8+ years writing about insurance and personal finance
Widely published insurance expert
Margaret has written extensively on personal finance topics, including insurance, taxes, budgeting, saving, and more. She’s also a marketing manager and an award-winning poet.
5+ years in insurance and personal finance content
Ashley is a seasoned personal finance editor who’s produced a variety of digital content, including insurance, credit cards, mortgages, and consumer lending products.
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As you prepare for another season of winter driving, you’ll naturally be sure to keep enough gas in your tank and check the air in your tires. But have you created a winter car emergency kit? This small kit may be your most important winter modification.
A winter car emergency kit is a stash of supplies that can help make sure you’re as safe as possible if you need to hit the road during wintry weather conditions.
Winter car emergency kits should include items like a first aid kit, phone charger, water, and snacks, in case you’re injured or stranded in your car during a storm. You should also include items designed to help you deal with snow and ice, including ice scrapers, shovels, and a pair of gloves.
12 items to keep in your winter car kit
Your winter car emergency kit should include the following 12 items:
Fresh water
Non-perishable snacks
First aid kit
Flashlight and extra batteries
Cell phone charger
Warm hats, gloves, and socks
Blanket or sleeping bag
Ice scraper
Shovel
Sand or cat litter
Jumper cables
Tire chains and tow strap
Below, you can learn more about why each of these items is so important.
1. Fresh water
Fresh water is an essential element of a winter emergency car kit. If you find yourself stranded indefinitely due to a snowstorm, you need to stay hydrated. While it’s a good idea to keep your car stocked with fresh water year-round, this is especially important in winter, when a storm could immobilize you without much warning.
One easy way to keep water from freezing in your car is to store it inside a cooler or other insulated container. Make sure to change your water supply a couple of times per year so that it stays fresh.
2. Non-perishable snacks
Food is the next most important item in a winter emergency kit. If you’re stranded in your car during a storm, snacks can help you keep your energy up. You should include shelf-stable snacks that can withstand both hot and cold temperatures. Some great options include nuts, granola, protein bars, and jerky. As with water, you’ll want to swap these out every so often and make sure that they aren’t expired.
A staple of any emergency car kit, a first aid kit is a must-have, whether you get into an accident due to a winter storm or even just give yourself a minor injury while scraping ice or shoveling snow. A good first aid kit should include items like bandages, antibiotic ointment, antiseptic wipes, aspirin, sterile gauze, tweezers, and other items.[1]
If you have any time-sensitive medications that you need to take daily, you might also want to consider including them in a first aid kit. Check the kit periodically to make sure that nothing has expired.
4. Flashlight and extra batteries
You should also keep a flashlight in your car in case you’re stranded in the dark or when inclement weather makes it hard to see. Make sure that your flashlight has batteries. You may also want to include a backup hand-crank flashlight that’s operable without batteries.
5. Cell phone charger
Keeping your phone charged is important in an emergency in case you need to get in touch with emergency services, get a tow, or call friends or family for help. You should include a phone charger in your winter emergency kit. If possible, it’s a great idea to also include a fully charged phone battery pack so that you can continue to charge your phone if your car is turned off.
6. Warm hats, gloves, and socks
Stay prepared for chilly winter temperatures with a spare pair of gloves, a warm hat, and socks. Even if it’s not that cold when you leave the house, temperatures could drop with the onset of a winter storm. Keeping warm, cozy winter gear in the car is an easy way to make sure that you’re more comfortable if you’re stuck in your car during winter weather.
7. Blanket or sleeping bag
A warm blanket or a sleeping bag is also a must-have in your winter emergency kit. Some first aid kits come with emergency blankets designed to retain heat and help you stay warm. But even an old quilt or blanket is a good backup.
8. Ice scraper
Ice scrapers, which typically also include a brush attachment to brush off snow, help clear ice and snow from your car without damaging it. Whether you just bought a new car or are moving to a place with lots of snow, you’ll quickly find that an ice scraper is an essential element of your winter car kit arsenal.
9. Shovel
If you’re stuck somewhere unexpected during a winter storm, there’s a chance that you might find yourself snowed in. If this is the case, a shovel will come in handy to help you dig out your car and get back on the road when it’s safe to drive. Look for a compact, collapsible shovel that you can easily fit in your trunk.
10. Sand or cat litter
Slick conditions can make it hard to gain traction on roads. A bag of sand or non-clumping cat litter is another great addition to your winter emergency kit since it can help you get unstuck. Just sprinkle the sand or cat litter along the surface to give your tires grip and traction on the road.[2]
11. Jumper cables
One of the only things worse than being stranded with your vehicle during a winter storm is being stranded and having your car die on you. Keeping a spare pair of jumper cables in your car can make it easier to get a jump from another driver.
12. Tire chains and tow strap
Keep tire chains in your car if you need to drive on ice or snowy roads. If you get stuck in a snowbank, a tow strap or tow rope can help another vehicle get you out.
Car maintenance tips to prepare for winter weather conditions
Aside from keeping a fully stocked winter emergency kit, making sure your car is properly maintained is one of the best things you can do to prepare for winter weather.
Replace wiper blades
You don’t want to head into a winter storm with old, damaged wiper blades that leave your windshield streaky and blurry. It’s a fairly simple car maintenance step if you want to tackle it yourself, but you can also ask for a replacement whenever you get your oil changed or tires rotated.
Check your tires
You should check your tires before hitting the road in the winter. Make sure that your tire pressure is in line with your manufacturer’s specifications. You should also check your tire’s tread depth. The Colorado Department of Transportation recommends using the “quarter test,” where you insert a quarter headfirst into the tire tread. If George Washington’s head is visible, it’s a sign your tires might need to be replaced.
Check the car battery
Winter weather conditions can put a strain on your car’s battery. Have a mechanic check the battery at the beginning of the winter season to make sure it’s in optimal condition.
Check the gas tank
It’s always a good idea to keep your gas tank topped up, but this is especially important when hitting the road during inclement winter weather. Some gas stations may not be open, and if you’re stranded or otherwise unable to reach your destination, make sure that you have enough gas to get where you need to go once the roads are clear.
Mitigate road salt corrosion
Road salt lowers the freezing temperature of water to prevent ice from forming — but it can also leach into groundwater and corrode metal car components. To mitigate car corrosion, wax your vehicle’s exterior, keep your tires clean, and wash your car regularly.
Test headlights and brake lights
Working headlights and brake lights are especially important during winter storms, when visibility is affected. Make sure that your headlights and brake lights are in working order, and fix them if they’re dim or broken.
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7 tips for safe driving in the winter
Whether you’re not yet used to winter driving or just need a quick refresher, here are a few things to keep in mind when driving during the winter months.
Watch for black ice
Black ice on the road makes winter driving especially dangerous, as this type of ice is transparent and hard to spot in advance. Black ice forms most commonly in the early morning hours or at night — especially on bridges and overpasses.
You can sometimes spot black ice on the surface of the road; it looks like a smooth, glossy sheet. If other cars in front of you are swerving, black ice could be the cause. Practice driving and braking on slippery services ahead of time, if you can, so you can better be prepared for icy road conditions.[3]
Drive below the speed limit
Winter weather can make road conditions slick and dangerous, so it’s important to go slow and avoid speeding. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration recommends reducing your speed to half that of the posted speed limit on snow-packed roads and to two-thirds of the posted speed limit on wet pavement.[4]
Increase your following distance
When you’re driving on an ice- or snow-covered road, it takes longer to slow down and stop. Increase your following distance from 3–4 seconds to 5–6 seconds to avoid accidents.
Avoid using cruise control
Using cruise control when driving on snowy or slippery roads can affect your car’s ability to maintain a consistent speed. Driving on low-traction surfaces, like ice and snow, with cruise control on can also cause your car to skid or spin.
Use chains on your tires
Using chains on your tires during snowy conditions can help improve traction and make sure that your vehicle doesn’t slip and slide on the road.
In some states, using chains is required during snowstorms. For instance, during inclement weather, the Colorado Department of Transportation may require vehicles to have chains, winter tires, tires with an all-weather rating or mud and snow designation, 4-wheel drive, or all-wheel drive.[5]
Clear your car of snow and ice
If snow is on your car, clear it off entirely, even if it takes a few extra minutes. This is important because leaving snow on your car’s roof, trunk, or windshields can make for dangerous conditions on the road. Not only does it potentially reduce visibility while you’re driving, but it can also fall off your car and hit another vehicle, especially at high speeds.
Only drive on plowed or salted streets
No matter where you’re going, getting to your destination isn’t worth risking your health and safety. You should only drive on plowed or salted streets and avoid driving on roads that are unplowed or have packed snow. Not only can this help prevent accidents, but it’ll also reduce your risk of getting stranded in the snow.
Winter car emergency kit FAQs
Want to create a winter car emergency kit, but not sure where to start? Check out this additional information to make sure you’re prepared to hit the road during the winter months.
What should you have in your vehicle as an emergency kit during the winter?
You should keep essential items like food, water, and a first aid kit in your car’s winter emergency kit, as well as winter-specific items, like an ice scraper, shovel, hat, gloves, and blanket. Think about what you would need if you were stranded in your car because of a storm.
Is it safe to sleep in your car overnight in the winter?
Sleeping in your car overnight may be a last resort if you’re stranded in winter weather, but it’s safer than spending the night out in the open. The National Weather Service recommends running your vehicle for no more than 10 minutes each hour to stay warm while leaving your windows open a crack and regularly clearing your tailpipe to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
You should always stay with your vehicle while waiting for help to arrive. Make sure that you’re visible to rescuers, and take steps to make sure that you stay as warm and hydrated as you can.[6]
What are five things you can do to prepare your car for winter driving?
Five things you can do to prepare for winter driving include stocking up on water, packing snacks, keeping a winter emergency kit in your trunk, making sure that your car is properly maintained, and topping off your gas tank.
What types of food make good rations in case of a winter storm?
If you’re stranded in a winter storm, you want to ensure your bag is full of foods that’ll keep you feeling full and give you energy. Whole-grain crackers, peanut butter, protein or granola bars, jerky, dried raisins or apricots, and applesauce are all low-maintenance foods that can provide you the nourishment you need in a difficult situation.
Margaret Wack is a personal finance writer with a master's from St. John's College. She has written about finance and insurance topics for publications including Investopedia, Bankrate, MoneyGeek, The Simple Dollar, Money Under 30, and more. She has also written for sites like Angi, US News & World Report, ArtfulTea, and Reviews.com. Connect with Margaret on LinkedIn.
5+ years in insurance and personal finance content
Ashley is a seasoned personal finance editor who’s produced a variety of digital content, including insurance, credit cards, mortgages, and consumer lending products.
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