What do you keep in your car to be prepared?

[LemonViolet]

Having the car proper valeted this evening, so given we have a clean slate am thinking carefully about what I’m allowing back in

Off the top of my head

• Parking permits for FIL’s street (in little folder to keep neat)
• Emergency window breaker/seatbelt cutter tool velcro’d in the drivers door pocket
• ice scraper/de icer spray in winter
• phone charger
• supermarket trolley token & car park change in a little purse. Although everywhere I park is an app now anyway.
• few bottles of water and snack bars in case we ever break down or hangry stuck in traffic
• dog poo bags, collapsible water bowl, spare dog collar & lead, dog towels

What else?

Bottle of water and bags for life. That's it.

Dog poop bags, spare leash, toilet bag for each DC with nappies, wipes and nappy bags, my glasses, umbrella, blanket for each DC, electric jumper pack, jumper cables, phone charger, notebook and pen, de-icer, ice scraper,

• blankets
• Uniqlo quilted jacket for each of us. They fold to nothing.
• snacks & juice boxes
• shopping bags
• tampons, hand sanitiser, lip balm, brush
• emergency bank card for an account w a small amount in it in case I ever forget my purse
• car stuff, de-over etc.
• an umbrella pram just in case
• flip flops
• chargers

Ooh I also had those hand warmer thingies that you brake something and it warms up?

a sterile bag for severed limbs amongst many other things

Blimey. We've got a couple of gaps in the rota this weekend, if you're interested?

I have one of those seatbelt cutter / hammers to break a window
I have a fear of being trapped and can’t get out
Beside that small first aid kit and wet wipes
Spare mobile phone & charger and purse full of change - around £10 in case i need extra money
Blanket
Winter Jacket
Water and some jelly babies 😂
Ice scraper

We had a terrible accident outside our house and everyone in the village now has a hi vis jacket. So I’ve got one of those in the car plus a fleecy blanket.

Also a small first aid.

I must get another torch.

Ooo, and a square of carpet to throw under a wheel for grip when I get stuck in the snow trying to get onto the lane.

If snow is forecast I'll put the shovel etc in my boot but I wouldn't routinely carry winter driving stuff about all year round.

A pen, a packet of tissues, a massive blanket and an ice scraper. I don't like too much clutter in my car, but these are the things I always need.

Massive golf umbrella in boot
Wipes
First aid kit
Hairbrush
Mints in case of coffee breath
Pound/token for trolley
Ice scraper
Fold up Mac in boot
Shopping bags
Pen
Phone charger
Breakfast biscuits for starving children moments

I have a car bin and keep spare liner bags

I second phone charger, especially if your car has a USB port to plug it into

Making notes!

The valet people have just messaged to say it’ll cost extra as it’s so gross (not surprised)

Jacket, mug and picnic knives, forks and spoons. An old picnic blanket with silver foil layer which would double as a blanket. Accident warning triangle, first aid kit. Spare glasses and container for contact .lenses (dry but any port in a storm) . Contact details for rescue organisation

Salt and vinegar in case I'm near a good chip shop at lunch time.

• Swimming bag for impromptu beach trips
• pack of 6 each of still and sparkling water
• pair of plimsolls in mine and DDs sizes
• shopping bags
• 4 way phone charger
• manual of vehicle
• petrol money
• golf umbrella
• notebook and pen

Oh I forgot
Bin bags to cover seats and muddy riding boots
Riding gear

Ice scraper, hand sanitiser and hand wet wipes, two spare masks (I forgot mine once), painkillers, spare trainers in the boot and a waterproof coat.

God I have the kitchen sink compared to some people

Phone charger
Torch
First aid kit
Hi viz
Trainers
Coat
Blanket
Screen wash
De-icer
Coolant
Warning triangle
Locking wheel nut and wrench handle and a shitty little jack that would in no way lift my 2.5t car
Some Allen keys
Some emergency rations, energy gels etc
Leatherman tool
Couple of dog poo bags and some mechanic gloves
Couple of ratchet straps

Add for winter/Alpine driving
Snow chains
Shovel
Few carpet tiles
Bin bags

Pre covid I used to do thousands of miles, modern estate car and never broken down (touch wood) but most of the things have been useful for other things! I’ve got a hidden floor in the boot though so a lot of it gets swallowed with no impact on real life load space

I’ve just kitted my car out:
First aid kit with hand sanitizer
Paracetamol
Plastic gloves and marigold gloves
Sick bags
Pocket ponchos
CPR mask
Tissues
Spare face masks
Spare change
Phone charging cable
Plastic bin that fits in cup holders
Toffees
Towel
Click hand warmers
Atlas
Fleece blankets
High viz vest
Travel Jane
Plastic bags for shopping and dirty boots
Clip in handle/seat belt cutter/window smasher
Old large mat to line the boot (handy when changing tyres)
Nail file
Pen/pencil/note pad
Large umbrella
Powerful car battery starter/torch/power pack
Sun glasses
Roll of blue paper/kitchen roll
Rubber mallet ( from experience when changing the tyres I find the wheels stick and need to be whacked all around with the mallet. Can’t recommend it enough)
I like to be prepared! Maybe we should start a thread on what goes in the handbag, that’s a whole other thread!

Placemarking!

Surprised no one has mentioned this sooner but very useful, especially if you live rurally (she says as a London resident).

Car Jump Starter pack. Like a power pack for your car, meaning you can jump start unassisted by another car. You do have to charge it occasionally but I would highly recommend, used mine lots to help friends and neighbours after no one used their car in lockdown.

I have [[https://www.amazon.co.uk/Starter-External-Automotive-Motorcycle-Flashlight/dp/B01DVSSCG?tag=mumsnetforu03-216]] but currently unavailable. Was maybe £40, has been very reliable, you don't have to spend a fortune.

Sorry, link fail. Should have been this

Just like to add that all my stuff is packed neatly in the glove box and in a plastic storage box in the boot. I don’t like to have loose things in the car itself as they can cause injury in the event of an accident. The power pack is extremely heavy and I definitely don’t want that flying around the car.