Clear Lists
Get the app →
Auto Emergency Kit Checklist
What to keep in the trunk for a dead battery, flat tire or cold-weather breakdown.
A real, editable checklist below — tick, tap a line to rewrite, drag to reorder.
Tick the circles, tap any line to change it, drag the dots to reorder.
Saved in this browser. Send it to Clear to keep it on your phone.
ITS Tactical calls the fire extinguisher an often-forgotten part of a vehicle emergency kit, and Lex Brodies lists it too, noting that vehicle fires are not common but an engine combines hot metal, gasoline and heavy wiring. The rest of this list pools four sources: basics for any car, then extras for cold weather. It assumes a passenger vehicle. It leaves out repairs, towing contacts and anything medical beyond a stocked first aid kit.
Why these items are on the list
- Fire extinguisher. ITS Tactical: at least a small ABC type made for vehicles; turn dry chemical units upside down periodically.
- Jumper cables, 12-16 feet. ITS Tactical says at least 12 feet, with 16 ideal for a jump from someone behind you.
- Portable battery charger. Lex Brodies: fixes a dead battery without needing a second vehicle.
- Flashlight with spare batteries. Serra Honda suggests checking the batteries; ITS Tactical says to pack extras.
- Jack and tire iron. ITS Tactical: confirm the jack's turning rod is there and the jack works.
- Spare tire, checked. ITS Tactical: check inflation and cracks. It cites about five years as a tire's useful life.
- Tire pressure gauge. Listed by ITS Tactical among extras that round out a simple tool kit.
- Simple tool kit. ITS Tactical: wrenches, sockets and pliers, enough to replace a battery.
- Duct tape, spare fuses. ITS Tactical's suggested additions to the tool kit.
- Reflective triangles or flares. Lex Brodies says triangles signal other drivers; the National Weather Service list includes flares.
- First aid kit. Serra Honda says to include any medication you or your passengers might need.
- Phone charger or power bank. Serra Honda: lets you call family, 911 or your insurance company.
- Extra water and food. Serra Honda says choose items with a far-away expiration date; keep them within easy reach.
- Blanket or space blanket. ITS Tactical says a foil-like space blanket works if storage is tight.
- Window escape tool. Lex Brodies: breaks a window, and some models include a seat belt cutter.
- Emergency cash. Serra Honda: some places do not take cards, for example for a tow. Hide it.
- Tow rope. On the National Weather Service winter kit list quoted by WRIC.
- Warm clothes, hat, boots. Serra Honda suggests wool socks, warm hats, fleece and waterproof boots.
- Sand or cat litter. Serra Honda and WRIC both name it for traction on snow, ice or mud.
- Shovel and ice scraper. Named by Serra Honda and the National Weather Service list; WRIC adds a snow brush.
- Hand and foot warmers. Serra Honda: single-use but last for hours, and take little space.
- Tire chains or snow tires. On the National Weather Service winter driving list quoted by WRIC.
Car kit articles bury the list among product pitches or run as one-line PDFs. A tickable list lets you check what is already in the trunk and what is missing, with the check-it-yourself details beside each item. Share it with a partner or teen driver so both cars are covered.
When to use it
Use it before fall and winter driving or a long road trip, and again each year to check batteries, the spare and the extinguisher.