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

I think a charged mobile phone and breakdown cover would be all I need. I do have an electric tyre pump which has a built in lantern. Though it was only ever intended for inflating my tyres at home, it has been used once when I got a slow puncture.

The one time in my 40 years of driving I wanted to try and change the tyre, my wheel nuts were so tight I couldn't undo them, so I had to wait for the breakdown assistance to arrive.

Theirs one other thing I bought that really feels odd with hindsight, is a tool to smash the window, in case I need to get out of the car that way following a crash. The same tool has a blade to sever the seatbelt, if necessary.

I only do shortish journeys max about 25 miles. 2 regular 15 mile trips each way per week at night but very rural, so unlit roads.
Post has reminded me of stuff I need!
Was initially reluctant to buy a black car as previous car, red, was almost invisible when it broke down. It didn't like water, minor flooding on some roads, and electrics malfunctioned. Fortunately had managed to pull into a lay by on 2 way road but many roads are single track with passing places.
RAC had very long wait.
So a warning triangle is useful in these circumstances, especially as keeping car lights on, still working, drains battery.
Most important thing is saved breakdown service info on fully charged phone and a bank card. Would have probably informed police if creating a hazard for other drivers. RAC were pretty useless tbh. 7 hour estimated wait. Turned up in 3 and was offered help by passers by. Doors locked and opened window a tiny crack.
Phone battery was dying. Considered abandoning car in favour of Travel Lodge as even with sitting in passenger seat, didn't feel safe. Couldn't do that as phone was dead and nothing was within walking distance. Plus no pavement, no torch.
So my story is how not to prepare! Worst thing was no phone.
Have a very basic ancient non Internet phone which I keep active. As well as smart phone.
Always have water and stuff for cleaning windscreen, wipes, paper towels.

Not saying you should get it, but the window smashing tool I have is something like this

www.amazon.co.uk/Silverline-395235-Emergency-Hammer-Cutter/dp/B071GP4L41/ref=sr_1_28?keywords=window+smasher+tool&qid=1668552361&sprefix=tool+to+smas%2Caps%2C55&sr=8-28

Yes I've seen similar in a couple of the kits and a few have mentioned it now, so on the list. Tha ks.

And that sounds awful Marmite, and exactly why I want to prep, thanks for sharing

Also would like window smashing tool as people have drowned in ditches.

I have a ‘rescue me’ on my key chain & a door hammer for my passengers on their side : have explained to them it’s there/how to use

otherwise 1st aid kit, hat/gloves/hoody, some water, some snack bars, hand sanitizer & masks, and a small towel : keep most of this in boot. V cheap sunglasses in panel over central mirror

I had someone get into my car recently: have taken to leaving glovebox open and empty for that reason (no temptation to break in) : it also sends the message that you know people break into cars and therefore keep nothing of value in yours

Dont keep any paperwork with info that can be used to steal your identity: theft from cars is pretty common

do most people carry a spare tyre? I recently looked into the space where it should go and… nothing there. Been meaning to find out.

Set of spare glasses/contact lenses if you need them? That's one of my biggest fears is losing a lens and then not being able to drive home.

And a pair of sunglasses that always stays in the car.

If you're going to have screen wash (amongst other things) in the boot a small plastic funnel makes life much easier.

Mine actually has a full size spare rather than one of those emergency ones, or worse still the can of goo....which isn't much use if you have a blowout and shred it!

Thankyou, yes good idea, I use a funnel for the coolant and oil for the bike so makes sense to use on the car also.

Some really great advice here, much appreciated! Away to bed now as driving lesson in the morning so I'll pick up any replies tomorrow. Hugely appreciate all the tips, advice etc, thanks all

I know people are thinking you're going overboard but a couple of useful things I have in the car are

• 2l water bottle in the boot - particularly useful in winter if your screen wash runs out and in summer just in case you break down or get stuck in traffic and need a drink (obviously without any screen wash in it!)
• dashboard sponge wipe thing - useful for cleaning off the dust off the dash and wiping the inside of the windscreen when it gets grubby
• another winter one is a kit with a foldable snow shovel in it
• spare coat
• ice scraper - even if you've got a heated windscreen you still have to do the sides.
• sunglasses - I have a pair that live in the car as there's nothing worse than a sunrise or sunset glare especially when you drive east in the morning and west on your way home like I do!

I also wouldn't be without my dashcam now either. If it plays up or I forget it I feel very lost without it!

Just ordered essentials for my car on Amazon so big thanks to this thread!
Hammer
Warning triangles
Phone charger
Need to remember to put torch in.

Just a heads up with the tyre inflator. Get one with its own light, and get one with rapid inflation as it takes seconds to inflate which could make all the difference late at night with wheel on road and not vergeside.

Other than that, dont overfill your car as a heavy car uses more fuel which isnt that cheap atm. And enjoy it, I can tell how excited you are

I've had a low battery issue in my key where it let me unlock the car but struggled to pick up the key for the ignition (keyless start) so this is an idea I might pick up.

Wish I had space for a spare wheel though - I hate having to rely on (expensive) run flats! Those cans of foam are all but useless.

It all depends on where you live, type of journey tbh.
But fully charged phone, bank card, water, pretty essential. Maybe too much information, but a she wee. Been absolutely desperate for loo in traffic jams!

So funnel and bottle

30 years I've been driving and I've driven at night, on desolate roads, very long journeys etc etc

I've managed with a spare tyre and roadside assist insurance. For THIRTY years.

This can't be real. Err can it

It's not real until something goes wrong. I've changed a tyre but strong and young. It's physically quite demanding. Men usually fit bolts too tight to be easily removed. So need more than a spanner!

Well as my car only has an emergency kit for tyres, can’t remember what is in, my alloy thing, a rain coat in the boot and my phone charger, compared to your list, however when ive had my 2 breakdowns I needed no more.

Aspirin
A gizmo for cutting a seat belt and bashing open a window
Chocolate
Snifter of brandy

Little shovel for burying poop
Sunglasses
Dog kibble

A foil blanket to retain body heat if you break down miles from anywhere in cold weather

Obviously in case she comes across someone she wants to kidnap. 😂

Yep duct tape and ties, very scary.😳

One of those hammers in your glove box with a seat belt cutter in case you get in a crash and seat belts won’t release and doors won’t open you can smash the window