Have you ever stopped to think about what you should keep in your car in case of an emergency? Often times we don’t realize what we need until something happens. Instead of getting caught in a situation where you need something you don’t have, take a moment to read our Top 10 list below and stash your car with these essentials.

10. Flashlight – Everyone has a flashlight app on their smart phone these days. But in case your phone runs out of battery, you should keep an “old school” flashlight in your car if you’re stranded at night, or in case you need to look for your keys, cell phone, license, etc. that you’ve lost under the seat of your car.

9. Small Fire Extinguisher – If you are in an accident and your car catches on fire you will want an extinguisher on hand so you can stop the flames before they grow out of control.

8. First Aid Kit – A small cut or bruise might not be an “emergency” but a deep gash that needs a bandage to stop the bleeding might be something you would want to be prepared for. Or a bottle of pain killers might come in handy to fight that 5:00 headache from traffic 🙂

7. Jumper Cables – If your car battery dies but you don’t want to pay for a tow truck to bail you out, jumper cables can do the trick if you’re in a location with other people and vehicles. (Just be careful you read the directions or educate yourself on where the cables connect.)

6. Maps – Yes, again our smart phones most likely have GPS or map apps but we’re preparing you for the emergency situation where your phone is out of commission.

5. Car Phone Charger – Ok ok, your phone is important after all. Especially if you need to make an emergency call to AAA or to Juanita Collision Center!

4. Heavy Duty Compact Shovel – There are countless situations where you could need a shovel in an emergency, including digging your tires out of the mud or snow.

3. Dip Stick and Oil – Oil is essential to the health of your engine. Running on little or no oil will burn out your engine and cost you several thousands of dollars. It is especially important to carry these items if you are heading out on a road trip where long drives can quickly run down your oil supply.

2. Food, Water, Clothes, Money – We assume it is pretty obvious how these things would be important to keep in your car. An extra set of mittens, boots and a jacket could be especially important in the winter when a couple of hours of being stranded on the side of the road in the winter could cause frost bite.

1. Vehicle and Emergency Information – Having your license, registration, AAA card (if you have one) and the numbers of important people to call in an emergency are very important to keep in your car or with you at all times. These can easily be stored in the glove compartment of your vehicle.