Essential Things That Should be Kept in Your Car Always

In case of flat tyres.

     If you’re a driver, you’ve probably either been stuck with a broken down car (you don’t actually have to be a driver to experience this) or know someone who has been in a similar situation. Everyone hates being stuck at the side of the road, waiting for professional help to come your way. So if it’s a simple enough problem, why not try repairing it yourself? A lot of these problems come from flat tyres, which isn’t the hardest thing on earth to fix up by yourself. All you need is a little guidance at first or a tutorial and all that’s left to get is a tool kit. Always try to keep a tool box of sorts in your boot. It doesn’t have to be a bulky one, just keep it simple. Find out all the essential tools to change a tyre and keep them in a container, box or a little bag. You should be able to get all the required parts in a DIY store.

In case of emergencies.

     Every driver has faced emergencies before. I know of a few people who have driven their cars right out of fuel. I’m not saying that anyone reading this article does this on a regular basis, but it’s always good to have back up. Fuel stations aren’t always nearby, so why not just keep some fuel in a container or something just in case?

     Aside from running your car out of fuel, there are some instances where drivers forget to turn off the lights. Upon returning to your car, you might not be able to start it due to a dead battery. Therefore, try to have some spare cables in your trunk. These have proven handy to me on certain occasions, allowing me to jump start my car without having to call a mechanic to come with a car battery.

     In most emergencies, a phone is a very important tool for survival. But there are some people who do forget to charge their phones, occasionally. When you’re out of the house and can’t charge your phone, a phone charger with a car cigarette lighter adapter is like water in a desert. So when you need to power up your phone, just plug in into your car phone charger. Those always come in handy, at some point or another.

     Other emergency items can also be stuff like fire extinguishers, WD40 lubricants, torch lights, duct tape (that’s always handy, no matter how useless it seems at first), even an extra pair of clothes can prove to be a rescuer at times. If you’re the exploring type, a compass could be a good friend.

In case of hunger.

     I thought about putting this under emergencies, because we all get hungry, at one point or another. Jams are a killer, too. Meats and fresh fruits aren’t the best of fod choices for long-term storage. Try purchasing some power bars or breakfast bars to store in your car. I’d stay away from chocolate, as heat might be an issue, depending on where you’re parking. Drinks are also important. No one can live for long without water, so always keep a bottle (preferably two) of water in your car. And very importantly, try to get food items that are packaged separately. This ensures that your food will always be kept fresh in your car. As food doesn’t last forever, keep in mind their expiry dates and remember to swap them out when the time comes.

In case of boredom.

     All drivers know how painful it is to be stuck in a two hour jam on the way home from work. In situations like these, a man/woman will do almost anything to keep his/her mind occupied (it’s a bit like prison). To make your journey a little more endurable, always stock up your car with good music. (good meaning anything you find relaxing, as everyone is entitled to their own opinions on good music) You could burn a CD or two (I keep about eight of my own burned CDs in my car to switch on different mood occasions) to suit your different moods. For people who prefer not to listen to music (I don’t know of many people like that), you could get a bobbing toy to sit on your dashboard (personally, that just drives me nuts even faster).

     This isn’t the most complete of lists, but I hope I’ve covered some parts that you might have missed out. Take care, and offer any other additional suggestions in the comments section below, if you think I missed out anything really important. Cheers.