From Road & Track · Sheilah Villari · · 3m
Car Emergency Kit Essentials for 2026
Your car needs these 2026 emergency kit essentials to stay safe on the road.
In brief
Your car needs these 2026 emergency kit essentials to stay safe on the road. Car owners should include a portable jump starter, tire inflator, and first-aid kit in their emergency kits for road safety. Originally reported by Road & Track.
Why Emergency Kits Matter
Breakdowns rarely happen somewhere convenient. A dead battery in your driveway is annoying; a flat tire on the shoulder of a dark highway in bad weather is a much bigger problem.
Core Kit Essentials
Roadside emergency kit necessities include portable jump starter, portable tire inflator, and roadside safety beacons.
Modern Kit Upgrades
The basics haven’t changed much, but the gear has improved. Along with reflective triangles, a flashlight, a first-aid kit, gloves, and basic tools, consider carrying a portable jump starter, tire inflator, and backup phone charger.
Personalized Kits
What belongs in your kit depends on where and how you drive. A daily commuter won’t need the same supplies as someone heading cross-country or driving through snow.
Check Your Kit
Tailor your kit to your vehicle and travel habits, and check it regularly to replace expired supplies and recharge batteries.
All-in-One Kit
This comprehensive roadside-assistance kit includes everything you might need to get you back on the road again, or to stay safe until help arrives.
Emergency Escape Tool
This two-in-one emergency escape tool is both a window breaker and a seat-belt cutter, allowing you to extricate yourself from trouble quickly.
Portable Jump Starter
The Battery Tender Jump N Start 2000A earned our Top Pick during testing in this category, impressing us with its solid construction, straightforward design, and dependable performance.
Handheld Tire Inflator
Fanttik’s X10 Pro earned our Best Portable Tire Inflator pick thanks to its compact design, easy operation, and reliable performance.
Rechargeable Emergency Lights
Each of the lights in this three-pack of rechargeable safety flares has nine flashing modes for different SOS rescue signals.
Battery-Powered Flashlight
Yes, there’s a flashlight on your mobile phone, but get one that runs on a couple of AA batteries so you never have to worry about whether it’s charged.
Phone Charger
The SolidSafe 10K makes a great backup with its 10,000mAh capacity, magnetic wireless charging, and USB-C ports.
Safety Vest
Safety beacons and emergency flares are essential, but just as important, you need to make yourself more visible to other motorists whizzing by.
Emergency Care
This 150-piece first-aid kit features everything from bandages and scissors to tourniquets and tweezers.
Tow Strap
This three-by-20-inch tow strap has a nearly 32,000-pound break strength and comes in multiple lengths and widths.
Fire Extinguisher
This auto/marine fire extinguisher from First Alert is rated 10-B:C and can be refilled if necessary.
Hand Protection
Mechanix Wear Original Work Gloves are a balance of protection, comfort, and dexterity for changing tires or tackling roadside repairs.
Warmth Essentials
If you live in a climate where ice and snow are a seasonal driving hazard, stashing an emergency blanket in your vehicle can really save your bacon.
Fix a Flat
Okay, in this day and age of ride-flat tires, a tire-repair kit might seem like overkill but could be handy in a pinch.
Quick-Fix Essential
Waterproof patch-and-seal tape can be a great problem solver for temporary repairs such as sealing a leaking sunroof.
The headline
Car owners should include a portable jump starter, tire inflator, and first-aid kit in their emergency kits for road safety.
