Winter Car Emergency Kit: 10 Essentials to Keep in Your Car

Winter breakdowns are more stressful than summer ones. It's dark earlier, it's cold, and help can take longer to arrive when roads are icy. A small kit kept in your boot means a flat tyre, a frozen windscreen or a stuck car is an inconvenience instead of an emergency.

Here's what to keep in your car from November to March, why each item matters, and how to pack it so it's ready when you need it.

The winter car emergency kit checklist

1. A portable tyre inflator

Cold weather lowers tyre pressure. As a rough rule, pressure drops by about 1 PSI for every 10°F (around 5–6°C) fall in temperature, so tyres that were fine in October can be soft by December. Under-inflated tyres grip less and wear faster. A cordless electric air pump lets you top up at home or at the roadside without hunting for a working garage compressor. Look for one with a digital gauge and auto shut-off, so you can set the pressure printed in your driver's door frame and let it stop by itself.

2. Snow traction aids

If your car gets stuck on packed snow or ice, traction aids give the tyres something to bite on so you can drive out. Emergency snow chains in a zip-tie style are quick to fit around the tyre without jacking up the car. They're designed for getting moving and short distances at low speed, not for long motorway journeys, so remove them once you're back on clear road.

3. A windscreen frost cover

Scraping ice in the dark wastes time, and it's tempting to drive off with only a small patch cleared, which is dangerous and in many places illegal. A windscreen snow cover goes on the night before and peels off in the morning with the frost on top of it. For cars parked outside all winter, a full waterproof car cover keeps snow, ice and road salt off the paintwork too.

4. A hands-free light

Changing a tyre or checking under the bonnet is almost impossible when you're holding a phone torch in your teeth. A rechargeable LED head torch leaves both hands free, and a USB-C model can be topped up from your car's charging port. Keep it charged; a dead torch is no torch.

5. A car safety hammer

It's an item you hope never to use. If an accident jams the doors or a seat belt won't release, a 2-in-1 safety hammer can cut the belt and break a side window so you can get out. Store it somewhere you can reach from the driver's seat, such as the door pocket or centre console, not in the boot.

6. Warm layers and a blanket

If you're stuck waiting for recovery, the car cools down quickly once the engine is off. Pack a blanket, a hat, gloves and a spare warm layer for everyone who regularly travels with you.

7. Phone power

Your phone is your lifeline to recovery services and family. Keep a charging cable in the car and consider a charged power bank in the glovebox.

8. Water and snacks

A couple of bottles of water and some long-life snacks (cereal bars, nuts) make a long wait much easier, especially with children.

9. Jump leads or a jump starter

Batteries work harder in cold weather, and winter is when weak ones fail. Jump leads are cheap, and a portable jump starter means you don't need another car.

10. Ice scraper and de-icer

Even with a frost cover, side windows and mirrors still ice up. A scraper and a can of de-icer clear them in minutes.

How to pack your kit

• Keep it in one bag or box in the boot so nothing rolls around or gets lost.
• Keep the safety hammer and torch within reach of the driver, not in the boot.
• Check it once a month: charge the inflator and torch, and replace any snacks or water you've used.
• Check tyre pressures every couple of weeks in cold weather, when the tyres are cold.

Frequently asked questions

What should I keep in my car in winter?

At minimum: a tyre inflator, a torch, an ice scraper, warm layers, a phone charger, water and snacks. Add snow traction aids if you live somewhere that regularly gets snow, and a safety hammer within reach of the driver.

Why do my tyres go flat in cold weather?

Air contracts as it gets colder, so tyre pressure drops even though nothing is leaking. Check pressures more often in winter and top them up to the figure on your driver's door frame.

Are emergency snow chains legal?

Rules vary by country and region, and some places require chains on certain roads in winter. Emergency traction aids are intended for low-speed use to get moving again. Check your local rules before relying on them.

See all our car accessories for more ways to stay prepared this winter.