This is the ultimate list of good things to keep in your car at all times! In this article, we cover all of the useful car essentials that you should always have. I’m sure you’ll agree that being prepared is the key to a stress-free trip.
This well-organized article provides you with lists of items including personal care, emergency kits, car maintenance, cleaning, and entertainment. We discuss items for the Winter and Summer months, as well as everything in between.
No stone is left unturned as we cover everything ranging from the most important items, to fun and cool car stuff that makes every journey more enjoyable.
When you set out on the open road in your vehicle, it’s vital that you are ready for whatever comes your way. From emergency car items, to personal care, this guide covers all of the good things to have in your car.
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Organizing The Important Things To Keep In Your Car
Work through the lists, ordering all of the essential items to have in your car, then put them all into separate bags and store in the trunk. This keeps the passenger area clean and tidy.
This article has been structured into categories. We would recommend using a combination of a high quality car boot organizer and some simple bags or storage boxes.
This high quality glove box document organizer is perfect to keep all of your crucial paperwork safe.
Lets jump right into these lists of car essentials so that you are prepared for anything!
Essential Car Documents
I would recommend purchasing a high quality folder for all of your essential car documents. You can keep it stored safely in the glove box. These documents will ensure you have everything you need in the case of a breakdown, emergency, or encounter with the police.
- License, registration and insurance documents
- Owners manual
- Information regarding breakdown cover
- Emergency contact information
- Travel or medical insurance documents if applicable
- pen and paper
- Key phone numbers written down and stored safely
- Road map
- Nice folder to keep all your documents in
The list above doesn’t just include legally required car documents, but also extra things to remember in case of the loss of a mobile phone or the requirement to call out a recovery service. These documents will also provide you with the information required in case of a loss of satellite navigation or the need to contact your travel insurance provider.
Car Emergency Kit
In the event of an accident or a breakdown, its crucial to have a well-stocked car emergency kit. This checklist provides everything you need. It includes items for dealing with a flat tire or a flat battery – two of the most common automotive issues.
Also included in this list are items meant to increase visibility of you and your vehicle whilst at the side of the road. A warning triangle and high visibility vest is very important. Flashlights and spare change are items you might not think of, but which can be very useful.
- Inflated spare tire
- Car jack
- Simple toolkit
- Jump leads
- portable battery pack
- Fuel can
- Duct tape
- High visibility vest
- Warning triangle
- Flashlight
- Some cash and spare change
- Tire pressure gauge, inflation kit and sealant
This Roadside Emergency Kit contains most of the essential items required, but make sure you use the checklist. This item is often bought with a large car trunk organizer and a really useful portable car vacuum cleaner, to keep your vehicle orderly and clean.
Before leaving for your journey, always check that you have an inflated spare tire, repairing a flat tire at the side of the road is not always possible. If the puncture is minor, sometimes you can repair it using the sealant followed by the inflation kit.
Essential Car Accessories
These essential car accessories include items relating to entertainment, navigation and car organisation.
- Dash cam
- in-car charger
- AUX cable to connect devices
- Bluetooth receiver
- Mobile phone holder
- Satellite navigation device
- Car trunk organizer
- Car windshield sunshade
- Multi-tool
The above list will be sure to make your life easier whilst out on a journey. The AINOPE In-Car Charger and this Mobile Phone Holder are popular items.
The Comfort List
This list of items will ensure you stay comfortable in the car on any journey!
- Blankets
- Neck pillows
- Lumbar back support
- Sunglasses
- Air freshener
- Padded seat covers
- Awesome foot mats
A key item that I never hit the road without is this Lumbar Back Support. I suffer from lower back pain whilst driving and this helps me maintain a better seated position
Essential Winter Items
These winter items will help you keep your car road-worthy in times of ice and snow, amongst other conditions.
- Ice scraper
- De-icer
- Windscreen washer fluid
- Snow shovel
- Snow chains, if required
- Extra Warm Clothing
- Winter Boots
This Roadside Winter Kit includes many of the above items!
First Aid Supplies and Safety Essentials
Having some basic first aid supplies will put your mind at ease whilst out on the road.
- First Aid Kit
- Medication required for all passengers
- Face masks
- Hand sanitiser
- Car window hammer
- Sun screen
- Bug spray
- Emergency blanket
- Plasters and band aids
The easiest thing to do is have a nice sized portable First Aid Kit which you can store in the car. Hopefully you never have to use it!
Essential Clothing and Accessories
These clothing essentials are must-haves for any event!
- Umbrella
- Warm Jacket
- Rain Coat
- Sunglasses
- Gloves
- Waterproof Boots
- Baseball Cap
Essential Car Snacks
Forgetting snacks whilst on a road trip can create sheer havoc in the car! If there is one thing that can settle an on-road dispute, its a well stocked snack box. Here are some key things to keep in your car to avoid overpaying at gas stations
- Plenty of drinking water
- Healthy snacks such as nuts, seeds and protein bars
- Sweets and candy
- Beef jerky
- Your favorite flavoured chips
- Energy drinks
Personal Care Items
- Tissues
- Allergy tablets
- Facial wipes
- Lip balm
- Deodorant
Car Cleaning Essentials
- Car seat covers
- In-car cleaning wipes
- Trash bags
- Paper towels
- Car vacuum cleaner
- Microfiber cloths
In-Car Entertainment
- Plenty of road trip games to keep you busy
- An awesome list of road trip questions
- Printable road trip games
Items For Babies Or Toddlers
If you have children its a good idea to have a separate bag with all the essential items for them which you always keep in your car. This means you don’t need to worry about packing things each time you head out of the house.
- Diapers
- Baby wipes
- Food
- Clothes
Items For Dog Owners
If you are a dog owner, this list of essentials will ensure you can keep your dog safe, secure, and comfortable during car journeys.
- Poop bags
- Dog leash
- Health records and medication
- A dog crate or harness to secure your dog. You can also use a dog car seat
- Portable bowl and drinking water
- Paper towels
- Wipes
- Dog blanket
- Treats and food
Iain founded The Road Trip Expert in 2019 and continues to manage the website to this day. The inspiration to start the blog came during an extensive road trip around Europe with two friends that spanned several months and involved over 25,000km of driving. Iain writes about a variety of topics including backpacking, planning road trips, and car camping.