Photo by Mat Reding on Unsplash

Take a leaf out of the Boy Scouts book and always be prepared.  You never know when you’re going to breakdown, get stranded or have an accident when you’re out on the road.  While you may think that having car insurance and the number for The AA is all you need, there are a number of other eventualities it makes sense to be prepared for.  

Here are 10 things you should always have in your car: 

Spare Coolant & Oil 

Your oil and coolant levels should be a regular part of your car maintenance routine. Running low on either of these things can cause a huge amount of damage to your car, costing a lot of money to put right.  You don’t need to carry gallons of the stuff around with you, but a small amount for emergency top-ups is a good idea. 

First Aid Kit 

If you, or someone else, has a minor accident, then having the essentials on hand will make your life that bit easier, no desperately trying to find a petrol station or local shop for a plaster. 

If you’re buying a new or used car, ask a dealer like Ron Skinner & Sons to provide you with an emergency kit to keep in your car. 

A Torch

If you break down at night or need to inspect the inside of your car or engine, a torch is a really useful item to have.  You can also use it to flag down passers-by in the case of an accident or other emergency. 

Mobile Phone Charger 

It’s always a good idea to have a fully charged mobile with you on a journey.  But phone batteries can run down very quickly. If you need to make an emergency call, then you need to have the means to do it.  Have a charging cable in the car or, even better, a power pack in case you have no power in the car to charge the phone. 

Windscreen Scraper

Always handy in the winter months when ice can build up on your windows very quickly and reduce visibility. 

Folding Shovel

Having one of these in the boot is great for those times you get stuck in the snow of need to dig yourself out of the mud.  It may seem like overkill but they fold up extremely small now, so won’t take up much room.  

Food & Drink

If you’re stranded for a long period of time, you’ll want something to eat or drink.  Try putting a few bottles of water, some energy bars and other high-calorie snacks that will last you a long time and won’t go out of date as quickly as fresh food. 

Something Warm & Dry To Wear

Breaking down in cold weather, without any means to heat the car, can turn serious pretty quickly.  Pack a few items of warm, waterproof clothing and a blanket which can be used for children.  

A Safety Triangle 

You don’t always have the luxury of breaking down in a safe location.  A safety triangle is a small, orange, reflective triangle that you 45 metres from your car to warn motorists that you are there.