Everybody Should Have a Car Emergency Kit: Here Are the Best Ones You Can Buy

The first snowstorm of 2022 left hundreds of drivers at a standstill, along a 50-mile stretch on Interstate 95 in Virginia in January. Some people were stuck in freezing temperatures on the highway for more than 20 hours. Even if you don’t live in a snowy climate, accidents, car pileups, and major traffic jams can still occur. And as scary as that might be, know that there are ways for drivers to better protect themselves and their families in nightmarish situations such as these.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency published a useful checklist with some suggestions about the kinds of items you should have in a typical emergency kit, along with some additional supplies that would come in handy if you were to get stranded in an automobile.

If you’re part of the CDC-reported 48% of Americans who do not have emergency supplies, maybe it’s time to consider investing in a car emergency kit.

The Best Car Emergency Kits

What to Consider

As much as we wish there were a singular perfect emergency kit for purchase that was both reasonably priced and had everything you could possibly need (and then some), unfortunately, that kit doesn’t exist. Though Amazon does have several pre-packed car emergency kits for sale, oftentimes, they leave out important items or they are steep in price. Despite their shortcomings, however, these prepackaged kits are still an excellent place to start, and can easily be built upon.

At a minimum, we recommend all drivers have the following:

• First aid kit
• Blankets
• Non-perishable food items such as protein bars
• A few bottles of water
• Jumper cables
• Flashlight
• Flares or a reflective triangle
• Shovel or ice scraper

Here are some additional nice-to-have items that are worth considering:

• A portable battery to recharge your smartphone
• Paper towels or rags
• Sand or cat litter for better tire traction
• Extra clothes, hats, scarves, and gloves

Below, you’ll find our favorite kits that are packed with a wide array of useful items that’ll have your back in the event of an emergency.