An average American spends so much time behind the wheels that according to a recent study most drivers have formed an inseparable bond with their cars. They almost spend 8 hours and 22 minutes of driving per week. In fact, most of the car owners claim that they would never let anything bad happen to their cars. But if your car broke down in the middle of nowhere and you have nothing to protect it and yourself. Imagine yourself stranded due to flat tires, dead battery, or empty gas tank. Hence, being prepared to avoid getting into such situations is the key. It is always a good idea to keep your car well-maintained and carry a few basic items to help you out in times of need. We have prepared a list of 11 items that will come in handy in case of an emergency.
- Car Protection Cover
To protect your car from the scorching sun and winter snow make sure that you always park your car under a shade. However, finding a covered car parking is quite difficult, so invest your money in a portable car parking cover. And when we talk about portable cover then there is nothing better than Lanmodo Car Protection Cover. It will prevent harmful UV rays and blizzard snowstorm from damaging your car. It's portable and has a folding structure which means you can take it around anywhere and use it whenever you need it. In fact, its user friendly as well, which means you can set it up in just 30 seconds with just a click on your remote. And the best part about Lanmodo Car Cover is that it's 4.8 meters long, which is large enough to cover any car completely.
- Owner's Manual
Read the car manual carefully and always keep it in your vehicle. If your car stops in the middle of the road, you can go through this to get an idea of what went wrong with your car. Also, the car owner's manual will describe every little detail about your car, including the recommended maintenance schedules. The booklet shouldn't be left in the glove compartment, instead, understand your car's need with the help of this.
- Car Repair Information
Make sure you know the basics of car repair. Knowing how your car works and how to identify common problems is a good start. Once you understand the problem then you might to be able to solve it by yourself. This way you will also save yourself from the auto-repair rip-offs.
- First-Aid Kit
A first-aid kit is essential because no one knows when they will get caught up in an accident. You must know how to use it because what if you witness an accident on the road and you see the occupant bleeding. You might have to clean up the person first before you take him/her to the Hospital. Your first-aid kit must have some bandages, antiseptic, gloves, scissors, and alcoholic swabs and an inhaler in case you're an asthmatic patient.
- Flashlight
If you are a frequent night traveler then a flashlight is a must for you. It plays an important role when there isn't sufficient light on the road and you have to get out of the car to find something. And if you are lost somewhere at night then with the help of this you illuminate the path as well. Moreover, you can also use the flashlight to look for things under your car seats or to take a quick look at the car's engine. Don't rely on your phone's torchlight because the battery always runs out at the time when you need it the most.
- Jumper Cables
Just like the phone's battery, a car's battery can also suddenly run out and take you by surprise. Maybe you left the car's headlights or interior light on, either way, the battery usually doesn't give signals until it's too late. Hence, without jumper cables you won't be able to recharge it, so owning a set of jumper and knowing how to use it is a must for any car owner to save himself from the worst possible situation.
- Hazard Triangle
Make the hazard triangle, also known as the warning triangle, as a part of your car's emergency kit. Suppose you had to pull over the car onto the shoulder because suddenly you ran out of gas then how would you let other drivers know of the breakdown? That's when the hazard triangle comes in. Just put it 200m before your car at a place where it is easily visible to the motorist to protect yourself and your car from further misery.
- Tire Pressure Gauge
Well-maintained tires save you from so many problems and improve your car's mileage. Tire pressure gauge lets you know whether the tote has enough air or not. Keep this portable device in the back of your trunk and check your tire pressure on a monthly basis so that you don't have to stop anywhere because of a flat tire.
- Fire Extinguisher
God forbid your car engine ever catches fire or during camping, the event turns unpleasant then the fire extinguisher will help you in controlling the fire. Buy a small portable fire extinguisher that will work on flammable fluids and attach it to your car console so that it's easily accessible in times of need.
- Duct tape
Quick auto-repairs are not possible without the right tool. Duct-tape is a no brainer and is great for a temporary repair. If you have a little bit of knowledge about your car and its problem then you can easily take care of the spot if you have duct-tape in the back of your car. It a life-saver when it comes to a car breakdown.
- Multi-tool
Apart from duct-tape, there are few other things which are required to fix minor things in a car and you never know when you would need those things. Hence, a multi-tool kit is with some basic items like screwdriver, hammer, wrench, and pliers will suffice on the most common scenarios.
Remember this list is designed just to give you an idea about the necessary items. Feel free to add any other thing based on your own needs.
