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

It's only a 125 but its a cruiser model, a Cruisym, so its a bit of a bruiser for a 125 lol. 185ish kg and just under 2m long with back box. Needed something hefty for the commute I do. But didn't want to do a 2nd winter on a bike!

I've done my share of winters on a bike . Not something I want to do in a hurry again .

That’s a good list and I’ll add to my emergency items. I have a sleeping bag, a groundsheet, duct tape, survival bag to keep extra warm, a small foldable spade (got it in a camping gear shop), reflective jackets, a large poncho type waterproof, ice scrapper with a cosy mit, windscreen cleaner, sponge, one of those window cleaner scrappers, fire extinguisher, first aid kit, spare phone battery and cables, waterproof gloves, snacks, water, one of those torches you wear on your head, spare car key battery, Walking boots, waterproof backpack (it has a lot of this in it) a biro, wet wipes, tissues, handgel, some bin bags, car breakdown help numbers. I also have a small car boot but it all fits in well.

Umbrella
Spare bottle of oil in the boot
Scraper
De icer
Phone charger
Spare change for car parks
A cloth to clear a steamed up windscreen on cold days
Spare pen
Torch
Shopping bags
If you have kids....wipes and tissues.
Face mask in case you go somewhere you have to,wear one (doctors/dentist etc).

Yeah it's not much fun! I got home one night last winter and my waterproof trousers were frozen into creases and i had to bang them out. Boot laces were also frozen and couldnt undo them til defrosted with a hairdryer😂

I was learning to drive when covid hit and then it all went tits up obviously. The job then came up and I'd spent 18months trying to get a position with them so I had to do CBT quickly in order to accept the job to be able to get there as it was an alternative location and no public transport. Def don't want to be doing a 2nd winter on 2 wheels!

I literally have

-my push chair

• 2 packets of crisps (I was actually planning on eating these last week but didn't happen)

-packet of baby wipes -sun glasses -black pen -lip balm -lighter (I don't smoke) -money (coins just for a car park) -perfume -CD booklet thing

I like to think that's it, but that's without opening the glove box😂

OK I've seen a few suggestions of spare key battery, where would I get one of these?

I have de-icer (all year round because I'm too lazy to take it out)
First aid kit
Emergency triangle
Think there's a hi vis shoved under a seat
Always a couple of blankets for the kids
Emergency snacks for me and the kids
Power pack for my phone

Serious question OP. You have fuses and bulbs but do you know how to change them if you need to? And have you checked what sort of lights you have (I'm not taking the piss) I have zenon lights so mine aren't one bulb they are dozens of small bulbs so if one goes it's not an issue.

NOCO Boost HD Gable car jump pack
First aid kit and emergency blanket
Snow socks for tyres, deicer
Tyre inflator and slim spare tyre and jack
Ryobi air rachet and a couple of tools
2 litres of fresh water
Led warning lights
Sun shade and car window blinds
Tow rope
Insurance documents and spare accident sheets
Torch gloves, spare jumper, tracksuit bottoms socks and undies.
Two loo rolls.

😄

When in used to commute to the hospital for shifts it was 37miles and as a female i felt safer having my car stocked to.

I.had the AA emergency kit it had a shovel, blanket, triangle and mini first aid kit. I then got a road map, petrol canister, jack, portable battery one that can be used to jump start your car and charge a phone. Screen Wash, water bottles, in winter carried rain coat and umbrella.

I also practiced removing my wheels and putting them back myself a few times.

Check your tires often, oil, washer.

3 years of commuting I never used any of it. But I like to feel prepared.

Brilliant 😂

Just open your key and check what size you need. They are not special, just normal batteries you can get in any shop. Got my last one from Tesco I think.

You don't need a power bank, they lose charge if you don't use them regularly so it will be useless if you ever get stranded and need it. A USB cable adapter for the cigarette lighter is fine.

What is the point of a spare key battery if you keep it IN the car? :D

In my car I currently

Sanitary products
Basic make up
Road atlas British and French versions
Triangle
First aid kit
De-icer
Wiper thing
Anti bac wipes and hand sanitizer
Phone charger
Phone holder thing
Dog paraphernalia
Dehumidifiying bag thing
Waterproof and a couple of jumpers

I live in the country and have never even consider most of the stuff on the ops shopping list

I always have a cagoule and a pair of walking boots and a torch in the car, in case I need to walk home.

So we have a spare tyre, a jack and jump leads. We also carry a tea and coffee box as we are out a lot and then a just have to bring a thermos, we keep a rug or two in the car, a box of nature school activities (homeschoolers), a bin with a lid and spare bags(this saves lots of wrappers and fruit peels from the floor, lots but not all), nine million odd socks, jumpers and hats, several novels. Going into emergency season I will do a box with a change of clothes, nappies and 24-48 of food and water.

However we have road side assistance.

Oh I think I have a hi viz jacket and a lightbulb kit. Went to France in the summer where they're legal requirements haven't taken them out partly because seems a sensible place to keep them

I want this. I have no where handy to store tissues in my car. Where did you get it from

I've got dust, mud, we

I drive a lot, and the things I have been very grateful to have in the car: warm waterproof coat, hat/gloves. over trousers, socks and boots, jump cable/ high capacity powerbank starter (also does phone), blanket, water, snacks, wet wipes, hi vis triangle, head torch, wheel stuff, heat packs.
If I'm driving a long way in winter or cross country when the weather is dodgy I have a flask of boiling water and hot choc/soup sachets and a mug as well.
It might seem overkill, but the time I broke down in the pouring rain on top of a hill in my work gear I was very glad to be able to stand in warm and dry clothing with a charged phone while waiting for the RAC and I've been stuck in snow when lorries had jackknifed and sat peacefully in my car for 4 hours staying warm knowing it was no problem.
I also have a comprehensive first aid kit, but thats more as its handy when we are out and about to have everything right there and my car has room for everything.

Oh yes car rug/ mat

I don’t understand the petrol can. Surely you can buy that from the petrol station you’re buying the petrol from when you fill it?!

Also, in 20 years of driving I’ve never needed one, I just put enough petrol in the car…

Stupid tablet... I've got dust, mud, wellies, loads of coats and running gear. And some car oil. Think that's about it. Oh, and some blue roll which randomly got in there somehow.

I answered this further up, Dad is doing a session with me this week on changing wheel, bulbs, fuses and whatever other stuff he chucks in (he is very clued up).

Spare battery would be kept in work bag and will probably get one for home also if they're easy to source, will pop it open tomorrow to look, tha kyou PP.

I carry a powerbank in work bag and swap or charge it regularly.

And yes to the PP who commuted a distance to work, and said it feels safer being prepped. That's exactly it, I don't want to be in a situation where I think oh shit I wish I'd put...x...in.

I've looked at the car rescue kits and a few seem massive, like small suitcases but include battery packs etc which is probably overkill

Amongst all the pointless crap I have-

Waterproof jacket
Water
Blanket
Sweets