Essential Winter Driving Kit List

November 25th 2024

Now that the weather is making a cold turn, it's worth having a car care kit to ensure you have your essential items close by when you need them.

Here's a few things to include to your car winter driving kits that can help keep you safe at the roadside during winter.

Phone charger

Imagine this - You've jumped in the car and your 25 miles away from home and your car breaks down. You pick up your phone to call for breakdown cover when you realise your phone's battery has died. Nightmare!

Cars can be unpredictable and we never know when they'll breakdown. The last thing you want is to be broken down with no phone.

Keep a USB phone charger in your car so you can always keep your phone's battery full no matter where you are.

Petrol can

Running out of fuel is far from ideal.

Sometimes petrol gauges can break and when they do, it'll be hard to figure out when exactly you're going to run out of fuel. Other times, you might realise you need to fill up but you're too far away from a petrol station. It happens! We're human.

Adding a fuel can to your winter driving kit for emergencies, means you can get yourself back on road over winter if you find yourself running on empty.

Ice scraper & de-icer

Snow and ice are part of the deal when it comes to winter so you'll need some basic tools to clear it away.

Having clear front and rear windscreens are a legal requirement so having an ice scraper and de-icer in your car's winter kit can help keep them free from snowfall.

First aid kit

Accidents happen and with the weather being unpredictable, it's always better to prepare for them to help keep you and your passengers safe.

Make sure you're prepared as possible with a first aid kit not just for the winter but for all year round.

Jump leads

The cold weather can mess with our car batteries and cause them not to work. Jump leads are handy to have in your car's winter kit just in case you wake up one snowy morning and find your car has a flat battery.

If you're unsure how to use jump leads, please contact your breakdown cover company or talk to a local mechanic.

Torch

With the days being shorter this season, for most of us, we wake up in the dark and when we leave work darkness greets us again! You can't predict where or when your car may break down and you wouldn't want it to happen when it's pitch black.

Having a torch can provide visibility and make it easier to see, especially if you're in a location with limited to zero lighting.

Tow rope

Sometimes we may not be able to get our car back on the road ourselves and you'll need to get it to a mechanic.

Our heavy duty tow rope has a breaking resistance of 3 tonnes, so it can be used to safely transport a range of cars and vans to where they need to go. Definitely add one to your winter driving kit!

Warm clothes

During the winter months, temperatures can sometimes drop below zero and if your car breaks down, you don't want to left out in the cold - literally!

Keep clothes like a jumper, gloves or even a blanket in the boot of your car so you can keep warm whilst you wait for breakdown cover.

Snacks

This one might seem strange but trust us, it's a must!

None of us want to deal with a broken down car but imagine having to deal with that whist hungry and breakdown cover can't get to you for a while! Put some snacks and drinks in your glove compartment in case your car breaks down in the middle of no where or in a place where you're not safe to walk around, for example on the motorway.

You can never be too prepared!

These are just some of the essentials you can have in winter driving kit. Add, swap or take out anything from this list to cater your kit more to your needs.

You may want to add in a car jack to help with changing flat tyres, a funnel to easily pour liquids, hi-vis clothing, warning triangles and anything else you think you might need to keep you safe when driving in winter.

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