We’re not talking about the mountains of garbage you currently have in the back seat when we say there are some things you should always keep in the car. The items on this list will keep your car in working order and assist you in navigating unexpected roadblocks.
Owner’s Guide: Double check to be sure you have your owner’s manual in your glove box or another convenient location. In addition to other crucial details specific to your car, the owner’s manual will provide you with critical information like suggested fuel and PSI levels. If you never use it outside of your car, you won’t have to worry about losing it. It came with your car.
Information on auto repairs: Information on auto repairs, insurance claim papers, and AAA contact details should all be kept in the same place. Car repair records are useful when buying, selling, or fixing your car because they provide vital details about its past and can be written off as a business expense.
Registration, Insurance, and License: Although it may seem apparent, if you are driving a car, you should always have your license, registration and insurance with you. Remembering to put the new insurance card in the glove box could take months, especially when it arrives in the mail. You continue to operate a vehicle while evading requests from law enforcement for the primary documentation that is required by law. Although it is required that you have these documents at all times when driving, hopefully you won’t be stopped. Every travel is smoother and more secure when you know your documentation is current and in order.
Spare tire, lug wrench, and tire jack: Even though they must be grouped together, we’ll consider these as three items. Nothing is more annoying than realizing your spare tire is flat or that you left your jack in the garage. So be sure your automobile is equipped with a jack, a well inflated spare tire, and a lug wrench. Everything is useless if you only have two of these things. Make sure you have all three of these items because they work best together. Make sure you have a lug nut key if your car has specialized locking lug nuts. Also don’t forget to have a recovery strap.
Jack Cables: It’s not always effective or even likely that a kind bystander will be able to give you a restart if the battery in your car dies. Jumper cables by themselves won’t start your car’s engine. You will also want an emergency battery booster as a result. There is always the option of calling your insurance company’s roadside help, but frequently the wait is longer than expected, which can be a problem if you are running late or in a risky scenario. Jumper cables typically cost few dollars at most retail locations or online. A dead battery is almost always unexpected and quite inconvenient. However, if you’ve spent the effort to get jumper cables and practice jump starting a battery, your car and more crucially, your day won’t be out of commission for too long.
