The Always-In-Your-Car List
These items should live in your vehicle 365 days a year, regardless of season. Think of this as your baseline — everything else layers on top.
Most people find out their spare is flat after they already have a flat. Take 2 minutes this week to check the pressure. The recommended PSI is usually printed on the sidewall.
Top Gear Picks — All Year
NOCO Boost Plus GB40
Jump-start up to a 6-liter gas engine without another vehicle. Compact enough for any glove box. Doubles as a USB power bank for your phone.
Lightning X Premium First Aid Kit
Well-stocked, waterproof, and sized for a trunk. Includes trauma supplies most basic kits leave out — tourniquets, wound packing gauze, and CPR shield.
Winter Car Kit
Cold weather adds a whole new layer of risk to driving. Ice, snow, and dead batteries in freezing temps require specific supplies. Add these to your year-round kit when temperatures start dropping.
In places like DFW and Central Texas, black ice — not snow — is the biggest hazard. It's invisible. The rule: if temps are below 32°F and roads are wet, treat every bridge and overpass as potentially icy.
HeatMax Hand Warmers (40-pack)
Air-activated, last up to 10 hours, and work in any pocket or glove. Keep a pack in your car and one in your bag November through March.
Summer Car Kit
Summer brings its own hazards — heat-related breakdowns, overheating engines, and the very real risk of heat illness if you're stranded without water. Here's what to swap in for warmer months.
On a 90°F day, a car interior can reach 130°F in 20 minutes. If you're ever in a situation where a child or pet is locked in a hot car, in Texas you are legally protected to break a window to save them.
What to Do When Your Car Breaks Down
Step-by-step — whether you're on a highway or a rural road.
Step 1: Get Safe First
Don't stop in the lane of traffic. Steer to the right shoulder or an exit ramp. Turn on hazard lights immediately — before you've even fully stopped. If you can't move the car, stay inside with your seatbelt on and call 911.
Step 2: Make Yourself Visible
Once safely off the road, place reflective triangles or flares 100+ feet behind your vehicle. Raise your hood to signal distress. If it's dark, leave interior lights on and use a flashlight.
Step 3: Call for Help
Call roadside assistance (AAA, your insurance, or a towing company). If you don't have service, try calling 511 (the national traffic line) or 911. Tell them your location — a mile marker, exit number, or cross street.
Step 4: Wait Safely
Stay off the road. If you must exit the vehicle, get as far from traffic as possible. Do not stand behind your car. If someone stops, crack your window to speak with them but don't open your door unless you're certain it's safe.
AAA: 1-800-222-4357 | Non-emergency police: look up your county | Your insurance roadside line: check your card