Build Your Own Car Emergency Kit: Free Checklist Tool

A car kit only helps if it is in the car when you need it. This tool lets you pack a kit one item at a time, pick a container, see what is still missing, and send the list to someone else, like a spouse or a teenager who just started driving. It follows the same order as my car emergency kit guide: warmth first, then the things that get you moving or seen, then first aid.

Reader-supported: I may earn a commission if you buy through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. Disclosure.

How to use the builder

1. Start with your container. If you already own a bin, tote or duffel, choose that one and spend the money on the items first.
2. Tap an item in the picture, then press the pack button, or tick it in the checklist below. Packed items fly into the container.
3. Follow the “Next most important” line. It always points to the first thing you have not packed, in my priority order.
4. Press “Copy my kit link” to share your kit, or empty the container to start over.

Not sure whether a car kit or a bag you carry is the right place to start? My guide to a car emergency kit versus a bug-out bag covers the difference, and the go bag builder is the matching tool for a bag you carry.

Why the items are in this order

The first group is about staying warm and dry if the engine is off: a wool blanket, a reflective emergency blanket, dry layers and hand warmers, and a shovel and brush so you can clear snow from the tailpipe and the tires. A blocked tailpipe is a carbon monoxide risk, so clear it before you run the engine. The second group gets you moving or seen: a power bank, a headlamp, flares or triangles, traction and a scraper, jumper cables and a tow strap. The third group is first aid, a tourniquet, medications and food and water. It is last in the order only because the first two groups prevent most of the situations that need it. If anyone is badly hurt, call emergency services first.

What the builder does not do

It does not show prices, because I do not display prices from merchants that I cannot keep current. Check the price on the merchant’s page before you buy. It does not add up weight or trunk space. It also does not replace training: a tourniquet is only as useful as your practice with it, and my first aid classes page points to training near you. A tow strap is for being pulled by another vehicle, not for freeing a car from deep snow. The pictures are illustrations, not product photos.

Rotate what goes bad

A car gets very hot and very cold. Swap the protein bars every six months and eat the old ones. Check medications with your pharmacist, because heat and cold can wear them down. Water can freeze, so leave room in the container or rotate it. Put a reminder in your phone for the days the clocks change.

Related guides and tools

• Car emergency kit vs. bug-out bag: which one to build first.
• Go bag builder: the same kind of tool for a bag you carry.
• Emergency blankets: how the reflective kind compares with wool.
• First aid classes: training near you.
• Find Your Kit quiz: five questions to point you at the right starting kit.

FAQ

Does the builder save my kit?

No. It does not create an account or keep your list on my server. Your choices live in the web address itself, so “Copy my kit link” gives you a link that reopens the same kit, and anyone you send it to can change their copy without changing yours. The site’s analytics counts aggregate actions, like which items get packed, the same way it counts page views.

What should I carry in my car in winter?

Warmth comes first: a wool blanket, a reflective emergency blanket, dry layers and hand warmers. Add a shovel and snow brush, a power bank for your phone, a light, jumper cables, and a first aid kit. The builder lists all of these in priority order.

Do I need to buy a new container?

No. Any sturdy bin, tote or duffel you already own works, so the container choice is optional. The two I list are a foldable trunk organizer and a foldable duffel, both of which fold flat when empty.

How often should I check my car kit?

Twice a year is a simple rule. Swap the protein bars, check the batteries and the power bank, look at the dates on medications and first aid supplies, and make sure the water has not frozen and split its container. The days the clocks change are easy to remember.

Do I have to buy through your links?

No. Items without a link are generic things you can buy anywhere. If you do use a link, you pay the same price and I may earn a commission, which helps support the site. It never changes a verdict.