6 Things Every Car Owner Should Have

No matter where your travels take you, there are some items that every car owner should have in their vehicle. In times of emergency, you don’t want to be left empty handed. There are some car essentials that you should never leave home without, no matter how experienced of a driver you are or how short of a ride you’re taking. Unforeseen problems happen all the time on the road - dead batteries, flat tires, car collisions and more. By making sure you have these 6 important items in your car, you’ll be ready to deal with whatever life throws at you. 

A set of jumper cables

We’ve all been there before - you’re late for a meeting, rushing out to your car, jam the keys in the ignition and…nothing happens. Your car battery is dead. What to do? If you’re prepared, you’ll have a set of jumper cables in your vehicle for just this sort of emergency. Dead car batteries are a common occurrence. By keeping a spare set of jumper cables in the trunk, you’re not only self-sufficient in case your battery goes dead, but can help others you may encounter on the road with the same issue. 

When jumpstarting a battery, be sure to follow these steps in the correct order:

1. Attach one of the red clamps to the positive terminal of your dead battery

2. Attach the second red clamp to the positive terminal of the working battery

3. Attach a black clamp to the negative terminal on the working battery

4. Attach the last black clamp to the negative terminal of the dead battery or to another grounding point. This can include an unpainted metal piece of the engine, like a bolt or a bracket. Some vehicles have a grounding bolt installed in the engine specifically for this reason. 

When removing the cables, you should follow the reverse order of that listed above. 

A spare tire, lug wrench, and jack

A flat tire doesn’t have to be a huge headache - as long as you are prepared. All cars should have a spare tire, along with the necessary tools to swap out the flat one. This includes a lug wrench and jack. It’s essential that you have all three of these items. You won’t be able to replace the tire if you’re missing any of the three. Be sure that the spare tire you’re carrying around is inflated (it’s pretty useless if it’s not!). Some vehicles also require a special lug nut key to loosen the locking lug nuts. If this is the case for your car, be sure to have this key on hand as well.

Although many car owners have access to roadside assistance programs these days, being able to change your own tire is often quicker - especially if you’re traveling in remote areas where help may be far away. You may also be able to help others in a pinch. 

If you need to purchase a spare tire for your vehicle, check out the tire center at Cumberland Toyota. 

WD-40 lubricant

WD-40 is a multi-purpose lubricant that can help you out with a variety of issues on the road. If you’re having trouble loosening a nut, want to fix a creaky hinge on the door, or loosen up stubborn dirt on the exterior, WD-40 can help you out. This is an essential item to have in the trunk of your car. 

First aid kit

You never know what emergencies you’re going to encounter on the road. It’s best to always be prepared. By having a first aid kit available in your car, you can address injuries immediately, rather than waiting to receive care. This is essential especially if you are driving in remote regions where help may be far away. Having an accident is never good, but you may be able to make a bad situation better by being prepared with a first aid kit.

Any good first aid kit should have several essential items, including:

- Band-aids in a variety of sizes and shapes

- Antiseptic solution

- Thermometer

- Disposable gloves

- Tweezers

- Safety pins

- Triangular bandages

- Saline

- Eyewash

- Adhesive tape

- Elastic bandages 

- Antibiotic ointment

There are many other things you can include in your first aid kit, but this list is a great starting point. 

Windshield wiper fluid

There’s nothing more frustrating than going to clean your windshield and realizing that you’re out of windshield wiper fluid. By keeping a spare bottle in the back of your car, you can refill your wiper fluid in a pinch. This is especially important if you live in a region with cold winters, where having a supply of good quality wiper fluid will keep you safe. It’s essential that you’re able to clear your windshield of fogginess and maintain good visibility to avoid collisions. You should make sure that the brand of windshield wiper fluid you buy is of high quality. Many low quality brands are actually bad for your car, and can create toxic fumes. If you need to restock on windshield wiper fluid, take a look at the service fluid replacement options from Cumberland Toyota. 

Flare lights or reflective triangles

If you ever do get in an accident, flare lights or reflective triangles can help keep you safe while you’re waiting for help. These are especially useful at nighttime or in conditions with low visibility. If you happen to get into an accident while on the highway, they can help slow down high speed cars while you are waiting for emergency personnel to arrive. Don’t be caught without these essential safety items. You never know when you might need them. 

To avoid issues on the road, it’s always a good idea to be extra prepared. By having these 6 essential items in your car, you can prevent a bad situation from getting even worse.