For a lot of us the car is a second home, and just as there are things you cannot live without at home, there are items that should never leave your boot. A first aid kit, a usable spare, a blanket for the night you break down somewhere cold — plus food and water for when things get genuinely inconvenient.
The essentials fall into a few categories. Some are for the day the car lets you down. Some are for the day you need paperwork in a hurry. Some just make the daily commute less irritating. Here is the full list, worked through category by category.
A Car Emergency Kit Is Non-Negotiable
In the event of a mechanical breakdown, these are the basics:
- Spare tyre. A spare is a must in any vehicle. When a tyre goes flat or blows out, there is rarely a service station conveniently close. Check that the spare is actually inflated — most people discover theirs is flat at the worst possible moment.
- Tyre jack and wheel brace. Unless you have unusual upper body strength, you need mechanical help to lift the car far enough to swap the flat for the spare. Confirm the jack that came with the car is still in it.
- Tyre sealant and a 12V pump. Changing a wheel is not always necessary. A small puncture often needs nothing more than sealant and air. Check your tyre pressures regularly so a slow leak is caught early.
- Duct tape. The Swiss Army knife of the tape world. Good for a split hose, a flapping trim panel, or holding a bumper on long enough to get home.
- Jumper leads. Tyres are not the only thing that strands people. A flat battery is far more common, and a set of jumper leads plus a willing passer-by gets you moving again. A compact lithium jump starter is better still, because it does not need a second car.
- Oil and coolant. A car does not run without them. Carrying a litre of the correct oil and some coolant costs almost nothing and can save an engine.
- Fire extinguisher. In a serious fault, every second counts — there is a lot of flammable material in a modern car. A small dry powder extinguisher mounted where you can reach it from the driver's seat is the right call.
- Torch and spare batteries, plus a hi-vis vest and warning triangle. If you break down at night on a road like the South Eastern Freeway, being visible is a safety issue, not a convenience.
Glove Box Essentials
We have to keep a surprising amount of paperwork in our cars and there are not many sensible places for it. The glove box gets overlooked, despite being ideal for the things that must always be with the vehicle:
- The owner's manual — worth more than people think when a warning light appears.
- Proof of registration and insurance, for an accident or a roadside stop.
- Contact details for a repairer and for roadside assistance.
- Service and maintenance history, so whoever works on the car knows what has been done.
- A pen and notebook, for recording the other driver's details after a collision.
- A written list of key phone numbers, in case your phone dies and you are using someone else's.
- A paper map or road atlas — occasionally technology fails and something on paper gets you home.
- Work gloves, so you are not changing a wheel bare-handed on a hot roadside.
First Aid
If you are hurt on the road you may not have quick access to a doctor. A well-stocked first aid kit matters. Keep the following in the car at all times:
- Bandages — both triangular and crepe rolled.
- Plasters in a range of sizes and shapes.
- Gauze dressings.
- Antiseptic spray and cream.
- Antihistamines.
- Common painkillers such as aspirin and paracetamol.
- Disinfectant hand wipes.
- Distilled water for flushing wounds and eyes.
- Scissors, tweezers and safety pins.
- Any allergy or chronic medication critical to your wellbeing — an EpiPen, an inhaler, and so on.
Check the expiry dates once a year. A kit full of expired antiseptic is not a kit.
Personal Items
Cars pick up a personality from the person driving them. A few additions make yours more livable:
- Spare face masks — still useful in hospitals, clinics and dusty work sites.
- A bottle of water and a few non-perishable snacks, for errands that run long and for road trips.
- A brush or comb, for when you need to look presentable before a meeting.
- Spares of anything you use daily and would be annoyed to be without.
The Centre Console: Small Things Worth Having Close
The armrest cubby is prime real estate for things you want within reach:
- A charging cable — there is usually a USB port in the cubby anyway.
- Bottled water. Not all door pockets take a bottle, and the console keeps it out of the sun.
- Tissues, because nothing ruins a long drive faster than a runny nose.
- Loose change for parking meters and car park exits that reject cards.
Adelaide-Specific Additions
A few things earn their place in a South Australian car in particular. A sunshade and a spare bottle of water for summer, when a car parked in the open at Glenelg or in the CBD gets brutally hot. A picnic blanket or old towel for the Hills. And if you tow or drive rural, a basic tool roll and a tow strap.
When the Car Itself Becomes the Problem
All the preparation in the world will not rescue a car that has reached the end of its life. If your vehicle is breaking down repeatedly, failing inspections, or costing more in repairs each year than it is worth, the emergency kit is treating a symptom.
At that point it makes more sense to move it on. Adelaide Fast Car Removal pays cash for old cars and broken cars anywhere in Adelaide, and we cover the removal ourselves. If yours has already stopped being driven altogether, our unwanted car removal service will clear it from the driveway and pay you for the privilege.
Call 0431 463 481 for a free quote, or use the online form.
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