What Should You Keep in Your Car?

You know what they say: fail to prepare, prepare to fail!

As experienced motorists will know, driving can be an unpredictable activity - one minute there’s a downpour that your windscreen wipers can’t handle, the next it’s brilliant sun and you can barely see from the glare of the wet road. Ah, British weather.

From hitting potholes and flat tyres to unexpected breakdowns and freak weather, there are plenty of scenarios to prepare yourself for.

So, whether you’re kitting out your new car for the first time or just looking to give your regular runabout a refresh, here’s a list of the items you should keep in your car to prepare for anything.

A note on added weight

Before we begin, it’s worth noting that adding extra weight to your car in the form of unnecessary items can reduce your fuel economy. 

So, the list below is intended as an exhaustive guide for you to tailor to your car’s needs and the time of year. For example, if you drive an electric car, you can skip the petrol can. Likewise, if it’s summer, leave out the de-icer, extra layers of clothing, and ice scraper. 

Basic tools

If you need to change your tyre at the side of the road or perform another quick fix, carrying a few basic tools is essential:

• Lug wrench
• A wheel nut key (if your wheels have locking wheel nuts)
• Jack
• Chocks
• Multitool 
• And, of course, your spare tyre.

Documents

It’s also helpful to keep a few crucial documents in your car. Although you’re not legally required to do so, having certain paperwork with you can come in handy if you are pulled over or get into an accident. 

However, there are some documents and sensitive information that you should not leave in your vehicle, in case it is stolen or broken into. Here’s the breakdown:

What documents should you keep in the car?

• A valid insurance certificate
• Your driving licence
• Information about your breakdown cover
• Service book
• Owners manual

What documents should you not keep in the car?

• Your passport
• Any bank statements
• Your V5C
• Personal, sensitive information

Find out more about organising and understanding your car’s documents in another one of our blogs.

Essentials for breakdowns

If the worst has happened and your vehicle unexpectedly breaks down, having the right kit in your boot to keep you safe and help manage the situation can make all the difference.

Warning triangle

A collapsible warning triangle is crucial. If you break down in a dangerous spot, the highly visible triangle acts as a warning for approaching drivers to steer clear and slow down. 

In the UK, warning triangles should be placed around 45 metres behind your car, to give oncoming traffic ample time to respond to the hazard. Warning triangles are not a legal requirement, but they do help prevent collisions and keep you and your passengers safe, making them a worthy addition to your in-car kit.

High visibility clothing

Similarly, high-vis jackets are crucial for ensuring your and your passenger’s safety. If you break down, you should put these on before you leave your car to make a safe exit well behind the barrier. High visibility clothing will come in handy when placing your warning triangle, too.

Jump leads

If your battery’s gone flat, having your own jump leads could save you a costly call-out fee and hours of time waiting for a recovery vehicle from your local garage.  Find out how to jump-start your car in our guide.

Car maintenance items

If you’re looking to keep up with your car’s maintenance, the following items are crucial to have on hand. 

Fluids

Sometimes bottles of fluid can be quite heavy. So, you might want to regularly top up your levels and keep the bottles in your garage, instead of having them rolling around in your boot. Though if you have a boot organiser or storage (and a slightly larger car), it can’t hurt to carry these with you too.

• Windscreen washer fluid 
• Engine oil 
• Coolant (Here’s a guide on how to check your coolant levels).

Fuel can or "jerry can"

You may also want to carry an empty fuel can with you in case you run out of fuel.

Items to keep in your car when it's cold

The kit you keep in your car over the colder months will vary significantly from the items you’ll want nearby in the summer. 

Ice scraper

Avoid frantic scraping with a credit card and keep an ice scraper somewhere reachable. 

De-icer

Make frosty mornings easier and keep a can of de-icer tucked away in the door panel. 

Extra layers

If your car breaks down when it’s cold, you’ll thank yourself for packing an extra jumper and/or waterproofs. Even if you’re just driving and it’s chilly, it’s better to be comfortable. 

Items to keep in your car when it's hot

In the summer months, there are a whole host of new hazards that can make driving difficult, from glare from the sun to hay fever!

Water

Traffic jams on scorching days are up there with some of the most unpleasant experiences you’ll have as a driver. Having a bottle or two of water in the glove compartment can help prevent dehydration and headaches if you’re stuck in the car for hours on end. Just make sure you don’t leave the bottles in the sun for months.

Sunglasses & cap

Speaking of headaches, avoid squinting and relying on the sun visor by making sure you have a pair of sunglasses and a cap to hand, to shade you from the sun.

Hayfever medication

If you suffer from hayfever, driving down country lanes with the windows open is a brave choice. Sneezing while driving is never fun, so an extra blister pack of hayfever medication can’t go amiss. Just make sure you opt for the non-drowsy version. 

Sensible driving shoes

Summer is beach and flip-flops weather, but these aren’t necessarily the best shoes to drive in. So, pack a comfortable pair of trainers and socks to make sure you never have to operate the pedals with sandy feet or slide on shoes, that might slip and cause you to miss the pedal or brake suddenly.

Emergency must-haves

Whatever the weather, it’s a good idea to carry the following emergency essentials to make sure you really are ready for anything, from a passenger falling ill to getting stuck in traffic or snow:

• Torch First-aid kit
• Non-perishable food items
• Emergency blankets
• Portable phone charger.

Just-in-case items

Lastly, if you’re keen to make your car the ultimate comfort zone, not leaving anything to chance, these final few items have got you covered (from spare change to cleaning products):

• Umbrella 
• Spare change of clothes 
• Small amount of cash 
• Spare pair of glasses
• Hand sanitiser 
• Car bin
• Wet wipes.

Be ready for anything with Kwik Fit

In an ideal world, you won’t need any of the emergency equipment above; your car will run smoothly, and you’ll never need to worry about breakdowns. 

With regular servicing and vehicle safety checks at Kwik Fit, that “ideal-world” scenario can become a reality. Let our team of experts keep your car in tip-top condition, topping up your fluids, checking your tyres, and keeping an eye on vital components like brakes and engine health. 

Get in touch with your local Kwik Fit today to make sure your car is truly ready for anything.