit should hold jumper cables, flares or a reflective triangle, a flashlight with extra batteries, a phone charger, a first aid kit, water, snacks, a blanket for each person, a map, an ice scraper and cat litter or sand for traction. Ready.gov, the CDC and the Red Cross all list these. In winter, add a shovel, warm clothes and boots.

A car kit is a smaller cousin of the supplies you keep at home. Ready.gov suggests keeping supplies in three places, home, work and car, because you never know where you’ll be when something goes wrong. If you haven’t built the home version yet, our home emergency kit list covers water, food and power cuts. This page is only about the car.

What should be in a car emergency kit?

A car emergency kit should cover four jobs: getting the car moving, being seen, staying warm and fed, and calling for help. This checklist combines the lists from Ready.gov, the CDC, the Red Cross, the Maine Department of Transportation and the Virginia Department of Transportation. Where an agency gives an amount, it’s in the last column.

The first aid kit is the item people most often buy ready-made and never open. Our first aid kit checklist shows what a good one holds, so you can check yours against it. The CDC’s list says to include any necessary medicines in the car kit too.

What should be in a car emergency kit for winter?

A winter car emergency kit adds things to keep you warm and to dig the car out. The CDC’s winter list and the Red Cross both add these to the basics above:

• Warm clothes for each person: extra hats, coats, mittens, socks and dry clothing. Maine DOT adds boots and waterproof gear.
• A shovel, plus a broom (Maine DOT).
• Tire chains or traction mats, and tow chains or rope.
• Road salt to melt ice, alongside the sand or cat litter.
• Extra windshield washer fluid (Maine DOT).
• A can of compressed air with sealant for an emergency tire repair (CDC).
• Waterproof matches and a can to melt snow for water (CDC).
• Newspapers for insulation and plastic bags for sanitation (Red Cross).
• A thermos of warm broth for a long winter drive (Red Cross).

One practical catch: Maine DOT notes that water left in the car overnight will probably freeze. Bring fresh bottles from the house when you set off on a cold day.

What should you do if you’re stuck in your car in a snowstorm?

If you’re stuck in your car in a snowstorm, stay in the car and wait for help. The Red Cross says not to leave to look for help unless you can see it within 100 yards (91 meters). The National Weather Service warns that you can become disoriented quickly in wind-driven snow, and the Virginia DOT notes that blowing snow distorts distances, so a building can look closer than it is.

These are the steps the Red Cross, the National Weather Service and the Virginia DOT give:

1. Call for help if you have a signal, and tell them where you are.
2. Make yourself visible. Tie a bright cloth, preferably red, to the antenna or door. Raise the hood once the snow stops falling.
3. Run the engine about 10 minutes each hour for heat.
4. Keep the exhaust pipe clear of snow, and keep checking it while you wait.
5. Open a window slightly while the engine runs, for fresh air.
6. Turn on the dome light at night while the engine runs, so rescuers can see you.
7. Keep warm together. Huddle with passengers, and wrap yourself in blankets, newspapers, maps or even the floor mats.
8. Move to stay warm, clapping your hands and moving your arms and legs, but don’t overdo it.
9. Take turns sleeping if there’s more than one of you, so someone is always watching for rescuers.
10. Drink fluids to avoid dehydration.

Go easy on digging. The Red Cross warns that shoveling snow or pushing a car can bring on a heart attack or make other conditions worse.

Watch for cold injuries. Ready.gov lists shivering, exhaustion, confusion, fumbling hands, memory loss, slurred speech and drowsiness as signs of hypothermia, and says a body temperature below 95°F is an emergency. Frostbite shows up as numbness and white or grayish-yellow, firm or waxy skin. Call 911 if anyone has these signs.

Prefer to look first? See what’s in the free printable.

Can you get carbon monoxide poisoning in a car?

Yes, you can get carbon monoxide poisoning in a car. The CDC says carbon monoxide (CO) is in the fumes produced any time you burn fuel in cars or trucks, and that even a small leak in the exhaust system can let it build up inside the car. That’s why a snow-blocked exhaust pipe is so dangerous when you’re sitting in a stopped car with the engine running.

The CDC lists headache, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain and confusion as symptoms, often described as flu-like. Breathing in a lot of CO can make you pass out or kill you. The Red Cross says that if you start to feel sick, dizzy or weak, get to fresh air right away. In a stuck car, turn off the engine and open a window.

The CDC also says to have a mechanic check your exhaust system every year, and never to run a car in a garage attached to a house, even with the door open.

How do you get your car ready for winter?

Get your car ready for winter by checking it every fall, before the first storm. The CDC suggests these checks:

• Check the antifreeze level, or have the radiator serviced.
• Switch to a wintertime washer fluid.
• Check tire tread and pressure. Replace worn tires and fill low ones to the pressure your car calls for, typically 30 to 35 psi.
• Check the heater, defroster, brakes, brake fluid, ignition, emergency flashers, exhaust, oil and battery.

Keep the tank near full in winter. The CDC says that helps avoid ice in the tank and fuel lines, and Ready.gov says a full tank also helps if you need to evacuate or the power goes out. Maine DOT’s rule is at least half a tank in winter.

Before a winter trip, the Red Cross suggests checking the weather along your whole route, traveling in daylight and telling someone your route and arrival time.

How often should you check your car emergency kit?

A good habit is to check your car emergency kit twice a year: once in the fall before winter, and once in the spring. The CDC already suggests a car check every fall, and the Red Cross says to check your vehicle kit and restock it before driving in winter conditions. Ready.gov says to replace expired items and rethink your kit every year as your needs change.

A five-minute check:

• Test the flashlight and radio, and swap in fresh batteries.
• Replace snacks and water past their date, and anything you’ve used.
• Check that the first aid kit is full and any medicines are in date.
• Make sure the spare tire is inflated and the jack is still there.
• In the fall, add the winter extras. In the spring, take the bulky ones out.

If you ever have to leave home in a hurry, the car kit won’t cover everything. Our go bag checklist covers the bag you’d carry with documents, medicines and cash. And if you’re thinking about the most serious emergencies, our guide to what to do in a nuclear explosion explains why a car is a poor shelter and where to go instead. The full plan below puts it on paper for your family.

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Quick questions

What should be in a car emergency kit for winter?

A winter car emergency kit should add warm clothes, hats, mittens and a blanket for each person, plus a shovel, an ice scraper, sand or cat litter, and tire chains. The CDC also lists water, snacks, a flashlight, a radio with extra batteries, a first aid kit, jumper cables and flares or reflectors.

Should you stay in your car if you’re stranded in snow?

Yes, you should stay in your car if you’re stranded in snow. The Red Cross says not to leave to look for help unless you can see it within 100 yards (91 meters). Blowing snow is disorienting and distorts distances, and rescuers are most likely to find you with the car.

How long can you run your car when stranded in snow?

Run your engine for about 10 minutes each hour when you’re stranded, for heat. That’s the advice from the Red Cross and the National Weather Service. Clear snow from the exhaust pipe first, open a window slightly while the engine runs, and turn on the dome light at night so rescuers can see you.

Can you get carbon monoxide poisoning in a car?

Yes, you can get carbon monoxide poisoning in a car. The CDC says even a small exhaust leak can let carbon monoxide build up inside, and a snow-blocked exhaust pipe is a known danger in a stuck car. Headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea and confusion are warning signs. Get to fresh air right away.

How often should you check the vehicle emergency kit?

Check your vehicle emergency kit at least once a year, and twice is a good habit: in the fall before winter, and again in the spring. The Red Cross says to check and restock it before winter driving. Replace used or expired items, test the flashlight and swap in fresh batteries.

What does a basic car emergency kit include?

A basic car emergency kit includes jumper cables, flares or a reflective triangle, an ice scraper, a car phone charger, a blanket, a map and cat litter or sand for traction. That’s Ready.gov’s list. Most people also add a flashlight with extra batteries, a first aid kit, water and snacks.

This article is general information, not medical advice. Follow the instructions of local officials and emergency services where you are. In an emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number. If anyone in the car has signs of hypothermia, frostbite or carbon monoxide poisoning, get medical help right away.

Sources

• Ready.gov. Car Safety
• Ready.gov. Winter Weather
• Ready.gov. Build a Kit
• CDC. Preparing for a Winter Storm
• CDC. Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Basics
• American Red Cross. Winter Storm Safety
• National Weather Service. Winter Weather Safety: During
• Maine Emergency Management Agency. Car Preparedness Bag (Maine DOT list)
• Virginia Department of Transportation. Winter Weather Driving