A few years ago, we told you all about building a safety kit for your car. It included everything you needed to know about creating this kit and what it should have in it. You loved that post so much that now we want to share one on a similar topic: items you should always have in your car.

And we’re not talking about safety kit items necessarily. Instead, these are items that could come in handy, provide comfort, or just generally be useful in your vehicle.

(By the way, if you missed our first post on building a vehicle safety kit, find it here)

Items to Keep in Your Car

Chances are, there are some items you always have in your car. Maybe it’s a pack of gum, a box of tissues, or extra snacks.

Here are some other ideas for things you’ll always want to have on hand! You never know when they could come in handy, or even prove to be life-saving.

  • A tire changing kit
  • A window breaker
  • Duct tape (useful for many purposes!)
  • A gas can
  • Work gloves
  • Garbage bags
  • Seatbelt cutter
  • Windshield wiper fluid
  • Emergency food and water
  • Reflective triangles
  • Ice scraper and snow brush
  • Warm clothing
  • Comfortable walking shoes
  • A solar phone charger
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Umbrella
  • Roll of quarters

You might consider adding a waterproof container to your trunk where you keep many of these important items. Just keep in mind, certain items (like the glass breaker and seatbelt cutter) should be kept near the driver’s seat so you can access them quickly.

If you have young children, you can even create a box just for them, with activities to keep them busy, their favorite snacks, and comfort items.

Now, we want to hear from you! What are some of the essential items you always keep in your car and what should we add to this list?