Car Emergency Kits

You spend more time in your car than almost anywhere else. School runs, the commute, the drive to grandma's house that always seems to happen in the worst weather of the year.

Most of the time nothing happens. Occasionally something does. A flat tire on a road with no shoulder. A battery that gives up in a parking lot after dark.

RoadReady kits are packed for those days. Everything arrives assembled. Put it in your vehicle today and you're done thinking about it.
girl on cell phone while sitting on open hood of her car

How to Choose a Car Emergency Kit

Which car emergency kit size do I need?

RoadReady comes in three sizes, all on the same product page. Choose the size on that page rather than hunting for separate listings.

  • Basic. Lives in your glove box. The essentials for a short wait close to home.
  • Deluxe. Covers the car as well as the people in it. Jumper cables, warning triangle, first aid, light, and tools.
  • Premium. Built for longer waits and two people, with more food, water, and warmth.


Start with where you drive and how far from home you usually are.


What should a car emergency kit include?

An hour-long wait for a tow with two kids in the back seat asking how much longer. That's the real scenario, far more often than anything dramatic.

The food and water are sealed and shelf-stable, chosen to hold up through summer heat and winter cold in a trunk. That matters more than it sounds. Most gear stored in a car fails because of temperature, not time.


What to add for winter driving

A winter car emergency kit needs a few things the standard version doesn't.

  • A phone power bank, charged.
  • Any medication you'd need for a few hours.
  • A blanket, especially November through March.
  • Ice scraper and snow brush if you get winter.
  • Cash, small bills, for tows that don't take cards.
  • Printed copies of insurance and registration.


How often should you check a car emergency kit?


Check it twice a year. Same weekends you change your smoke detector batteries. Look at expiration dates, test the light, and confirm nothing has migrated into the house.

What to Do When Your Car Breaks Down