We all take precautions when driving on the road – mirror, signal, manoeuvre, etc – but often overlook safety measures in the case of prematurely stopping. Whether it be due to running out of fuel, a punctured tyre or a dead battery, leaving yourself stranded on a roadside without the appropriate safety equipment can have disastrous consequences.
Keep yourself safe, seen and secure on the road by packing along with the essentials. Just a few items stored away in your boot could at least save you some time but in the worst scenario may even save your life.
The list of potential items you could keep in your car is endless, so we’ve picked a few of the must-haves for you to pick up today. In need of something else? Check out our other articles on car accessories here.
Jump leads
Jumps leads are a must for any car boot. These thick black and red cables are used to transfer electrical energy from a live battery to a dead one in order to start the latter’s engine up again. Once the engine is going it will charge the battery itself via the alternator but starting the engine up will require an auxiliary battery.
To apply the jump leads, connect the clamps of the positive (red) cable first – making sure that both engines are off – followed by the negative cable after. Turn the working engine on and let it sit idle for a minute or so before attempting to turn on the dead battery engine. Once both engines are running, you can remove the clamps but in the reverse order to which they were applied (black first).
AA Jump Leads
Price: £17.99 | VIEW OFFER
This pair of jump leads from the AA is a high-quality set to get your engine running again. These cables are fixed with thick plastic clamps for safety and convenience on application and are suitable to be used on all petrol and diesel vehicles. Once the jump start process has been completed, the cables can be placed back in the yellow carry bag and stored away in the boot.
Pros:
• High-quality product
• 3m length
Cons:
• None
RAC Jump Starter Pack
Price: £45.93 | VIEW OFFER
For if you’re ever stuck without a secondary car, this rechargeable jump starter pack from RAC is what you need. The internal battery of the pack requires 18-20 hours to charge fully, but once completed it becomes a portable jump-starting battery to bring yours back to life.
However, be advised that this RAC battery pack will only be effective on small engined cars of up to 1.5L for petrol and 1.2L for diesel.
Pros:
• No need for a second car
• Portable jump starter
Cons:
• Only works on small battery vehicles
• Needs full battery charge before first use
Check out our extended list of the best portable battery chargers
TL Green Jump Leads
Price: £30.99 | VIEW OFFER
If you’re looking for heavy-duty, this is the set to get. With 6m of cable length and a 30mm diameter, these jump leads can start petrol engines up to seven litres and diesel engines up to five litres. The reinforced cable coating is made of high-quality frost crack-resistant PVC. Inside you’ll find copper-sheathed aluminium cables for excellent performance.
Pros:
• Long length cables extend the required distance between batteries
• Suitable for most cars
Cons:
• Less portable and more space required to store this set.
Wheel jack
Ever needed to change a wheel? The job is simple enough, but impossible without first jacking the car up to a workable height. Doing so will elevate the broken wheel/punctured tyre so it may be removed.
Note: the wheel nuts must be taken off before the wheel has been jacked up, or else the lack of friction will cause the wheel to spin when attempting to loosen them without any result.
If you are stranded in a particularly dangerous position – say, on the side of a motorway – we would recommend calling breakdown recovery personnel as their equipment will expedite the task and get you out of danger sooner.
Goodyear Scissor Wheel Jack
Price: £22.95 | VIEW OFFER
This scissor jack from Goodyear would perfectly suit a small car with a 1.5 ton maximum weight limit. Using a winding motion, the attachable lever can be operated to extend the scissor jack, lifting the up the car to a workable height.
Have something a little bigger? You can configure your jack to suit your car’s weight, in either bottle, hydraulic or sawhorse form and for up to 3 tons. Of course, however, the bigger jacks will take up more room when stored away in your car.
Pros:
• Quality item from an experienced manufacturer
• Easy to use
Cons:
• Safer and more secure alternatives.
Xtremeauto Scissor Wheel Jack
Price: £19.95 | VIEW OFFER
This scissor jack is ideal for quick roadside wheel changes and can be neatly stored in any car boot. As well as the jack itself, manufacturer Xtremeauto also throws in a cross-wheel nut wrench with four different socket sizes – something every car should have. The hardened steel frame is extremely durable and features four legs to keep the device planted firmly on the ground. For just under £20, this jack is a bargain.
Pros:
• Easy to use
• Socket wrench included
Cons:
• Better known brands available
Hi-vis jacket
It may never be used, but on the day you do break down on a busy road, a hi-vis vest will be your most important piece of safety equipment.
Suppose you need to walk down to the road to reach a phone or a petrol station – being visible to other drivers will provide them with the awareness needed to react and drive accordingly.
As far as dangerous situations go, being on a busy roadside at night has to be among the worst, so protect yourself and your other passengers with a set of hi-vis jackets.
JKSafety Hi Vis Jacket
Price: £15.99 | VIEW OFFER
If you want to upgrade your hi-vis jacket, this offering from the JKSafety Store is the one to buy. This jacket is also available in an array of different colours but also features nine front pockets with zipper Velcro clamshell closure for practicality and convenience. The material itself is lightweight, breathable and durable.
Pros:
• Numerous pockets for convenience
• Quality material
Cons:
• Expensive in comparison to other jackets
RELATED: The best car emergency kits
Blackrock Hi Vis Jacket
Price: £2.75 | VIEW OFFER
This example from the Blackrock Store is the ultra-affordable option at just under £3, yet still offers 360° visibility from a durable polyester fabric. This jacket is certified to the EN20471 international standard for hi-vis clothing yet offers unrestricted movement so you can get on with the task at hand.
Pros:
• Dirt cheap
Cons:
• No pockets
De-icer
Probably not life-threatening, but indubitably inconvenient. Most motorists have woken up to a frosty morning and resorted to desperate measures over windscreen ice. This year, however, leave the kettle inside and your bank cards intact with a can of de-icer.
The chemical formula of the de-icer spray will clear the ice in a matter of minutes, getting you to work or school on time. Of course, this is a seasonal product but on the first day of winter you’ll be glad you’ve got it.
CarPlan De-Icer Spray
Price: £3.35 | VIEW OFFER
This fast-acting de-icer from CarPlan is effective in temperatures down to -15°C, melting the ice fast so that you can get on your way. Application is easy: simply spray on the desired area and let it do its work. Available for just £3.35, this is a great product for a very affordable price.
Pros:
• Effective item that will get the job done
Cons:
• Only effective down to -15°C – should probably be fine but you never know…
Autoglym De-Icer Spray
Price: £3.73 | VIEW OFFER
Autoglym is a byword for quality in the car care industry, and its de-icer is no different. This product has a water-free formula that is effective down to -50°C and effective across the entire car, from the windows to the mirrors and the headlamps.
Pros:
• Quality item
• Effective all the way down to – 50°C
Cons:
• None
BOSMERE Windscreen Scraper
Price: £4.49 | VIEW OFFER
If you simply want to scrape the ice away or just want something to use in conjunction with a de-icer, this winter care windscreen scraper from BOSMERE is an affordable option for the job. This scraper features a soft grip and comfortable moulded handle for ergonomic comfort but a tough and durable scraper on the other end to get the job done.
Pros:
• Cheap yet effective
Cons:
• Slower solution if used on its own
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