Best Car Survival Kits you must carry in 2023

It’s easy to take driving for granted as cars have become more reliable and dependable. But hitting the road still isn’t without some inherent risks. You may have an unexpected breakdown where help may not be readily available. That’s where emergency car kits come to the rescue to help you either get back on the road or to stabilize your situation so you can seek further assistance.

Emergency car kits often come with a combination of basic and specialized tools packaged in one convenient, stowable carrying case. The equipment often includes a first aid kit, jumper cables, a tire repair kit, basic tools, and even distress signals such as flares. All these items may come in handy should a dire situation arise and they may even save your life in the event of a roadside emergency.

Thankfully, there’s no need to buy these items individually as there are plenty of complete emergency car kits available. Most emergency car kits range between $20-$100 and like many other automotive accessories, the case of getting what you pay for applies here.

More expensive kits often cost more by featuring more complex tools, such as a 12-volt-powered portable air compressor, LED road flares, heavy-duty tow straps and sometimes shovels or ice brushes. Less expensive kits typically feature less items or are geared towards specific cases. So we did our best to choose the top five emergency car kits that money can buy. But like many of our short automotive accessories list, great choices do not stop here.

Here are 17 items that can be useful to have in your car:

1. A spare tire and a jack
2. A tire pressure gauge
3. A set of jumper cables
4. A flashlight with extra batteries
5. A first aid kit
6. A road map or a GPS device
7. A bag or container for trash
8. A car phone charger
9. A portable air compressor
10. An emergency blanket
11. Bottled water and non-perishable snacks
12. A small tool kit with basic tools
13. A fire extinguisher
14. Reflective triangles or road flares for emergency situations
15. A rain poncho or umbrella
16. A portable car vacuum cleaner
17. A multi-purpose tool like a Swiss Army Knife or Leatherman.