How to Prepare a Winter Car Kit

Conquer icy roads with your trusty winter car kit.

Getting stuck in your vehicle during snowy or icy weather can be scary or just another inconvenience. It all depends on whether or not you’re prepared. If you have a winter car kit on hand, you’ll be back on the road or at least safe until help arrives.

Things You'll Need

• High-quality ice scraper
• Tire chains
• Anti-freeze
• Emergency jump starter
• Driveway salt
• Kitty litter
• Thermal blanket
• Cell phone charger
• Change of clothes

Instructions

1. Gather winter car accessories. Each winter car kit should include winter car accessories such as a high-quality ice scraper and a good set of tire chains. You may also want to include a bottle of anti-freeze and an emergency jump starter. The key is to pack items that will keep your vehicle running through bad weather conditions.

2. Add items that will melt ice and give you traction. A bag of driveway salt can come in handy if you have time to wait for the ice to melt. If you’re in a hurry, kitty litter will provide traction to get you out of an icy area.

3. Purchase a thermal blanket. You never know when you’re going to get stranded in your car. Having a thermal blanket in your winter car kit ensures that you stay warm until help arrives. Thermal blankets take up little space and can be placed in a convenient location, such as under the seat.

4. Include a cell phone charger. Being stranded can be frustrating, but picking up your cell phone and finding a dead battery is even worse. In order to get the help you need, it pays to have a cell phone charger in your winter car kit.

5. Pack a change of clothes. There will be times when getting home is impossible. You may even find yourself walking a couple miles to the nearest hotel. After being out in the snow, you’ll be happy to have a fresh pair of clothes. Should things get really bad, the extra pair of clothes can also be used to help keep warm.

Tips & Warnings

• You can also purchase 12-volt blankets that are similar to electric blankets.

• An emergency cell phone charger should also be included in your kit.

• Depending on the weather, the hood of your car may be frozen shut. That’s why it’s best to carry an emergency jump starter than can be used inside the vehicle.