What to Keep in Your Car? 10 Car Necessities for New Drivers

For new drivers, driving your first car is an exciting milestone, but before you hit the road, it’s important to ensure it’s well-equipped for safe driving. While seasoned drivers may be more aware of the different safety items and car necessities to keep handy, it’s always good to get a refresher.

As a leading professional driving school, Driven2Drive is aware of all the items new drivers should keep in their cars that they may overlook. This comprehensive guide will cover all the essentials you should keep in your car, from emergency kits to items for your comfort and convenience, so that you’re ready for anything that comes your way.

Essential Items for Your Car: A Complete List

Stocking your car with essential items can help you stay prepared in the event of an emergency or unforeseen situation. From daily inconveniences to incidents with your car, having these items available at all times can help alleviate a stressful situation. Below, we’ll look at a brief list of items to keep in your car and then look at them more closely throughout the article so you can better understand why these items are important to have.

Safety and Emergency Itemshttps://driven2drive.com/blog/getting-acquainted-with-a-vehicle-notes-from-drivers-education/

• Emergency roadside kit
• Spare tire and jack
• First aid kit
• Fire extinguisher

Maintenance and Repair Tools

• Jumper cables
• Tire pressure gauge
• Basic tool kit

Comfort and Convenience Supplies

• Blanket
• Trash bags
• Water and non-perishable snacks
• Mobile phone charger
• Car documents like manual, registration, insurance, and repair information

What Should I Keep in My Car for Emergencies?

How to make a car emergency kit

Emergencies can happen to you or to someone else on the road, so stocking your car with essentials is important for ensuring your own safety and that of others. Here are the key items you should keep in your car for emergencies:

1. Emergency roadside kit: This is a must-have for any vehicle, and contains a few different items that can come in handy in the event of an emergency. Your emergency roadside kit should contain the following:
   • Reflective warning triangles
   • A high-visibility vest
   • Flashlight with spare batteries
   • Whistle
   • A seatbelt cutter and window breaker
2. Spare tire and jack: Always make sure your spare tire is inflated and in good condition and that you know how to change a tire using a jack and lug wrench. You can practice this at home so you’re prepared to do it by the road if you ever need to.
3. First aid kit: In the event of minor injuries caused by a traffic accident or an incident unrelated to driving. Always make sure it’s stocked with specific items such as:

• Bandages and adhesive tape
• Antiseptic wipes
• Gauze and medical scissors
• Pain relievers
• Tweezers

Pro tip: You can find ready-to-go first aid kits and emergency roadside kits on Amazon, which can save you money and the headache of making sure each kit is fully stocked.

Everyday Essentials to Keep in Your Car

While it’s always smart to be prepared for any emergency on the road, it’s equally as important to keep everyday essentials in your car for when you need them. Let’s take a closer look at some of the everyday items you should always keep in your car. 

4. Car manual: Always keep your car’s manual in your glove compartment for quick reference. This can be especially handy when visiting a garage if the mechanic isn’t very familiar with the make and model of your vehicle
5. Registration: It’s important to have your car’s registration available at all times, and while many people keep this in their wallet, leaving it in your car ensures it’s always available if you need to provide it to authorities.
6. Copy of your car insurance: A copy of your car insurance policy and contact information for your insurance company is another important thing to keep handy in case you’re involved in an accident and need to exchange information. 
7. Car repair information: Always keep a list of important phone numbers, such as:
   • Tow truck services (locally and regionally)
   • Emergency services
   • Your mechanic
   • Roadside assistance service (if you’re a member)

Pro tip: Always keep car documentation handy and organized in your glove compartment so that they’re just a short reach away when needed by authorities or in an accident.

Tools and Accessories for Car Maintenance

If something happens to your car, you’ll most likely call a tow truck or emergency services. Still, you may find yourself one day somewhere remote or on a busy day when a tow truck can’t get to you right away. You can also handle small maintenance issues on your own without calling for help. Here are a few tools to keep in your car for when the need arises.

8. Jumper cables: Whether you need a jump yourself or you’re helping out a friend or another stranded driver, jump cables are essential for starting a dead battery. Make sure you know how to use them safely and correctly before operation.
9. Tire pressure gauge: It’s good practice to regularly check your tire pressure, especially before long trips. Keeping a pressure gauge in your car means you can quickly and easily check tire pressure and prevent flats or blowouts.
10. Basic tool kit: Some basic tools can be helpful to fix minor issues in a bind, Consider keeping a small tool kit in your car with items such as:
    • Screwdrivers
    • An adjustable wrench
    • Pliers
    • Duct tape
    • Zip ties
    • Multi-tool

Must-Have Apps and Gadgets for New Drivers

These days, preparing your car extends beyond physical items to keep in your trunk or glove compartment. There are a few apps and gadgets you should have downloaded or handy to use for navigation or in emergency situations. Here are a few we recommend.

Navigation apps

Download some navigation apps to get around easier, particularly in areas you’re not familiar with. You can download these on your phone or on your car’s navigation system, just make sure you can operate them hands-free so that your hands are always on the wheel. Some apps we recommend include:

• Google Maps
• Waze
• Apple Maps

Contact and emergency gadgets

Aside from a phone, contact and emergency gadgets can help you seek help in the event of an accident. Some gadgets to consider adding to your car include:

• Bluetooth hands-free kit for safe, hands-free calling
• Emergency SOS button to send your location to authorities
• Dash cam to provide a visual record of your journey in case of an accident

Personal Comfort and Convenience Items to Keep in Your Car

Aside from the items we’ve already covered that make driving easier and safer, you can consider some other basic items for your convenience, such as:

• A charger for your phone or devices
• Umbrella
• Blanket and extra clothing
• Emergency cash

What to Keep in the Car for Winter Emergencies

Winter driving has its own set of inconveniences, so to make driving and the road less stressful for you, it’s ideal to keep some winter car essentials nearby. Here are some things to make sure to always have in your car during the winter season:

• Ice scraper and de-icer: Used to scrape the ice off your windows and windshield so that you can see better.
• Snow shovel: If there’s heavy snowfall after you’ve parked, you may need to dig around your car a little to be able to exit your spot.
• Windshield wiper fluid: While it’s a good idea to keep windshield wiper fluid in your car for top-ups in all seasons, it’s particularly important in the winter when you’re likely to use more to clear ice off your windshield.
• Salt or cat litter: Keep a bag of salt or kitty litter in your trunk for those days when it gets icy and you need to jig your parked car loose over a patch of ice.
• Traction mats: Aside from salt or litter, traction mats can help you loosen your car in heavy snow if you’re unable to get the wheels out. This can take some practice and patience, but you’ll be glad to have them handy if it gets really snowy. 

Additional Items That are Useful to Keep in the Car

There are a number of other items you can keep in your car to make the ride smoother, cleaner, and more enjoyable. Here’s a brief look at some things you might want to keep in your car regularly:

• Reusable shopping bags: For groceries or other purchases
• Wipes: To clean up spills or wipe down your dashboard
• Trash bags: Add a small trash bag to throw away wrappers, gum, or other small items
• Portable air compressor: Can help inflating tires on the go
• Physical maps: In case you can’t access maps digitally, it’s a good idea to have physical ones available
• Spare change: For toll roads when necessary
• Sunglasses: Good to have a spare set for when it’s very bright outside
• Pen and paper: For jotting down important information or notes
• Mobile phone charger: Having a phone charger is important during long trips or if your car breaks down and you need to remain reachable
• Water and non-perishable snacks: These can come in handy in case your car gets stuck or you’re stuck in traffic for an extended period of time.

Pro tip: To keep your car clean and organized, you can keep non-essential items like water, trash bags, and reusable bags in a basket in the trunk so that you can access them as needed.

Driving Preparation with Driven2Drive

It may feel overwhelming at first to secure all these items to add to your car if you’re a new driver, but not to worry. Some items can be picked up for cheap or even purchased in a set, so start with getting the most important safety items first and then padding out your essentials list. 

At Driven2Drive, we always prepare our students for emergency scenarios and equip them with the skills they’ll need in case of an unforeseen event. We also discuss the different items you should keep in your car to make it clear why each one is important, making it easier for new drivers to understand which items to start with in their car necessities list.

Key Takeaways

• Equip your car with emergency and safety essentials
• Keep everyday essentials in your car for convenience
• Adjust your car’s inventory seasonally
• Enhance your driving experience with comfort items
• Use gadgets, apps, and tech tools to ensure safety and smooth navigation

If you’re interested in lessons or want to prepare for your driving test, check out our pricing and packages.

FAQs

Related Resources

• Explore our tips for essential car maintenance: Essential Car Maintenance Tips
• Learn about safe driving habits for teenagers: Top 10 Safe Driving Habits