To ask for your car essentials

[WorriedMumofTeen16]

Learning to drive and test date imminent. Car arrived today and I'm trying to sort out what I need. If I put everything in that websites suggest, I'd need a bigger car lol. I work shifts so will be travelling early hours or late night with a small portion of country roads and about 20 miles dual carriageway.

It has a full sized spare tyre.

So far I have
Tyre inflator
Bottle of screenwash
Petrol can
Blanket
Phone charger
Powerbank
Manuals
Blue roll
De-icer and scraper
Water

To buy this week
Warning triangle
Multitool/small toolkit
Spare bulbs and fuses
Oil
Jump leads
Car fire extinguisher
1st aid kit

What else? A nosey online suggests tow rope, portable battery pack, duct tape, cable ties and a multitude of other stuff. Some of the kits they sell are the size of small luggage! It's only a Clio so not a massive boot and I don't want to be carrying more than reqd but equally don't want to miss something essential

Drinks, snacks,.glasses wipes etc would be carried in work bag as I take those in daily as my shifts cover a couple of meals and fridge space at work is limited. Obviously I'll sort insurance, break down info etc to live in glovebox.

Help me out please! Tyvm

Oh but do make sure you have the little lug nut/adapter thing that comes with your hubcaps and that you know where you put it to 'keep it safe'. Whenever I get the tyres replaced there's that moment of panic when the guys says 'have you got the doohickey' and I go 'ah, yeah, the thingummy, that's somewhere in the car' and then search the glove box, door pockets, spare wheel well.....before finally finding it in the drink holder.

Phone charger
Number for breakdown cover.

Neither of those are helpful if you breakdown on a country lane without signal.

Keep half a tank of petrol in the tank and the lights and heater will work.

Seriously op my car essentials are:

Charger
Hairbrush
Make-up
Scraper
Cloth
Gloves
Pen
Tissues

Because we are often in France I also have triangle, bulbs, high viz jackets, simple first aid kit and breathalyser kit.

It will certainly be filled with dog hair as I'm.hoping to take the hound with me. I work solo and in a very isolated location so he would be good company!

If you live somewhere with snow then a pack of cat litter…will give you grip and stop your car getting stuck. (I only throw this in the car if it’s meant to snow…about once a decade!).

You need a mobile phone with your roadside assist number in it and a jacket.

Oh and I recommend a dash cam if your car doesn’t have one. Useful if you’re in an accident and the other party starts telling stories!

What are the manuals on your list? I guess your car manual could be one of them but what else, instructions for the tyre inflater?

Oh and some snacks and maybe a drink

I travel similar roads at similar hours and have broken down once. I’m an aa member so the only things I really needed was a power bank and charger for my phone, a blankets, scarf, hat, gloves (middle of winter), torch and a bottle of water.

Good luck with your test!

I do have gaffer tape and cable ties and they was once a poor woman on a very very busy awful road whose exhaust was hanging off with my rope, cable ties and tape and a dog lead - I was able to lift her exhaust and dirt it tie it in and get her 100 m down the road to a cafe type place where she waited for the rac. She had no money - except her phone so at least I could get her there and warm and but her a large tea. She was grateful - so yes they are useful cable ties especially I have a screwdriver set, bulb tester etc and I have used them

The wheel nut kit is in the glovebox so got that. I have to take deicer and scraper as I sometimes do overnight shifts or very late finishes, though I'll probably leave a set at work tbh. The bike already freezes up at times and I have to defrost the seat lmao. Windscreen cover probably a good shout.

I have hi vi's clothing for work anyway, as well as warm clothing, safety boots etc, that's just normal items for work for me.

Sorry, trying to answer as I see suggestions

all of which can be sourced in Aldi’s central aisle of shite…

Do you know how to change a light bulb? cause i’ve been driving 20 odd years and i don’t or needed to do it. I also don’t have the strength to undo the nuts on a tyre so i can change it , don’t think many women do anyway
Are you sure you’re buying a car? it sounds like you’re getting a charcoal burning powered craft😂

The basic manual is always useful in case you have a warning light that comes on and you haven’t got a scooby do what it is or for things like the tyre pressures on different loads or god forbid you need someone else to drive it home etc

yes I do and I’ve done in 4 times on various cars - only one on my own

I note that you work shifts so will be travelling at odd hours.
Get good screen covers for frosty nights - get one that covers the wing mirrors too.
There is nothing worse than being caught out by a frost and coming out after a 10hr night shift to have to spend time de-icing the car. You just want to whip your covers off, get in, go.
Me and my fellow wake nighters at work all reminded each other this week "time to stick our covers in the boot".

Then a throw for a car, dog towel and a seatbelt for the dog - he must be secure. A pet first aid kit, water, bowl, biscuits, poo bags and doggie towels to dry those feet

Torch, blanket or spare coat/umbrella. I also put a spare high viz vest in mine in case of emergency, I also have a Clio. I have the basics like a scrapper and some cloths, spare tire and jack and a tire inflator. Charger cable for my phone and some wipes. I do have a bag of back up things like tissues, wipes, deodar etc but that’s just personal use and not needed. I think you’re prepared enough especially if you have breakdown

Don't forget the black leather 'night strangler' gloves 🤣

In fairness the duct tape and cable ties can be useful but probably not worth it.

I used to do a 60 mile cross country commute every day and would pack a little bag of snickers, water and any other high calorie foods for the winter. I've been nearly stuck in snow and things can get pretty bad if you have to walk 10 miles to the nearest pub or other place where you can shelter.

But all that stuff depends on where you're going.

Yes, car manual. Breakdown info will also live in glovebox.

The PP above about the exhaust, yes that's exactly what is was suggested for, or a bashed wingmirror needing securing til home etc.

Bulb changing etc is all being done with Dad this week so I know it all, I have a physical job so changing a tyre shouldn't be an issue, having a try this week but even if I can't if I have the gear it would make it less stressful knowing its all in place for breakdown svc

High Viz vest is worth having imho, and a car first aid kit

That's a ridiculous excuse for not changing a wheel . Changing a wheel should be part of the test

Charger cable
Blanket
Torch
Wipes
An AA European travel kit
Scraper
Fresh water every time we do a long journey

Ooh cat litter is a fab hack but has also just reminded me that I have a pair of rescue tracks I inherited in a box of gubbins when we cleared out Mums storage unit, will chuck those in cos yes I am in a rural area.

The screen protector seems to be a must, thanks for the tip about one to cover the mirrors, yes after a long night shift or when leaving to go to work at 3.30am I don't want to be farting about tbh, wouldn't have thought about covering the mirrors 1st off

Dog has a harness for the car and the blanket would be on back seat anyway, I'll.put together a pet 1st aid kit

My car essentials list :

Prescription sunglasses
Phone charger cable
Tissues
Sun cream & hat in summer (I drive a convertible)
Warm coat & de-icer in winter
Percy Pigs
Extra emergency Percy Pigs.