Car Emergency Essentials Checklist

Plug a small hole or a leak long enough to get to a garage. (Be sure the product doesn’t contain flammable gases, such as butane, propane, and isobutene.)

Forget the hassle of jumper cables. Get a jump-start with a compact charger that renews your battery via the car’s cigarette lighter.

After an accident, use the reinforced tape to patch things together temporarily.

When filled, a one-gallon jug will hold enough to get you to a service station, without being burdensome to lug back to your car.

You know how scary car fires can be if you’ve ever seen flames shooting from under your hood. Enough said.

Stow a kit in an easily accessible space to treat cuts, burns, and traffic headaches.

Crucial for after-dark roadside repairs, emergency signaling, and, of course, old-school map reading.

When your car breaks down or you pull over for a repair, make yourself visible—and warn off other drivers—with emergency reflective triangles.

If you live in an area where cold weather brings ice and snow, choose a scraper that can tackle both.

In case you need a hitch—or want to give one.

Lay these lightweight metal panels under your drive wheels when you’re stuck in slush, ice, or sand.