what to have in your car emergency kit

Driving in Australia can lead to all kinds of unexpected situations.

You can run into roadworks, suspension down, become lost in strange neighbourhoods, have to modify a flat tyre in the rain, and hit a kangaroo in the Outback.

Your power to cope with these emergencies tin depend on what yous behave in your car.

Having the correct car emergency kit in your vehicle can help you deal with the unexpected and stay safe.

While you may not need sure items in your kit for months or even years, yous'll at least feel better knowing they're there.

Roadside assistance tin besides give you peace of mind—the knowledge that, if you break down on the side of the road, you tin summon help with a simple telephone telephone call.

What are the almost useful things to put in a car emergency kit? Here is a checklist:

#ane. Car owner'south manual

If you e'er take the auto manual out of your vehicle for whatsoever reason, make sure it goes back in the glove box or seat pocket when you're done. If yous're out and about and need to know something technical about your car, this booklet will accept the answers.

It includes tips and instructions on how to change fuses and light bulbs, top-up fluids, maintain correct tyre pressure level and more, including details on what your warranty covers and how to troubleshoot common bug.

#2. Torch and spare batteries

Always keep a decent torch in your car, along with some spare batteries. This can exist handy at nighttime if yous get lost and demand to terminate and consult a map, or if y'all want to want to check under the bonnet in the dark.

If you lot've broken down on a dark road, a torch can help you signal oncoming motorists (hopefully this won't be almost Wolf Creek) to let them know you need assistance and alert them to possible danger (you should also have your gamble lights on).

#3. Spare tyre, jack, tyre lever, pump and tyre gauge

Keep a properly inflated spare tyre in your boot besides every bit a jack and bike lever and then you tin can change a flat tyre when needed. It also doesn't hurt to bring forth a apartment piece of sturdy board to identify nether the jack stand for when the ground is boggy.

A brick is likewise useful for wedging nether a wheel on the opposite side of the car to provide extra stability when changing a tyre.

There are an countless number of car tyre inflators on the marketplace, from simple hand pumps to powered models. Yous should always accept some portable method of pumping up tyres in your vehicle.

Deport a simple paw-held tyre gauge likewise, so you lot can check pressures. Don't solely rely on Roadside Assistance to change a apartment tyre for yous: this plan merely works if you've remembered to charge your prison cell phone – and happen to have it with you when a tyre goes flat.

Read our guide to changing a car tyre.

#4. First-help kit

No one expects you to turn into an instant medical hero at a crash site, but having a basic first assistance kit in your vehicle can be a big help to yourself and others if at that place's a trouble.

You tin can purchase a pre-fabricated motoring emergency first assistance kit (St. John Ambulance sells a $35 Personal Motoring Kit that fits nicely in the glove box) or make 1 up yourself.

A first aid kit works best when you've had enough kickoff assistance grooming to know how to use information technology properly. If information technology's been a long while since you underwent whatever first assistance instruction, at present might be a skilful time to think nigh a refresher course. You lot never know what type of emergency is but effectually the corner.

#five. Hi-vis condom vest

If your car breaks downwardly and yous demand to get out of the vehicle for any reason, put on a reflective, loftier-visibility safety vest first. If at that place'due south an accident, wearing a belong can substantially decrease the chances that you'll get hit past oncoming traffic.

Route rubber vests are inexpensive (around $15), lightweight and easy to store beneath your commuter-side automobile seat. They're a tiny investment that can save something a lot more than valuable: your life.

#six. Blanket

Drowsiness and fatigue are undeniable factors in many Aussie road accidents. Sometimes the best solution is to find a safe place to pull over and take a nap until you're refreshed enough to proceed. A blanket will help. When you have children dozing in the back seat, a blanket will continue them more comfy too.

If information technology's a hot day and you've cleaved down but don't want to sit in your oven-similar vehicle, you can use a blanket to rig upwardly some shade exterior the motorcar.

Blankets also aid protect your motorcar's finish if you accept to do some emergency piece of work under the bonnet or notice yourself changing a corrosive battery that might damage the paint. Blow victims that start to become into shock will likewise do good from being kept warm with a coating.

#7. Toilet paper

The human body is an amazing machine but what goes in must eventually come out – and sometimes the timing doesn't run to schedule. Always carry a ringlet of toilet newspaper in the machine.

Not only volition it serve its intended purpose in an emergency, but it'due south also handy for mopping upwards small drink spills, dusting off dashboards and clearing condensation from the inside of foggy windows. Bring along some decent three-ply, non the cheap stuff.

#viii. Water

It's astonishing how many people deport no spare water in their cars. A 10-litre container is best but whatever corporeality is better than none. If you're driving in the outback, you lot'll need to carry even more than.

Drinking water can literally be a life-saver if you break downwardly in a remote surface area. Water is also useful for cleaning out wounds, topping upward a thirsty radiator and for full general cleaning duties in and around the vehicle (like when a fruit bat makes a 'contribution' to your bonnet and you lot want to clean it off immediately).

The hotter the driving conditions, the more h2o you should conduct; don't get caught out.

#9. Jumper leads

Information technology'due south non hard to drain a car battery. Leaving the lights on (external or internal) when the car isn't running is a mutual culprit. In the absence of any emergency Roadside Assistance, ane solution is to have a working vehicle help get your battery going with a jump-kickoff.

Your car manual includes specific guidelines on how to safely perform a jump-start, and then read it carefully. If yous (or someone else) does information technology incorrectly, the potential damage to your vehicle can be quite serious and plush. Depending on the sort you buy, a fix of jumper leads can cost you less than $twoscore or more than than $200.

If your car'due south battery is worn out, it'll demand to be replaced by a roadside contractor (if you're stuck on the side of the road) or a car battery shop (if your car's still driveable).

Alternatively, if you're up to it, you may decide to supercede it yourself. Read our guide to replacing a car battery.

Whether you're a tinkerer from manner dorsum or know nothing at all about cars, it'due south inevitable that one day you lot'll have to perform some bones maintenance chores. Your kit could include things like:

Work gloves
Vice grips
Socket, spanner and shifter ready
Screwdriver with child-bearing bits
Regular and needle-nose pliers
Spark plugs
Light globes and fuses
WD40
Electrical Tape
Rags or an old towel
Parachute string or rope
Extra fluids (minor bottles of oil and coolant) for topping your vehicle

You can find ready-fabricated emergency car tool kits at your local motorcar retailer. Go on at least ii rags in your vehicle for dirty jobs, besides; carry some hand degreaser so you can launder upwards subsequently working on the car.

#xi. Money

It'south not a bad thought to take a little emergency cash stored in your auto. It should be extremely well subconscious so as not to attract the attention of opportunistic thieves (a few coins left in the open is enough for some) and needn't be more than $threescore or $70.

This is enough to get a taxi somewhere if needed or pay for minor expenditures in an emergency. Out on the road, you lot can't always access an ATM when yous desperately need ane.

#12. Fire extinguisher

Your automobile retail supplier will stock a compact fire extinguisher that'south suitable for utilise in vehicles. Make certain you invest in one.

#13. Lighter or matches

Ane of the starting time rules of survival – in any state of affairs – is to take some method of making fire. Lighters don't work too well if they get thoroughly soaked in the rain, so do your best to go along them dry out. Waterproof matches are a ameliorate choice than normal matches because you can use them in any weather.

#14. Portable phone charger

If you take to make a telephone call and your phone is dead, a portable phone charger can make all the difference. There'due south nothing worse than being stranded somewhere with no ways to communicate or get assist.

Your emergency kit should include contact details for police, ambulance, fire, your insurer and anyone else who tin can provide help during or later a breakdown.

#16. Roadside assistance membership

You can go Budget Direct Roadside Assistance for just $89.95 per year — the equivalent of less than $one.75 a week.

With our network of two,500 qualified contractors — including mobile mechanics, battery specialists, locksmiths, tow-truck operators, and tyre repairers — you're never too far from assistance.

If you're already a member and you've cleaved downward and need help, please telephone call 1800 514 448.

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Source: https://www.budgetdirect.com.au/roadside-assistance-australia/guides/things-to-put-in-a-car-emergency-kit.html