Vehicle Emergency Kits

Six items you need to keep in your vehicle at all times.

 
Whether you are a teenager hitting the roads for the first time or a seasoned driver, every vehicle should have an emergency supply kit located in the trunk. 
 
Our team at Taylor Automotive GMC—made up of drivers, workers, and parents just like you—believe there are at least six items every vehicle emergency kit needs. If you own more than one car or truck, you’ll want a matching emergency kit for each. You should check your vehicle emergency kit annually, and plan to ditch and replace expired items at that time. 



Here are six items we want you to include in your vehicle emergency kit: 

• 1. A set of jumper cables. A dead battery from an overhead light left on or a door left ajar unnoticed for a few days is bound to happen to the best of us. Always keep a set of jumper cables in your vehicle—you’ll be able to help yourself and offer a helping hand to others along the road. 
• 2. A flashlight and extra batteries. Whether you are stranded behind a snowy pileup, stuck in a muddy two track, or lost for a while after some exploration in a new place, it is always good to have a battery-operated flashlight just in case. 
• 3. A first aid kit with at least gauze, tape, bandages, sunscreen, antibiotic ointment, aspirin, a blanket, scissors, hydrocortisone, and tweezers. With these supplies in your vehicle emergency kit, you can bandage minor cuts and scrapes, protect against sunburn, or ease headache pain—whether that’s from time spent out in the field, hiking, waterside at the beach, in the pasture on the ranch, or filling a cooler full of freshwater fish. Accidents happen, your vehicle emergency kit will help you be ready for anything.  
• 4. A few nonperishable, high-energy foods, such as unsalted nuts and dried fruits. Whether you are just driving to the local grocery store or traveling cross-country, always bring along a few snacks and a bottle of water. You never know when you might be forced to depend on them in a time of need.    
• 5. A car charger for your cell phone. It is hard to imagine we’d ever leave the house without our cell phone, but sometimes the charger slips our minds! Invest in an extra phone charger and keep it in your vehicle. 
• 6. Additional items depending on the season and driving plans, your vehicle emergency kit could include things like a snow brush, shovel, towel, change of socks, blanket, or cat litter for traction.

 
Bonus tip! It is also a good idea to keep family and emergency phone numbers in your phone or on a piece of paper in your glove box. 
 
Keep in mind your vehicle should also have a properly inflated spare tire, wheel wrench, and tripod jack. You never know when you might run over a nail or hit a pothole a bit too hard. A spare tire will help get you from the side of the road to a repair shop. If you don’t have a spare tire, now is a good time to get one! 
 
Don’t forget to check out our TLC and Your Vehicle blog for tips on what you can do to keep your GMC car, truck, or SUV looking and running like new.  
 
The GMC vehicle of your dreams is not just out there, it is here! Shop the Taylor Automotive GMC inventory online or stop by and see us—you will be in the driver’s seat in no time. At our dealership, we have devoted ourselves to helping and serving our customers to the best of our ability. We believe the cars, trucks, and SUVs we offer will meet your needs at the highest quality available. Questions? Contact us for more information.