When you’re on the go for your summer road trip this year, make sure your plans stay on track by having the basics on hand. Car necessities should include everything you need to keep yourself and your car safe. They can also serve a dual purpose of helping you fully enjoy the warm weather you’ve been waiting for all year!
No warm-weather itinerary is complete without a reasonable set of summer car essentials. We want to make sure you have everything you need to get the most out of your car this summer, so we made a car emergency kit list for you. Use this list to get your car packed up before you hit the road!
First Aid Kit
This item is pretty self-explanatory, but it’s worth remembering that you should keep some sort of first aid kit in the name of emergency preparedness. Think bandaids, gauze, medical tape, instant ice packs, and more. Many stores offer cost-effective first aid kits made for stowing away in a car, otherwise you can build your own.
Sun Protection
If it’s summer, you might have a few outdoor activities in your schedule! Make sure you’ve always got extra sunglasses, a spare wide-brimmed hat, and a bottle of sunscreen for those days when going back inside to escape the sun just isn’t a very appealing option. You might also be using this sun protection for times when you’re unexpectedly stuck out in the sun, such as times when you’re experiencing car issues during hot weather.
Rain Protection
Not all of your days out will be sunny. And, of course, when it rains it pours…so there’s a chance that your car may break down while it’s raining. Even though a summer rain may feel refreshing, it won’t be as rejuvenating if you’re out there getting soaked while just trying to change a tire. Keep any or all of the following items in your car emergency kit to keep you dry when it’s wet outside: raincoat, umbrella, poncho, towels, rags, etc.
Visibility Materials
Unfortunately, light conditions do not automatically improve when you’re having a car problem. You’ll need a flashlight so you can see what you’re doing in the dark. You may also want reflective materials to help passing cars give you space if your car is stuck on the side of the road. That could include safety triangles, road flares, a reflective vest, and more.
Non-Perishable Food and Water
If hunger strikes while you’re stuck on the side of the road with a broken car, you may not always be able to go get food. You’ll want to have some snacks and some storage-safe water in your car emergency kit just in case it takes a long time for help to arrive. Where applicable, make sure you’ve got snacks that are kid-friendly and age-appropriate. If you have pets, keep them in mind, too!
Charging Cords
In case you haven’t got a few phone chargers in your car already, take this as a sign to get a couple stored away in your vehicle. You never know when you’re going to need one! Calling for help typically requires a phone with enough of a charge to make the call. If your car is able to keep running, you could use these charging cords to keep your phone powered up so you can check on the ETA status of your roadside assistance.
Jumper Cables
Sometimes the only thing your car needs is a little help from a friend. Make sure that friend will be able to help: keep jumper cables in the car so that another car can jumpstart your engine and get you back on the road again.
Basic Tool Kit
We’re not talking about a full-fledged toolbox here. This is just about the basics: screwdrivers, wrenches in a few different gauge sizes, utility knife, zip ties, etc. Just enough to help you out in a pinch! Emergency preparedness starts with anticipating possible issues even if they seem unlikely.
Flat Tire Repair Materials
Another common car problem is, of course, a flat tire. Make sure that you have the materials to get a new or spare tire on your car in the event that you blow a tire. This may be more likely to happen as the weather gets warmer because, if your tires were already fully pumped up when it was cool outside, that oxygen in your tires may expand too much in the heat and pop your tire. Your car emergency kit should therefore include a spare tire, a scissor jack (or any car jack), a lug wrench/tire iron, wheel chocks, and a tire pressure gauge.
However, if you have a service that provides roadside assistance to you, such as a plan through CarShield CarShield, you won’t necessarily need to keep these on hand for yourself. Your roadside assistance professional may provide many of them for you. Just make sure you have a spare tire no matter what.
Blankets
Blankets are a year-round necessity for your car—even when it’s hot! In the summer, your car blanket could be used as a picnic blanket, a knee cushion while changing a tire, a source of shade, and more. Make the blanket your multi-purpose tool for your car emergency kit!
Things to Do
Even though it’s not a necessity, per se, having some small games or activities in your car can put a more positive spin on a rough situation. It can also reduce the amount of time you spend on your phone, which will save your cell battery for more important matters.
Pack easily storable and no-battery-needed items such as cards, crossword puzzles, sudoku games, or whatever else you think will help you pass the time. For kids, you might keep books, busy boards, lap games, and more on hand. For your pets, bring a few standard toys to reduce your pet’s distress as much as possible.
CarShield Can Help
When your car is stuck on the side of the road, we understand that it can be a stressful process to get your car back into working order! However, with a plan through CarShield, your protection automatically includes complimentary 24/7 roadside assistance and towing so you’ll never have to worry about what to do next after a vehicle breakdown. Under certain conditions, you’ll even get rental car options so that your summer plans don’t need to be ruined by car issues. Then, when it’s time to pay for your covered repairs, CarShield administrators will pay your certified mechanic directly so you have one less thing to worry about.
Include a plan through CarShield in your summer car emergency kit. Call CarShield today to see which protection plan works best for you!
